Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-01-13
TUESDAY. $50. JANUARY ID, 1891.
Is the Danger overpassed 2

Only seven weeks remain Of the current
session Of Congress. These seven weeks
might all be profitably employed in such
legislation as would promote the interests
OF the whole country. There IS IN fact
more Of important business to be done than
could be done IL the two houses were to
devote all Of the remaining time OF the SEES
sion TO measures which would not draw the
lines of party divisions. Yet we cannot
RELY with absolute confidence upon the
fact that when forty-fve more working
DAYS shall have passed over our heads tho
period will have come to an end during
which the maignants and sectionalists will
have the power to barass the good people
OF the South and "eat out their substance"
TO use words OF the Declaration of hide
pendencc which may well be employed to
describe the work of partisans whose
wicked efforts TO divide the people on sec
tional lines cannot but keep many enter
prising men and their capital out OF the
southern States.
We saw We cannot rely with absolute
confidence upon the fact, but we have
been inclined 10 the opinion that the action
of the Senate last week in substituting for
the force bill the bill TO provide against
n contraction Of the currency indicated
that the point of danger had been passed.
Yet we know too we'll the tricks and de-
vices of the enemy TO base too much hope
upon such indications. We are not sure
but that on the very last day of the pass
ing session of Congress il might be posi-
BILE for the INSCRIPTIONS REED in the
House OF Representatives and the malig-
,ant INGALLS, in the Senate TO make such
rulings as would allow the force bill to be
passed. We dor say that the bill could be
passed under the rules il these were proper
iy construed. but under improper rulings
IL Is possible. And we all know that Presl-
dent HARRISON would hail such action with
delight; and as LINCOLN gave away the pen
with which he signed the emancipation
proclamation. so HARRISON would give
away the pen with which he would have
signed the force bill, in the hope that the
latter, like the former, would be handed
down 10 posterity as household treasure.
II is perhaps worth mentioning that in
the earlier and better days of the repub-
lie IL was held that the short session OF
Congress expired at u o'clock on the
night of the Sd Of March. That, we take
il, is the time when the old Congress
should be recognized as having gone out
of existence and the new Congress as
having come into existence. The fact that
mt IA o'clock M. on the 4th of March the
President of the United States takes the
oath of Office has aided in bringing about
the change. Let the reason be what IL may,
the fact is that the outgoing President OF
the United States signs bills on the 4th OF
March. We repeat, therefore, that even
on the Attn Of March next it may be that it
will not be impossible for the force bill to
become a law. However, there is so little
prospect of the success at that late dav of
such scheme for thwarting the will of
the people and reversing the results OF the
elections of November last that perhaps
We ought not TO admit that it is even pos
sible for the enemies of the Union to do
this mischief then. The danger-point is
nearer.
The silver bill and the appropriation bills
will of themselves require for their proper
consideration as much time as Congress
now has at its disposal If the Democrats
choose to flibuster on any OF these bills
they will be able to annoy the Republicans
very much. However, it will, We suppose,
not be necessary for them to fiibuster
against the passage of any bill of real
merit. There are' numerous bills not
coming under this designation which it
will be proper for the Democrats to defeat
by filibustering. These latter bills are
often considered by the members patron
izing" them as of more importance than
even an appropriation bill. Much time
may thus be consumed.
OF one thing the country may rest as
sured, and this is that there is DO danger OF
an extra session Of Congress this spring.
Rather than give the Democrats an oppor-
tunity TO force an extra session the Repub-
licans will make such concessions to them
rs six months ago they would have con-
sidered ii impossible for them ever to
make. Here is the Democratic stronghold.
They must work" the prospect OF an
extra session for "all 1t is WORTH" They
must hold il IN tesrorem over the heads OF
the Republican members Even President
HARRISON would rather let the force bill
fail to become law than be compelled TO
convene the next Democratic House OF
Representatives in extra session. The i'm
menseD Democratic majority in that House is
TO him the handwriting upon the wall tell
ing him that he has been weighed in the
balances and found wanting, and that his
kingdom will be taken away from him and
given to another.