Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-11-14

A few weeks more will bring the Fifty-second
Congress, in some respects n peculiar body.
differing from any Of its predecessors 1t will
represent q reaction from the result OF the
presidential year Of 1885, But as still other
elections have been held since this body was
chosen, in some cases reversing the congress
sional elections it is not clear that the reaction
continues in full force and effect, or rather 1t
h clear that 70 far as certain states and dis
tricts of other states are concerned 1t does not
continue. One Of the most interesting
issues before this Congress viii be that
of free coinage of silver. The free
coinage men are assumed to be in
great majority in the democratic
party and in Congress as q body. Blu. the very
existence Of this majority as practical force
in legislation depends on conditions The
policy of the two parties viii be modified or
rather shaped by their supposed exigencies in
the campaign Of 1892. Both are divided in SEN
timent The republican party is not likely to
be divided in action, because events have for
some time been determining the attitude the
party is to take next year. Not SO clearly de-
lined is the democratic attitude on the silver
question. As it controls the popular house OF
Congress and is likely in the condition Of affairs
to take the initiative, the democratic partys
position Is one of peculiar interest lnthesout
the feeling for free coinage Is dominant. Ihe
Farmers Alliance is virtually unit for the
measure, and although somewhat depressed
by the result Of the recent elections, Is
still power inside the democrauc
ranks Outside that organization, west as
well as south, the silver sentiment Is very
strong, and while it is possibly weaker than 1t
was before November g. it is not weak enough
to give the antis inside the party any great en-
couragement. In fact the only apparent way
in which the democrats can keep themselves on
the rocks is to find basis Of harmony or take
advantage Of the action Of the repub-
icans. Between Massachusetts and Iowa
there 10 not much in common on the
money question And the same ID true
of New York and Georgia This fact shows
the difficulty with which the dominant
party in the House has to contend The policy
of its leaders is shaped by the exigencies or
supposed exigencies of the next campaign, and
the leaders do not agree VIII the flight
of time and drift of events bring them
into harmonious relations? II the repub-
hcans follow the administration. as
it is probable that they will without material
change. the democrats will find either that
they will have to let the silver issue drop or
accept it and align themselves in opposition
to a well-defned hard money policy. Some of
them desire to do the first thing, while others
are inclined to the second course The drift
of affairs for a few weeks to come may indi-
cate what will be the democratic financial
policy The election of Speaker may decide
the whole question, and on the other hand the
factions may compromise their differences in
the choice Of that officer. The constitution OF
the committee on coinage. weights and meas
ures will go very far toward settling the atti-
tude of the party. Hardly anything can at
this time be safely predicted concerning the
action Of the House. No reliable information
il furnished either by the known views OF the
candidates or by any assurance Of the result OF
the speakership fight, and speculation Is con-
sequently useless, lacking foundation.