Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1892-12-01
ras saoRr SESSION.

Interest IN the last session "a sn0
Flfty-second Congress, which will be-
pin next Monday, centers in the Re-
nphlicap Senate. On the 4th of March
the Republican party viii surrender It's
control Of that body, probably for some
wears to come, and men are naturally
curious to see whether the majority. 0y
its action in the few months Of its con-
troll remaining, will show an apprecia-
tion Of the rebuke which has been aG-
mipistered to il and will bow to the
neoDle's will. 1t is believed that
tariff reduction measures will be
passed and the federal elections
law repealed by the aid OF the
votes Of Western Republican Senator'S
It was no secret at the time OF its
passage that the KcKinley tariff was
very distasteful to many OF the latter
and their support of it was won only by
the pressure of QUAY, ALDRIcH, HIS
COCK and Others who urged it as party
expedieucy and party necessity.
1t has twice been conclusiyely proved
at the polls that the ultra-protectionist
wing Of the Republican party was wrong
and the Western leaders we're right in
their estimate Of the unpopularity OF
the Mckinley tariff. With these facts
staring them in the face, will Western
Republican Senators continue to be led
by men who have already wrecked the
party? The instinct of self-preservation
is as strong usually in the man in public
/ life as in any other man, and IL will be
strange il the words Of Senator HIscocK
who has Just been overthrown in his
own State, and of Senator QUAY, who
is "under fire." shall override the judg-
meat Of Western Senators, who can be
I In no doubt whatever Of the sentiments
of those whom they are ambitious 10
continue to represent. The field
( Is clear for the enactment now
Of such minor measures OF tariff reduc-
ton as the enormously swollen expen-
I ditures of the government permit, aud
there should be no lack Of effort on the
part of Democratic Senators to secure
the passage Of such bills, which have al
ready received the approval Of the
\ Bouse.
The pressing duty, however, before
the short session, is the repeal Of the
federal election laws. All pretence
that they are designed to secure honest
elections was abandoned this year, and
the laws were perverted to aid at every
point in the reelection of the Presi-
dent. The federal marshals, super
yisors and deputies were as active a
force fer HARRISON this year as ever
the French army was for the govern
ment during a NapoleOnic plebiscite,
and that they were not so eflicacious is
due solely TO the fortunate facts that
the field Of their operations was re-
stricted to the large cities, and that
their activity intensified the express
sion of popular disapproval Of the ad-
minIstratlon which employed them.
The passage of the House tariff bills
and the repeal Of the federal election
law will put Republican United States
Senators on record. Very few of those
who hope for reelection will face their
constituents after having voted against
these measures. II they encounter the
veto power OF the President, so much
the worse for Mr.. HARRISON. The po-
litical future has nothing in store for
him, but be has the opportunity to re-
tire from public life, yielding to the ex-
pressed will Of the people, or to do so
stubbornly ignoring the causes which
have worked his overthrow.