New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-05-09

DEMOCRATIC "FOOLS IND TRAITORS"
A river and halbor bill more extlavagant and
shameless than any which has ever been passed
py Congress is expected 70 pass the House TO-
Aay Some Democratic journals do not hesitate
TO condemn this bill thus 1.-THE New-YoIk
Sum- editorially says:
They are fools and traitors. Fools because they are
inviting poli,lcal destruction by the Of hon
est Indignation that swept their Republican predecessors
out and swept them In. Traitors because with III
credible sclGshness they are betraying their party at
the critical juncture in their paftys fortunes. Plain
English Is the thing for these Democratic fools and
these traitors to Democracy.
But it is safe to say that Democratic journals
generally. and possibly 1.-THE New-Yorli Sun"
also. will be found laborng next fall for the re-
election of Democratic representatives, no mat
ter how reckless their appropriations may be-
If they are fools and traitors, Democrats will
still support them for party's sake. This ought
not to be- No party can expect honest and
faithful service from its representatives unless
it dsciplincs them stenly when they behave
badly. SO long as Democratic voters and jour
nails stand up for Democratic " fools and trait
ors" in Congress, they will have fools and trait
Ors to represent them.
The censure of the Republican majority in the
House two years ago was to a great extent
founded on misapprehension. The Tariff bill
was hidden under an avalanche of falsehocd.
The Elections bill was UNANIMOUSLY mlsreprc-
scented. so persistently and boldly that many in
telligent Republicans never found out what IT
actually was. The appropriations made by that
Congress were also falsely reported; the fact
was concealed that the aggregate was larger
than usual only because Of pensions, the build
ing of a Navy, and the payment of Obligations
for which Democratic Congress had dlshon-
orably refused to provide. But the popular feel
ing however mistaken, was nevertheless real
and il contributed much to cause the unprcce-
denied defeat in 1890. Republican voters who
believed that Representatives had done wrong
did not hesitate to defeat them. Next fall we
shall sec whether Democratic voters are ready
to punish wrong doing when there is much bet
ter reason.
1t is admitted already that the appropriations
by this Congress will greatly exceed those OF the
session of 1890. In fact, they arc expected to
be the greatest ever known. unless economy
finds a stouter and more consistent champion
than Holman, whose participation in the grab
game was so pitilessly exposed by Mr.. Reed.
NpDuDllcHn members Oh the Ilou>t hit III ~
minority. so small that they cannot he blamed
if they fail to stop this or that abuse. But they
can be and will be blamed if they do not try,
honestly and earnestly, to prevent extravaganza
or plundeling. Such an effort would not only
entitle them to the respect of the country, but
would give them far more right to claim from
Democratic voters swift and unsparing rcbuke
of Democratic misdeeds.
In ten months of the current fiscal year the
expenditures have slightly exceeded the re-
cepts of the Government, and yet the receipts
have been much greater than can be expected
in an ordinary year. Imports have been un-
usually swcllcd by variety of circumstances.
The revenue next year may be considerably
smaller If Congress makes the lavish and
wanton appropriations now expected, the rev
cnue for the next fiscal year may be greatly cx-
cccded by expenditures, and serious deficit
may result. Nor is it possible TO say how soon
the public credit may be undermined, and the
value Of the National currency shaken, if a
time shall come when the expenditures are
steadily exhausting the reserves in the Treasury.