The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1892-11-14
WHAT WILL THEY Do ABOUT ITq

WHAT WILL THEY DO ABOUT TT
There is already division in the Dem
ocratic press. foreshadowing one in the
party, as to the propriety of calling an
extra session of Congress. Quite O
number of papers, including the Louis
vile Courier Journal. Indianapolis Sem
tinel. Chicago Herald and others of local
influence, are demanding an extra ses-
sion in order that the will of the people,
as expressed in the recent election, may
be given prompt and decided expression.
The New York Evening Post, represent
ing the mugwump contingent, says:
We hold that it is for the highest interest
OF the country. as well as of the Democratic
party, that Mr.. Cleveland should call an
extra session of the new Congress as soon
as possible after his Inauguration and ses
them to work diligently on the tariff. They
would be able TO give their whole time to
IT, because they would have no appropria-
tion bills to discuss or pass. or any other
imperative business to attend 60. If one
half of what the Democratic orators and
writers have been saying about the McKin-
ley bill be true it Is almost q crime to leave
1t untouched on the statute boob one week
longer than Is absolutely necessary. The
Democratic party cannot afford to hang
fire over it, now that il has got hold of it.
Other Democratic papers in different
parts of the country are opposing an ex-
ira session, and the opinion is expressed
by those who are supposed to stand near
Mr.. Cleveland thai he will not accede
to the demand. The New York Herald
says the Democratic victory does not
call for any radical change in the tariff
policy. and that a few amendments in
the Mckinley bill will be all that is nsc-
essary. Congressman Cultivate, of
Ohio, one of the Democratic leaders in
the House. says: "The present tariff law
will be very materially modified. but
there will be only slight reductions of
duties upon articles which are success
fully manufactured in our country" In
other words, according to Mr.. Outh-
waite, there will be only slight reduc-
ton of protection. which the Democrat
ic platform denounces as wholly uncon-
stitutional. and which during the entire
campaign just closed was mathematical
as the abominatiOn of denominations.
The question in regard to an extra ses-
sion is one on which there may be room
for difference of opinion among Dem
ocrats. 1t is partly question of policy
and expediency, though, in the opinion
of the Journal, the weight of argument
is decidedly with those who demand an
extra session. There is unanswerable
force in tho argument that. ma
rf ha
in favor of the Democratic party,
there should be as little delay as posi-
BILE in giving effect to their will. On
the other hand, it is not surprising that
in view of the expense of an extra ses-
sion and the political danger involved
there should be disposition In some
quarters to shrink from it. Congress
man Outhwaite, quoted above, says:
Everybody knows that the party re-
sponsible for an extra session of Con-
gress in time of peace always suffers
defeat In the next election" This is
cowardly and fallacious argument 1t
is cowardly because it proposes to sub
stitute expediency for duty, and it is
fallacious because it assumes that the
people would condemn the Democratic
party for proceeding to give effect, as
soon as possible, to their will as ex-
pressed Mt the polls. Why should the
Democratic party suffer defeat in the
next election for giving effect as soon
as possible to the will of the people ex-
pressed in the last one? Congressman
Outhwaite is not much of a Democrat.
Either he distrusts the honesty of his
own party or he distrusts the justice of
the people.
But, however Democrats may disagree
as to the expediency of calling an extra
session, there can be no difference of
opinion as to their duty to repeal the
Mckinley tariff law. The talk about
letting it stand. with ga few material
amendments" is absurd. How would
they look going into the next campaign
on the Mckinley law, with few amend
ments, or on a platform of protection
slightly modified Besides, they are
pledged to the repeal of the Mckinley
law. Their platform says:
We denounce the Mckinley tariff law en-
acted BIZ the FIfty-first Congress as the cul-
minating atr0city of class legislation. aud
we promise its repeal as one of the benefi-
cent results that will follow the action of
the people in intrustiDg power to the DEM
ocratic party.
There is no chance for lodging in this.
1t is lat-footed promise to repeal the
Mckinley law in case the party should
succeed. The people have taken them
OF their word. and they must keep faith
with the people.
1t will be cowardly in Mr.. Cleveland
to refuse to callan extra session of Con-
gress, and will show either that he dis
trusts his own party or does not care to
give prompt effect to the will of the peo-
pie. But. whether there is an extra ses-
sion or not, the first duty of the Demo-
Gratis. when Congress assemblies. will be
to repeal the Mckinley tariff law.
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