New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-08-01

promises. to 90 back on the promises and DO
nothing but dodge the most important issues
they were expected to meet, and so keep up a
system OF fllSehood and deceit. then the Demo
cratic party is Il success, and the present Con-
gress its browning glory otherwise not.
In only one respect has this Congress fulfilled
the promise Of its election We were told that
il would offer a contrast 70 its predcceSSor-thc
Republican Congress Of which Mr. Reed was
Speaker 1t certainly has. A more striking
contrast would be difficult to imagine. That
Congress, elected upon n fair and candid pre-
sentaton of the tariff issue to the people went
straight TO its work and did it, IL adopted
rules under which the majority could do hIsl-
ness and all the clamOr of the opposition and
the obstructive tactics Of a factiouS minority
failed 10 SWcrye it one moment from It's pur-
pose The initial step of the majority OF the
present Congress was to adopt rules which
should serve as an excuse for not doing the
business they were sent there 10 do. The re-
suit is that they have done nothing whatever OF
any serious Importance of all the things they SO
loudly promised two years ago. The one thing
they have succeeded in demonstrating is their
own inability to agree among themselves upon
any question of principle or policy. They are
at one among themselves upon nothing except
a common hostility to the Republicans. They
are a party Ct negationS without principle
or an idea upon which they can unite and call
their own. The history of politics and parties
furnishes no such conspicuous and lamcntable
failure as this party with one hundred and fifty
majority has made in attempting 10 deal with
the questions which il thrust into the fore
ground as of the most vital consequence in
the canvass preceding the election two years
ago.
The two things most harpcd upon then were,
first that the Mckinley tariff would destroy the
industries of the country and bring distress
upon the masses by increasing the cost OF
living; and second, that the couAtry was on
the brink of financial ruin and bankruptcy
through the cXtrayagant appropriations of a
Republican Congress- 1.-THE robbcr tariff and
the blicn-dollar Congress" were the party
cries One would suppose that party riding
into power with such an overwhelming majority
upon such issues would do something in the
direction Of rpcaling the tariff and cutting
down appropriations to attest lis sincerity. IT
began with shullng on the tariff and has con
cludcd with Offering practically nothing but an
amendment or two, and in the matter of ap-
propriationS it has only succeeded in making
itself ridiculous by quarreing over petty items
while letting the big sums 90 through after n
little furry OF opposition for appearances sake.
Another question of the highest importance to
the credit and financial prosperity of the coun-
trv they have successfully cyadod. For eight
month, this one HUNDRED -and-i Fifty majority
Congress, has been struggling to furnish pre-
text for its existence and Il record to which II
could with some show of confidence appeal
FOR continuance Of popular favor and support.
The record is pretty nearly completed. Is any
Democratic newspaper or orator pointing To II
with pride? And yet upon that record the
party must be Judged. by their fruits We
Shall know them