The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-11-18

Shall There be an Extra Session THAT
IL the Question OF the Hour.

Is the OuftttOn VI th1 ssoosf
Editor of The Times:
BY an overwhelming majority the peo-
pie have decided that protection Is un-
constitutional and that the Democratic
party must radically amend II not repeal
that monster OF protection, the Mckinney
hill. and that the vital question now Is
whether this shall be done promptly and
firmly or whether Il shall be put OH as
long as possible, and then do as little as
possible.
This is the popular mandate. but not
withtsanding the timid cry Is heard even
In influential quarters. Not now; not now;
wait till next Congress meets, though next
Congress is more than year OF, ana
then act so that. though legalized robDer-
les are as thick as leaves that strew the
brooks in Vallambrosa, nobody will be
disturbed. as if possible to cut off limb
or organ and the patient not suffer. AS
we'll expect the thief to feel the halter
draw with good opinion of the law as 10
disturb abuses, however gross. ana not
expect a great cutlery of ruined country.
The party must be prepared Tor heart
rending walls from the whole FAMILY or
protected parasites whenever The Knife Is
applied, whether an extra or regular
session, so nothing can be gained by de-
put off doing anything as long as possible,
and then do as little as possible. is to be
little different from or little better than
Republicans and IL the Democratic party
f. TO ape the Republican party the people
will naturally prefer the Simon-pure ar
ticle, and restore the reign Of protection.
TO put off reform to a remote next Con-
gress sayors too much Of the fellow that's
to lick another fellow some other day-the
licking rarely comes off, and 50 ii may be
with reform next Congress-.
OF course the party has no smooth sail
ing ahead, because the enormous eX-
penses and extravagances of Government
require enormous revenues, but let the
party be faithful to its promises and
principles; let il resolutely march for
ward now, and a way will be opened as
was once opened to the ancestors OF our
worthy State Senator when they found
themselves between the devil 0he Egyp-
tians) and the deep sea.
The party should not wait for an extra
session, even, but should begin with the
coming session and finish the good work
in an extra session, which should be
called as soon as the new administration
gets fairly TO work. Nothing can be
gained. but much may be lost, by delay,
for the longer the delay the greater the
suspense and the worse the injury. I'm
will be cessation, more or less. Of enter
prise; therefore, the highest wisdom de-
mands that this suspense be shortened,
so that business may the sooner accom-
modate itself 10 the new conditions. To
put off reform will be like the compass
siOnate man who cut off his dogs tail
piece-meal, because IL would hurt too
much to cut it off all at once. So, per-
feet reform in an early extra session,
It 4
form, or perhaps of none at all. Delay
means cowardlce, and cowardice means
surrender.
1t is no argument against an extra ses-
sion that some Republicans favor one.
An extra session is demanded by the
people so that they may be relieved now,
not at some indefinite future time, when
they may he dead, OF their crushing bur-
dens, and If the party delays this relief
look out for the peoples wrath at the
next election.
Nor is It an argument that business
will be disturbed The argument is the
other way, because the quicker the ac-
ton the shorter the suspense and the
less the disturbance.
Nor is It an argument TO say that an
extra session once killed the Whig party.
and that. therefore, an extra session may
smash the Democratic party. Granted,
lot argument sahe, lldI tilo II So' Du1
once is not always, any more than one
swallow makes a summer, and IL once
were always Grover Cleveland would not
now be President-elect.
Now is the tide OF the Democratic
party; take 1t at its flood and its fortune
is assured; omit 1t. and It's future Is
bound in sorrows and in miseres.
Audace. audace. tougours audace is
good maxim in war, nor will IT prove a
bad maxim In the war against protection.
L. II. b.
Richmond. Nov Is. 1902.
(This is about the best that can be
said for an extra session. and we give it
place to let both sides have a hearing.
The Times does not agree that the occa-
sion for an extra session has yet ar
rived.-ED)