New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-03-26
TNCOVERED.


The results of the debate on the Silver Dill, so
far as there are any up to date, are entirely sat-
isfactory not only to Republicans, but to all men
who believe in fair play in politics and OPEN
honest dealing with political questions. Ihere
is not now, nor has there ever been, any danger
| of the bill becoming law. There has been no
genuine anxiety on that score on the part OF the
men who have been most prominent in the CT
fort N avoid the discussion. All their solicit
tnde has been on account of the danger to the
Democratic party from being compelled to I'M
cover itself and disclose its real attitude on the
most important issue of the coming Presidential
campaign That was the game of small poll
tics'' in the whole business, and the only one
All the clamor that was raised against the re-
publicans for not exerting themselves in favor
of postponing consideration of the bill was SIM
NV with the view of frightening tlem into the
notion that if they did not fall into line behind
the anti-siver faction of Democrats they would
be counted in favor of the BILL and held respon-
sible for whatever mischief might ensue 10 the
business interests of the country. Fortunate
", the Republicans didn't scare worth cent
With clear knowledge of the situation, aDsO-
lutte certainty as to the position OF the party ana
of the fact that it could not be successfully mis-
Represented before the people, they looked on
with composure while the nc-hundIed-and-fifty
majority fought out among themselves the qucS-
ton whether they would play thimble-riggng
game for the Presidency or fight in the OPEN.
1t is especially noteworthy that after the
financing acrobats Of the ant-siver faction d
Democrats had exhausted themselves in futile
efforts TO stave off the question and were pre-
pairing to resort to the desperate device of ILL
clustering against the decisions of their own pre-
siding officer, the Republicans, under the skilfnl
leadership of Mr. Burrows, without any excite
ment or fuss, calmly took the matter in hand
and by motion to lay on the table defeated, for
time at least final action on the BILL Only
IL Republicans, and they chiefly from the sill
YER producing States, where the mania for free
silver affects all parties alike under the deuslon
rhat it will be of great advantage locally. voted
with the free-silver men. On the other hand
1877 Democrats recorded themselves in favor of
the measure, and only So against it. The great
prepOnderance in favor OF the bill dlscloSes IN
some measure the real attitude of the Demo-
cratic party. It is 10 be taken into account, how
ever, that more than half Of the So were from
Republican States, and all were from the East,
where the anti-silver sentiment is so positive
| and emphatic that it would be dangerous TO
oppose it, Another thing many of these voted
as they did, not from honest conviction, but be-
cause they had been told that party success would
be endangered by the passage Of the bill, and
that the game was TO Stave il of. The most
| significant circumstance, though, is that all the
sure Democratic States, the States whose repre-
sentatiyes control the cOunses and direct the
policy Of the party, are shown by the vote to be
| in favor of free silver The fact was pretty
| well known before it is now proved beyond
| question.
The wisdom of the course puIsued by the
Republican members has been vindicated by the
result No mischief has been done by the dis
custom The Silver bill is just as far as ever
| from becoming law. Further, in fact than it
would have been had the tick of postponement
been successful. For then the trick;ters would
have been in position to play for votes on both
sides in the Presidential election, and nothing
is more certain than that one Ct the first results
| Of Democratic success next November would be
the passage Of a Free Coinage bill worse, If
| possible, than the one under consideration. Re
| publicans may well congratulate themselves and
| the country on the result. II has uncovered the
Democratic party in Congress. After this action
there can be no fencc-stIaddling or balancing
CT double dealing No matter whom they may
nominate or what sort of tumble Of words they
| may put into their platform on the subject they
cannot escape the consequences Of their vote on
| Wednesday night. They have put themselves
on record as the party Of free coinage, and on
| that issue they must make the Presidential fight.
An effort will he made by the silver Democrats
| 10 bring up the question again and force vote.
1t is not unlikely that in that event the bill will
pass the House 1t will make no difference,
though, except to emphasize the position of the
party. The real danger is over. 1t was not Of
the bills becoming law, but of the party in
control of the House lodging it and concealing
| its purposes. The Democratic front is uncov-
cred. That is more than half the battle.