New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-12-06
Sovr EENTrChY DETICES.

Representative Brcckinridgc Of Kentucky
apncors 10 be- a statesman OF IN original turn
of mind. Since the election Of Mr. Cleveland
and = Democratic Congress he has 1T his hight
shine pnblicly on two or three occasions III
very dazzling sort Of way His first irradil-
tion Of the field of current discussion was IN
connection with the question which came up
pcrnoSt as soon as the result was known. to
wit. the calling of an extra session OF Congress
bv Mr. Cleveland in order 10 carry out win
the least possible delay the tariff reform when
Mr. Cleveland and the largo majority OF MS
supporters said the people by their N-t's hHu
demanded. 1t was shortly after the annual
dinner Of the Chamber Of Commerce ut Whicl
Mcssrs Rod and Dcpew. accepting TINS view
Of the result minated that in their Judgment
AN extra session was the logic oi the studt on
Hnt Mr.. Breckenridge in an interview pub
lished day or two later expressed the opinion
that if the view taken by these gentlemen OF
the meaning of the election was accepted by
the Republicans generally there would be no
mood of an extra session. The Republicans in
Congress. and especially the Republican ma
ioritv in the Senate he thought would or III
least ought 10, respond without further quo,
tion 70 the popular wish and icy the tariff
amendments passed by the House ut the last
session and now awaiting the action 81 the
Scnatc 90 through imposed He was quite
certain thcy would do thi, if they were SIN
=, rc. and thi, would do away with the ncccS-
sty for an extra session.
1t was an entirely original If not brilliant
con,cption. The last time There was any such
ropuIar demand for a change of policy a. Is
now claimed. any such entire change of con
troll in the Executive and Legislative depart
ment Of the Government. was in 1850. We
do not recall that any prominent Democrat
on tha. occasion proposed that his party III
Congress or in the Executive department
should recognize the change Ill public schti-
mcnt by taking the back track on the slavery
question which was the absorbing issue III the
| election or that Democrats III Congress en-
lcitaincl for Il moment the idea Of relieving
Mr.. Lincoln Of the necessity for calling the
new Congress togttlcr in extra session. On
the contrary the nest prominent and lnid-
| cntiaI of them went scurrying off T. set up
new Government. thereby leaving Mr.. Lincoln
| no choice except to call an extra session. There
| is no Democratic precedent certainly for Mr.
Brcckinridgc's proposal. That party haj not
been in the habit Of yielding gracefully to
vote Of lacl, Of c)niidcnc, no matte how over
| vhclming il might be. On the contrary II
has always been rcalctrant and rcbelllouS
| undo" such circumstances. And even II 1t
were practicable or proper for p)lltIct party
to change It's principles or It's policy; - turn
IFS back on its record AVID lis professions and
marca over TO tho ranks Of the opposition
| whenever there seemed to be for any cause
change in public sentiment there are ono
or two othc- considerations which may be sup
posed to have weight in the matter. OF these,
one is enough, to wit. that the Democratic
maiort; in the present Congress has made
no prctence Of doing anything in the line Of
tariff amendment except "punch holes in the
existing law simply TO pu; the Republican Sen
ate and Executive 4" i'll hole and with no
idea Of their becoming laws. The passage Of
these tnlierinc amendments would be only
trinng with what the Democrats call the
popular cry for the repeal Of the present tlrff.
Still Mr. BrcciinrldgcS prep s ton was S,rk
ingly original.
His latcst original device is to do away with
the necessity of an extra session by referring
the whole subject Of the tariff 10 Mr. Clevc-
land with the understanding that he and his
Cabinet shall prepare complete bill to be
submitted to Congress in lieu Of a mere
message of recommendation This bill, he
SAYS could be mildred in the Committee OF
Ways and Means, amended if necessary to suit
the views of the House and Senate and then
passed by which ga great deal of time and
trouble would he saved" This too is srk-
ingly original. The C mbinlti)n of the legis-
latve with the executive function is II trlne
off from the constitutional procedure, but how
it would simplify the whole process! Mr..
Cleveland TO be sure has never had any eX-
! pericncc in lawmaking, but if he has never sat