The herald., 1893-10-20
A CURIOUS POLITICAL DEVELOPMENT


in the United States senate. Instead OF
being enraged at the delays interposed
by the invincible f-iends of silver in
that body to the contamination OF q
great outrage, they are filed with ad-
miration at the pluck, resources and in
domitable courage OF the real Democratic
mem bership in the United States senate.
The people reflect with pride that while
the house of representatives, in much of
its membership, can be either bought or
csioled, the United States senate obeys
neither whip nor spur, and has regis
tered itself as worthy the senate of
Rome in its best days. In what way
such recreant wretches as Marion Can
non were paid for their apostacy to
silver no one can know; but that they
received quid pro quo as fully as did
Judas IN re the case of Pontius PLATE
versus Jesus Christ no one can doubt.
1t is highly amusing to read the rawlings
OF the hireling press of New York and
the other eastern cities when it comes
to the senate OF the United States exer-
cising it's legitimate powers. The pic
ture ia much like a pug dog barking
itself hosrse at the feet of the sphynx.
The passage between Senators Daniel
and Mills was perhaps the most inter-
esting feature of the debate of day be-
fore yesterday. The senator from Vir-
ginia asked the senator from Texas if he
would be willing to abide by the action
OF q caucus of the Democratic senators
on the repeal of the purchasing clause
of the Sherman act. Instead of saying
certainly" as anybody would expect
man with Mills's record would cay, he
really replied, in surly and insulting
manner, that he would not. He added
that there was an issue against Dsmo-
cratic administration and that he pro-
posed to stay by the administration.
The only issue, if issue there be in
this question, is whether the Democratic
party will allow Mr.. Cleveland to lead
them into the Republican ranks. No
man ever entered upon a term of the
presidency with more unbroken loyalty
on the part of his party than the pres
ent occupant of the White House. 1t
required peculiar genius for misad-
venture to bring about the present state
Of things. 1t is useless, in view of the
acrimonious interchanges between auch
men as Daniel and Mills, and Hill and
Morgan, all Democrats, to attempt to
avoid the conclusion that the Democratic
party is in danger of being split up the
back. The attitude of Senator Hill la
perhaps the most inexplicabe of all.
He assumes to be hostile to Cleveland
and friendly to silver, while he is kotoo-
ing to the president and stabbing silver
under the fifth rib. The. operation
scarcely amounts to the dignity of "now
you see it and now you don't" The
New York senator is accumulating
enough enemies by his peculiar course
to sink a ship in dead calm.
But why, if Mr.. Mills calls himself
Democrat, when Mr.. Daniel, friend of
silver, offers to 60 into a caucus of the
Democratic senators, and to abide by the
action of that body. does he decline to
do 30? The reason is very simple. He
mas cause to believe that the ma iority of
the Democratic senators are in favor of
free silver, as was their platform. Mr..
Mills, during his long career as Demo
cratic politician, has been in fifty eau
cusses. He fully recognizes the poten-
tial Office of such body. He has time
and again accepted it's outcome as the
final judgment on all questions az to
which his party was interested. Why,
then, should he, at this late day, turn
round and repudiate the methods which
he has observed during his whole career?
the answer is not far to seek. He does
so because he is prepared to deliver over
such Democrats as he can control, in
cluding himself, to the Republican
party, in order to please the imperious
will of man elected on q platform
which said that there should be no die
elimination at the mints between gold
and silver. 1t is utterly impossible to
evade this deduction. Mr.. Roger @.
Mills will not 60 into Democratic eau
Gus because he is no longer Democrat.
That is the long and the short, the law
and the prophets, OF the matter.
1t is fortunate for Senator Mills that
he will not be obliged to go before hia
constituents for quite while. New
Issues and work meet for repentance
may save him when the crucial time
does ariee. But for the members of the
house OF representatives who have
initiated Mr.. Mills in his political tergi-
veraations the experience will, in all
probability, be gloomy one. The
Texas papers are printing the names of
the three Texas members of the lower
house of congress who went back on
silver in mourning lines. Heavy black
borders encompass the names of these
persons, and their chances of reelection
are of the most abbreviated description.
They will be plunged into miching
malicho when they reach the constitu-
ents that trusted them. Their political
life may fairly be said to be ended.
Things have come to a pretty pass
indeed when distinguished Democratic
senator, like Mr.. Daniel, can appeal
for a Democratic caucus in an issue of
great moment, and be told that he can't
have it, and that if it were assem- bled
Democrats who have plumed themselves
upon being the leaders of the party