New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-10-26
HONOR no THE REPUBLICANS.

If nlcases some Democratic journals, in their
noinful consciousness of the disgrace and dis
aster that have bcfallcn their party, to repre-
scnt that the Republicans have missed Il great
opportunitv If the Democrats had not been
absolutely kicked into repeal by the scorh Vi
Senator Sherman and the uncompromlsng hrlh
ness of Republican Senator's, these papers say
the disgrace and decentralization OF the Demo
cratic Marty would have been still greater, ana
the wrangle would have been indefinitely pro-
lonocd If This were true TO the letter, the Re
nuhcans would deserve the highest credit for
thus resolutcly and unselfshly promoting 'he
public welfate unmindful Of partisan adNah-
taCe In reality. they are entitled to prcclsci!
that credit because Of the dsintcrcstcd patriot
ism of their motives although the astonishing
folly of Democrats in the Senate has made the
result politically more beneficial 10 hepupHc"nS
than they could have anticipated
II would be supcrtuous to wish the Demo
cratic party more thoroughly disgraccd. huihill-
atcd and demoraizcd than it has been. No'h-
ing il could have done or left undone would
have added TO the completeness of its exposure
or TO its shame. Had the party passed the
Steering Commttccs dishonorablc compromise
II world have been vetoed by the President,
who would have been sustained by enough Re-
nuhlican votes TO make his veto cfectual, ana
the country would thus have been saved from
the disaster that such measure would nave
involved; but the disgrace of the Democratic
party would not have been greater than II now
is. with the signatures of thirty nine Democratic
Senators pledging themselves TO support that
compromise. If possible, the disgrace OF these
Senators appears all the greater because their
sudden withdrawal Of their assent. after dis-
covering that the President would not yield,
puts them in the attitude Of having no convlc-
tons and no moral sense Of their own and
being ready TO tag ut the heels OF their master
no matter what might become of the public
welfare If these men really believed their
compromise necessary TO the prosperity Of the
country. they shamefully betrayed their trust
as Senators when they abandoned 1t. II they
did not so believe they were false TO their trust
when they pledged themselves TO support and
carry It,
The country has been saved. as respects
monetary pcrls, by the patriotic fidelity ana
sclf-sacriicing courage Of Republican Senator'S
The people recognize the fact; the President
himself has promptly recognized it, and what
ever the issue may be as respects Democratic
unity or success in Western and Southern
States. the honor Of splendid fidelity to the
public interests rests with the Republicans. 1t
will be found in time to come, whenever
financial emergency confronts the people, I'M
less patriotism and intelligence meantime de-
sert them, that they will trust the party which
did its duty regardless Of its own interests,
rather than the party which almost unanimous
" decided to do a dishonorablc and disastrous
thing. and was only driven into decent be-
havior by Republican Senators and the Presl-
dent.
What the effect may he in Western and South
crn States it is not easy TO say. Democratic
Senators are already bemoaning the ruin Of
their party, declaring that 1t will be deserted
by vast number Of voters, whose financial
ideas the Populists represent. But it is quite
likely that the fact which will have more to do
with the votes Of the people is that millions
are seeking work In vain within a year after
q Democratic National victory.