New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-06-19
pESTOPJNG CONFIDENCE.

THE TRIBI-NE accepts with mcekncsS the re-
hrkes showcrcd upon it by Mugwump and
Democratic contemporaries Tor not accepting tne
canvass of Congress on the silver question Whic"
some of them have been making as conclusive
nroof that the Silver Purchase act VIII be re-
pealed as ON as Congress assemblies. III Is lil'
mated that at a time when the great necd is inc
restoration of public confidence and the one
thing which will do more than all others 10 re-
store confidence is the repeal OF the silver
law we are contributing to continuance OF
the prevailing dstrust by refusing to accept
the returns Of the canvass as correct. the hs-
ures final and the conclusion assured. We have
only to say that we should be very e!ad 70 see
confidence re.tored, and to that end to be as
sured that the Democratic majority III the heAV
Congress, elected on platform advocating 'Ae
repeal of the Silver act, will do what 1t solemn
" pledged itself to do. If it did not help the
market it would at least restore confidence IN
the Democratic party, which has been badly
shaken if not totally destroyed
Rut 81 long as the tables these canvasserS
offer are inaccurate on their face, and the
classification does not correspond with the pub
lished answers of the Congressman to whom IN
ouiries are sent we must decline TO accept thchi
as worthy of credcnce, even II our DONG 81
tends. as is charged, to the continuance OF inc
present uncertainty and depression. ~ o"shV
not to be necessary, in the first place, 10 make
| newspaper canvass Of individual members OF
Congress after an election to find out whether
they intended to vote as they had agreed to ana
in accordance with pledges they gave to the
ncople before the election TO put such qucs-
ton to a member elect in such circumstances
is as we have before said, an imputaton upon
hi, personal integrity. 1t is virtually asking
him whether he was telling the truth or only
living when he represented to the voters that
he and his party advocated the speedy repeal
of the Silver law The fact that a canvass Is
necessary is Of itself enough to d.scredit the
party and all its professions. And when made
even if accurate and showing what the can
yasseIs look for and desire it is no more con-
elusive than the practically unanimous vote IN
tho National Convention on the question. BE-
| hind all the favorable answers that afford the
canvassers so much satisfaction there may be
qualifications and mental reservations which
when the test of voting comes viii prove fa'a!
TO the effort for repeal telegram or letter
TO newspaper is certainly no more blndlng
than vote in convention
To undertake to restore confidence upon such
a basis as the canvass offers is a mistake. we
should be glad to believe that the next Con-
gress will have the honesty and the nclli-
gence TO treat the pressing problems OF finance
and all other questions in such way as 10
restore confidence and promote the general
welfare. But we have seen nothing yet to en-
courage any hope in that direction: certainly
nothing in the newspaper canvass which our
Democratic friends lay 80 much stress upon.
Nor have we seen any signs yet that the Pres
dent feels any assurance that Congress when
il assemblies will carry out his recommends
tions or fulfil the pledges Of the parry on the
silver question. Ills desire that the last Dem
ocritc Congress should act in the matter was
well known Ii was known tina, he mani
tested great anxiety upon the subject. But
that Congress with an Overwhelming Demo
cratic majority took no step in the matter. 1t
has been said upon good authority that the
only reason for his delay in calling an extra
session was the certainty existing in his OWN
mind that Congress, if it lcgiSlatcd at all on
the silver question, would take some action
that would make matters worse instead OF bet
ter. II is now reported that he will call Con
gre.s together earlier than September upon the
strength Of the canvass Of members. Should
he do this, it will indicate that he has become
if not confident at least more hopeful OF favor
able action But the confidence Of the public
is not SO easily restored.