Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1893-10-10
THE CRITICAL STAGE.
AN INTERESTING AND IMPORTANT
 CRISIS IN CONGRESS.

Statesmen Seize Golden Opportunities.
 WASHINGTON, D. C., Oct. 1o.-fspecial. r. This is day of action in the house. After a two weeks debate the bill to repeal the federal election laws goes through by strict party vote The Democrats applaud because it is a measure upon which they have long set their hearts, and which was demanded in the platform adopted at the Chicago convention. The debate, however, has been keen disappointment. Where as it was expected partisan feeling would run high and the floor would become the scene of a bitter war of words, the discus sion has, on the whole, been rather tame and uninteresting, enlivened only now and then by brief passage at arms
 For some reason or other the leaders on the two sides of the hall left the fighting in the hands of their lieutenants or sub ordinates. The generals went away to the Worlds fair or to the fishing streams and left the privates to fight it out. This indif- ference was especially noticeable on the Re publican side, and it is remarked here that the Republicans are becoming tired of what is known as waving "the bloody shirt'' and have become convinced that sectional issues or arguments no longer have much weight with the people. Republican leaders have confessed to your correspondent that it is too late i'll the day to attempt to fire the northern heart with sectional appeals. The people no longer make those distinc. tions between the north and the south which they did few years ago.
 Firebrand In the Senate.
 The bill now goes over to the senate, 5Ip,,c that body. There the debate on the silver bill has dragged it's weary length along un- til the patience of every one is well nigh ex- hausted. There is q renewal of the talk that an effort will be made within day or two to supplant the silver bill with this elections bill. All the silver senators would be willing to vote for sidetracking the Voorhees, bill even with this measure, though they would instantly turn round and oppose it almost as bitterly as they have opposed the other. As Mfr Dubois, the young leader of the silver wing, said today: We are ready to throw solid vote for taking up the elections bill, and then we will throw a solid vote against it's pas sage"
 The Critical Stage Reached.
 It is confessed on all sides that the crit ical stage in the long and somewhat bitter campaign has been reached. Within few days now the contest must be decided one way or the other. The managers of the re- peal campaign must find way to force vote, or they must make terms of compro- mise with the opposition. If the bill should be sidetracked by this elections measure, that would be the end oft. Itwould never be taken up again, at least not at this ses- sion of congress. Still another alternative has been presented and may be adopted be fore the week is out. That is to have a re- cess of congress for two or three weeks, so that the senators may mingle with their constituents and ascertain on their own ac- count what is the state of public opinion.
 President Cleveland and some of his off eial advisers believe the senators who min gle with the people would return to Wash ington convinced that nothingis to be done but to pass unconditional repeal On the other hand the silver senators maintain that public opinion has been swinging in their direction for some weeks past, and that senators are sure to be influenced the other way. There you have it, and you may take your choice.
 Why the Silver Men Hang On.
 It transpires that one explanation of the
 
 silver leaders have fought their campaign arises from their knowledge of the fact that if the existing law be repealed it will be absolutely impossible to replace it with anything favorable to silver so long as Mir Cleveland sits in the White House For more than three years to come the statute books would be absolutely closed to any measure designed to rehabilitate the white Evn., 1NouOOH bo foTYo 1f Mir ClpIya- lands occupancy of the White House it would be exceedingly difficult to accom- plish any silver legislation, though public opinion should be very strong in its favor.
 The reason for this is that it is always hundred times easier to prevent legisla- tion than to achieve it. In the senate q few resolute men may prevent action, while the same men, joined by enough others to make large majority, would themselves find it impossible to construct or pass any legislation were they to attempt it. There fore the silver men say they will hold to that which they have already upon the statute books until they can secure some thing nearly as good.
 The Ambitions of Statesmen.
 Many statesmen become possessed of an ambition to have their names attached to important leglSlaIlOu. IL Is Olbeu bue llloh- ing of public man to have his name iden tified with some important act of congress, such as tariff bill or currency bill Sen ator Faulkner of West Virginia was among the first to propose an amendment to the present silver bill and he has been exceed ingly active in his efforts to secure it's adoption. He was actuated thereto un doubtedly by the conviction that he was doing the best thing for his party and the country, but it is equally sure that he did not overlook the personal advantage which might be accrued therefrom by having his name connected with compromise which should settle one of the most memorable struggles which the United States senate has engaged in since the war.
 Senator sherman's Regret.
 Another senator would be glad if his name had not been connected with the sil- yer bill Reference is made to John Sher- man, after whom the existing silver law has been universally called. Many people have fallen into the error of supposing that because the act was connected with Mr Shermans name it was drawn by him and represented his views upon currency Gar,a 11aaDla have even been