New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-11-04
WHAT IS TO CONF.

We are going 10 see glorious good times. Re
publican legislation has been repealed. and mn
limited prosperity Is close AT hand. These
hopes are cherished by good Democrats all over
the country 1t is not by any means pleasant
10 Ropublicans TO cast doubts upon them. Every
Republican would bc glad to see the best and
brightest of these anticpations realized.
Nevertheless the cold facts are somewhat more
useful in the end than hopes. II is not the fact
that the business of the country has in any
practical sense materially improved. There has
been a gain Of greater or less extent in some
of the speculative markets. But II Is the fac',
nevertheless. that the people stopped buying
goods to an astonishing extent in the months
Of May and June. and have not yet begun To
buv nj the old rate. although five or six months
have elapsed, and the consumption of products
of industry has to Il remarkable extent been
arrested The question is when will the pur-
chascs Of the people revive and to what ex-
tent.
II may be admitted that this is not con
soIiny view The men who take hopeful view
of the situation when a Democratic Administra-
ton is in power are quite likely 10 De In error
One cannot tell how far the natural course Of
events may arrest the tendency toward re-
covery. But one thing il is quite safe to say,
that unless there is Il marked improvement III
the disposition to purchase products Of indus
try during the months 10 come Their" VIII DC
found but little cause for encouragement III inc
great Industries. Now the Democratic party mas
decided TO extend the uncertainty Tor some
months longer. The majority in the House has
determined regardless of Republican opposi-
ton. 10 put OF action on the tariff bill until
the next session. which means practically until
some time next year. No other than partisan
reason can be given for this delay. The Demo
Gratis of Congress are as able they will
he one month or three months hence 10 define
the policy Of their party. and 10 determine what
ii intends to do what industries ii intends I"
prostrate and what industries ii Is willing TO
snare Yet the party has decided not to define
It's policy at present. Thus the paralyZing I'M
certainty hangs over business for some time to
come. 1t is q blunder In character like that
which was made by the President when he re-
fused 10 call Congress together in an extra
session In March The repeal Of the silver pur-
chase clause could just as well have been voted
AT that time as at any later date Had II oc-
Cured tfleu, tUP uCtlOu vi tbuSi'SS Nouih WI
doubtedly haze prevented scme and perhaps
large part, Of the disasters which have since
resulted. But the Democratic party saw III to
make the country wait. and suffer and staggcr
along from month 10 month under enormous
losses in the hope that the Democratic ma or-
ity in Congress might somehow get itself united.
or more nearly united 20 that a measure on the
most vital point might he passed without the
aid Of Republican votes The result has been
incalculablc disaster to the country and entire
failure TO unite the Democratic party.
1t is Il question whether the proposed delay
Of the tariff bill will have any better effect.
Evidently the delay in action on this measure
has no other than purely partisan reasons. IL
, public consid erations alone were to govern the