New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-02-06
PEPUBLICANS NOT RESPONSIBLE.

|
We observe disposition on the part of the
| Democratic press, or, more strictly speaking
the Democratic newspapers of Mugwump ante
cedents, to wriggle. They seem much more
anxious to saddle the Republicans in Congress
with the responsibility of nOn-action on the
silver question than to repeal the Silver-Pur-
chase act by the votes of their own party. This
may be the effect simply Of habit Whenever
in the last thirty years they have been IN
| trusted with control it has always been under
| limitations and checks which, while restrain
| ing THEW power relieved them also in some
degree Of responsibility. Not having had con-
| troll al any one time Of the Executive and the
| Senate and House, they have fallen into a
habit that has become second nature OF ex-
tenuating their own shortcomings by putting
all the blame upon the shoulders of their op-
ponents, who had it in their power somewhere
in the process OF legislation to interpose in
superable obstacles. So it happens that for
thirty years this party has been doing business
Oh mouth full of professions and promises,
which it excused itself from ever living ND to
or attempting TO fulfil on the ground that so
long as the Republicans had the power to
block the path of their great reforms at some
| point of their progress il was only waste OF
time to set them going. Their last performance
of this character was in tho present Congress.
| When they elected their bulky and unwieldy
majority in 1890 Democratic newspapers from
| one end Of the country to the other agreed that
| it was opposition to the Mckinley tariff that
| had brought it about, and that the unmstak-
able meaning of the elections was popular
demand for the repeal of the tariff. Well, why
didn't they do it? Why, because, as they said,
there was no probability of carrying such
measure through the Senate. Whoever asked
why they did not fulfil their promises was an
swcrcd "Why, how can we? Don't you see
our hands are tied by. the Senate and the
Executive?'' And then they proceeded to tie
their own hands by House rules that prac-
tically forbid any business to be done except
by unanimous consent.
But the last election brought an end to all
this. The Democratic party can no longer ex-
cuse its own inaction, incapacity or neglect on
the ground of divided responsibility, or because
a Republican Prcsiden. or Senate can cffectually
block its purposes. For the next two years, at
least it has all the machinery OF legislation
in its own control. 1t has all the responsibility,
too, and cannot escape it. Do they want an
circumstances how to meet the responsibility
put upon them by the Nation? 1t NAV be
found in very recent political history. The
Republican party came into full power four
wears ago, after a campaign made chiefly on the
same issue as the last-the tariff. The result
was interpreted as demand for a Protective
Tariff, Just as the result in 1892 was the pre-
else contrary. Please take notice that making
tariff is the riskiest thing party can under
take 1t is smart politics to dodge the ques-
ton it is craftsmanship to meet it fairly and
souarely. This latter the Republicans did.
Did it when it would have been easy to evadc
IL when Democratic persistence in obstructive
and dilatory tactics and Democratic clamor
against the violation of parliamentary prece-
dents and traditions furnished abundant pre-
text for disresarding the popular verdict; and
when it was evident that a tariff bill in which
so many interests had to be consulted would al
least in the stage Of experiment handicap the
marty responsible for it. With full sense OF
their responsibility, and in full view OF the
possblc consequences the Republicans took ur
the task and performed it to the best OF then
ability. though in doing it they had to ride
over the factions opposition OF Democrats who
contcnded that the natural right of the minor
ity was TO dictate to the majority-the same old
contention Of 1861, that majority rule was
coercion and coercion was unconstitutional
The tariff legislation of the Lth Congress ha:
apparently been repudiated, but whether wise
or unwise, history will record it among the
chief glories of the Republican party that II
the tariff legislation of the Lth Congress II
showed both the sincerity OF its professions
% trfio
That example is worth needing. The Demo
cratic party is now for the first time in THIRTY
wears in the position both of responsibility ant
power 1t can no longer shoulder oil the blame
for a do.nothing policy upon its opponents
For thirty years it has been dealing in mega
tiyes, playing the obstructionist, quibber
fault finder, trickstcr and dodger II has nov
to confront real responsibilities. II must droT
small politics if it can and undertake states
manship so far as it can grasp it. Ii is idle tt
talk about the possible hindrances from Re
publican opposition; transparent folly to under
take in that way to shift from their own shoul
dcrs the responsibility they have so long sought
and for which they now have to show theil
fitness. Whether the question be of tariff OF
silver coinage. or economy in expenditures, {
foreign policy or the administration of the Civil
Service-whatever it may be, they have no ex
cuse for not meeting it squarely and treating
it with courage and decision The party ha
an enormous task before it, and only hetcroge
neous mass of mixed pickle politicians will
which to accomplish it. It's leaders apparentl,