New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-08-04
UUJT DOES 1T WE4N'

What is the Democratic majority. i'll the Con-
gress about to assemble, anyway? What does
it mean? What is It's significance ITS pur-
pose? Can any one tell? A Democratic
House will elect Democratic Speaker, and
Democratic Senate will confirm the nomlna-
tons of Democrats to Office by Democratic
President Beyond that what? Here is the
most anomalous situation ever known in Amcn-
can politics A great party has been placed In
power ostensbly because il is the advocate OF
certain principles and policies set forth with
distinctneSs and clearness in the platform
adopted at its National Convention last year.
The party said to the people: "Thcsc are the
things in which we believe: the things we arc
fighting for If you want the things lone give
us chance and we will do them" The bid
was accepted the party is in power. 1t has
the Executive and both branches of Congress.
The President has called an extra session OF
this Congress to legislate at once upon the most
pressing of the questions on which the party
last wear in convention took the most decided
stand one which concerns the prosperity OF the
whole country and the individual welfare OF
every citizen. If there was ever pledge
offered or a promise made by convention or
n partv it was by the party which at Chicago
denounced the Silver Purchase act and de-
manded its speedy repeal. The President
elected on the strength of that promise has
called together the Congress of which "A clear
majority was elected on the same pledge, for
the sole avowed purpose of fulfilling the con
tract.
Nobody can tell yet whether ~ not II Will
he done. Indeed nothing is more notorious
than that the majority of members elected on
the strength of that promise had at the time
of their election no idea nov expectation of re-
deeming it. The sudden revelation which came
through tentative outgivng OF the Treasury
Department on the subject. that the people had
been deceived, brought on the financial panic
which has created such widespread distress.
1t is partly upon the object lesson which the
friends of the President say he desired to offer
the country and partly upon the influence OF
Government patronage which they made no
secret of saving that he proposed 10 use To
carry out his policy. that he depends TO bring
the maiort, of the new Congress to the sup
mort of the bill to repeal the Silver Purchase
act which they solemnly promised to pass.
This is by all odds the most remarkable sltua-
ton ever developed in the history OF American
politics that party which had laid down IN
its National platform definite plan and policy
had to be partly won over to a support Of II
by Government patronage and partly convinced
of its necessity by an object lesson" involv
ing financial panic and universe! distress.
What does a Democratic majority mean? II
certainly means nothing on the question Of sill
yer coinage. which is now at the front and
! IL IL. l. ii,
nothing in that direction without the help of
its opponents Does it mean any thing on the
question of the tariff? There are no signs Of
it, The party is almost as wide open on that
as on the silver question. II is no less broken
up on the matter of the tax on State banks,
upon which in straight from the-shouder
resolution of hardly more than a line il took
so decided stand. Indeed there is moth
ing in all the Chicago PLATFORM unless il be the
Force bill feature which our jocosc neighbor.
1.-THE NewYorlS Sun" made so much of in
the campaign. upon which this great victorious
party is AT one with itself Nothing that it
can take up and carry out with any thng like
harmony or unity of action The Democratic
majority actually means nothing except a
change in the Offices. 1t means that clearly
and explicitly though even in that i. means
only the triumph of one faction over another.
SO far as any great National question is con
cerned it is utterly meaningless and imDotent
No one knows to-day where the country stands
upon any financial or economic question. And
these are the questions that confront us to day
with terrible energy and resiStlcSs force. And
because no one knows what a Democratic ma
jority means or what it signifies, the Nation
floats to day almost helpless in a sea of dis
trcss and doubt.
The election of last November was a great
and notable victory. But of what?
POLITICS IN BROOKLYN SCHOOLS