New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-01-05
THE DEMOCRATIC ABSENTEES.

Our Democratic and Mugwump contempt
rarics are crticising with considerable asperity
the behavior of the Democratic members OF
Congress who are just now serving their conh-
try and earning their salaries by aDsentihS
themselves from their seats and so preventing
Congress from doing mischief They say that
the business of II man who has been eiccted 10
Congress and is drawing pay for attending 10
the duties of the Office Is to be in his place anu
answer to his name at rollcall ana mat 'oh-
gressmen who absent themselves are desert
crs, who will be posted rs such ana treated
accordingly There does seem sort OF rea-
sonablcness in the proposition that men VINO
are paid for days work ought To answer 10
their names and put in an appearance some
where besides on the payrolls. The criticism
seems just. And yet We can recall time not
many years ago. when the same Democratic
and MuGwump newspapers were not OH! de-
Tending Democratic members of Congress Tor
doing precisely what they condemn them Tor
now. but We're warmly commencing them. |"
81; in their seats and refuse To answer 10 'hel
names in order TO prevent n quorum ana CD
struct business was then n patriotic duty Not
only were the obStrucionists commented. Dut
the Speaker who had the nerve TO count n
member as present whom he saw sitting bolt
upright before him. visible and tangible though
mute. was Denounced in unmeasurcd terms as
4 tyrant and usurpcr.
Times have changed. These gentlemen, who
thought il was so fine thing for men VINO
were elected to discharge certain duties To re-
fuse not only to discharge those duties them
selves. but 10 combine 70 prevent everybody else
from doing the work they were paid TO do are
now In position where they are themselves
anxious for Congress TO do something when
they consider OF importance. BIT some OF the
men whom they sent 10 Washington To do mat
work either have changed their minds about lis
importance or about the details Of II. or We're
iusinccrc ard dishonest before election in pre-
\ tending 10 be in favor Of IT, The job they were
| cmpoyel for. now that il is cut out for them
| is not M all 10 their taste or inclination. IhAt
! being the ease. is there any reason why ,hcy
! should not follow he same tactics in opposition
| 10 an offensive measure now that they did three
| or four years ago. If il was praiscWorihy
! then. why not now: If n party minority was
justified in 1890 in breaking a quorum 10 pre-
vent LEGISLATION which they thought undesirable
| why NAV not minority Of the members Of Il
| ma i0rity party resort 10 the same measure Ia
| stop action which they do not approve! y rhle
| that works 50 well rs between parties ought In
! hold good rs between factions Of one party.
Looked NJ from practical point of view the
action Of the Democrats in Congress in break
| ing or assisting 10 break. a quorum in order
10 stavc off unwlsc tariff legislation would not
be- mischicvous if the final result Were 10 be FL
prevent The passage Of any tariff bill by this
! Congress- Indeed. If that could be assured. II
The business community could feel certain that
| there would be no change in the existing tarif
laws. the effect would be in the highest degree
! beneficial Trade would revive, and the pres
cnt dismal ASPECT of affairs would be changed
n; once for the better. The trouble is that the
only cifcc; is a pnStponcment Of disaster win
perhaps slight hope Of mitigating in some
! Quarters Il portion Of its evil consequences. As
matters now stand there is Il very general feel
ing that delay only prolongs an intoerabl'
! suspense and that the sooner the worst Is
/ known the better for everybody. Congress
stands TO the people now In very much the same
! relation that the noisy rooster did To tie late
| Mr. CARLYLE. "lt isn't the noise OF his crow
ing that disturbs me-" he said; 1T Is lying
| awake expecting him to crow"