Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1894-06-15
TIE POLITICAL OUTLOOK.

There can be no doubt that the prevailing
feeling among Democrats is one of despond
ency. The feeling is a natural one in view
of the situation In Congress, and one which
we have shared in common with our people.
But upon reflection we are disposed to think
that perhaps the difficulties in the way OF
Democratic success at the approaching con.
gressional election have been exaggerated,
and the real situation is not so bad as il
might be.
Nothing so disheartcns one, for the time
being, as disappointment, and the disap-
pointment, in turn, is in proportion TO the
promise of achievement and ones reliance
upon the fidelity Of those entrusted with the
work In hand. So far as platform pledges
and the popular ratification Of them could
indicate, the party entered upon the work Of
government with unprecedented unanimity
and with its pathway bazed 80 plainly that
mistake seemed impossible. II there has
been wandering, II has been through the de
liberate purpose Of the guides and not be.
cause the road was hidden or obscure or de.
vious And with this knowledge, to be
brought to halt in the quagmre Of decep-
ton or the jungle Of protection, is enough
TO cool ones ardor and awaken discourage.
ment and disgust.
But all is not lost, by any means. The
disgust of the rank and file of the party is,
in itself, sign of health, and while it may
have no effect upon the Senate, where no
influences, "high or low" disturb the seren-
ity of dignifed conservatism, there is reason
for the hope that the party may yet go TO
the country with better record than the
Senate would give it, and with reasonable
assurance of carrying the election. The
House of Representatives is, fortunately, not
SO impervious TO the influence of popular
sentiment as the other branch Of Congress.
Its dignity is of quite as much Importance
TO the country and TO itself as the dignity of
the Senate can be to that august body. 1t
has met the public expectation where the
Senate failed 1t has popular support where
the Senate has popular condemnation. II
has regarded the party pledges and needed
the party demand in those particulars in
which the Senate spurned both.
The House, therefore, is in position TO
redeem most Of the ground which has been
lost or abandoned by the wearying tactics of
conservative Senators The conference com
mitlee affords the opportunity to restore TO
the tariff bill those features which, from
Democratic standpoint, are regarded as fun
damental and upon which the election of
1892 was won. There is reason to believe
that the leading members OF the House are
disposed to insist upon this course and throw
upon the obstructionsts of the Senate the
responsibility OF defeating the Democratic
purpose. If this is done the good sense of
the country will see just where the blame
lies, and the punishment will fall, not upon
the party which as a whole has done its |
duty, but upon the few whose party loyalty |
failed.
In the existing condition of affairs, the |
present temper Of public opinion, the duty |
of the House of Representatives seems to be
a very plain one, and lift is performed there
is no reason why the battle of 1894 should |
not result in Democratic victory.