New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-12-01
THE PROSPECT IN CONGRESS.

THE PROSPECI IN CONUHESr.
The coming session Of Congress excites much
less apprchension than was caused by the extra
or the regular session last year, because 1t IS
generally taken for granted that the recent cleo
tion will have a SOLDERING, no to say benump-
ing. influence upon the party IN power 1T Is
possible that such hopes may prove unlouhueu'
Certain It is that the utterances or democrats
from the West and South have been anything
but reassuring. for they have indicated pas
s,onoto dosirc 10 arrest the inroads of Populism
into Democratic territory by CONCESSIONS lainns
ut,,o short Of complete surrender. Many West
crn and Southern Democrats really seem 10 nave
no principle or purpose whatever 'hat uis'ih
pulshes them from the widest Popullst fahatics'
and TO be ready and eager to take up any nl'"h-
cial fallacy that may appease the most lrah,ic
voters. The safeguard for the country Is 10 De
found. it seems probable. not in the sopered
sense or patriotism of the Democrats Dut III
the frmness of the Republicans, and their power
ot short session to prevent mlschievous leSis-
laton.
For instance n large extension of the income
fax is urged with furious carncstness by some
Democrats who insist that nothing else GU"
annrase the voters with Populist lcanngs. IL
is possible that they are right. but Government
which tries TO satisfy Populist notions VIII nave
10 go very far The prosperity or the couh'i!
rennires that these enemies of all that is honest
or safe in finance should be sharply fought, anu
not appeased at all. The Income tax may indeed
no unconstitutional as eminent lawyers argue,
hut that will make 10 difference whatever II Il
| nonular temper is suffered to develop which de-
mands such a tax. Constitutions do not bind
tho ncople in this country when they get a
wrong idea They are the sovereigns after all,
and the only safe way is 10 give them right
| idea. Error must be fought pcrsistently ana
unshrinkingly, until the people come TO under
stand their own true interests and duties, or
they will I'm the end find the executives and law
| makers and courts to do their Will
The progress Of opinion on the silver ques-
t,on shows how the truth will finally prevail. II
sturdily maintained 1t has taken the people
q long time to learn the simple fact that they
| cannot prevent overproduction and depression
| Of silver by fixing an artificial price on the
| metal so long as other nations treat u as
mere commodity, so that restoration OF silver
| TO proper monetary use is no longer possible
without concurrence OF commercial nations. To-
day the knowledge of this fact rules public oplp-
ion as far as the Mississippi, and even further;
ten years ago 1t hardly influenced State west
Of the Alleghanles. If Demo-Popullsts should
attempt this winter to put through free coin
age bill. as they doubtless will, they would BE-
resisted by almost solid delegations In Congress
from all except the slverproducing States, II
the men Just chosen by the people were to de-
eide But in a Congress elected in the craze OF
| Populsm two years ago such a bill might be
| sent 10 the President, but for Republican powers
Of opposition.
1t is probable that the State Bank Dill ana TIC
Anti-Option bill will be pushed with intense
zeal. These are measures which ignorant Con
gressmen expect will klndle the enthusiasm OF
the farmers and the haters Of National banks
If the country could afford another fnancia
| earthouake it could get a large amount OF edu
cation for the people very quickly by putting
either Of these measures into operation. The
wageearners would find out without delay how
| they were robbed by currency varying almost
| infinitely in value in the different States. Inc
| farmers would find out within three months
how it would affect prices OF farm products u
give a monopoly to the mlllers Of the Northwes
and the cotton factors of the South. But Tho
schooling. however valuable. would cost too
much at this time. The people cannot afford Il
have another panic even in order 10 get rid o
the teaching Of Democratic demagogues. The
safeguard Is that the Republicans are both abl'
and willing to arrest mschevous Legislation
that threatens public prosperity, and thus Il
give the country n chance TO escape from thu
consequences Of Democratic success in 1892.