The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-01-11

The nandsomest and most ably edited
weekly news periodical in the United
States. If not in the world, takes The
NEWS TO task for some remarks we were
led o make In our issue Of December27
last. In an editorial article headed
"The Republican Party and the Coun-
try" in this weeks Harper's, attention is
called to the fact that the suggestions
offered to the Republican party by the
Weekly have not been received
in the proper spirit by some of the
party organs. They have announced
that the Republican party needs
no advice from mugwumps," and then it
quotes The NEWS TO the effect that
"Repub lican newspaper. published in
an intelligent New England community,
goes further, and asserts that the duty
OF Republicans, just now, is very clear
and very simple. 1t is TO let the Demo
Gratis stay in the bottom of the deep and
dark hole they have digged for them
selves to do nothing whatever that will
tend to remove the least particle Of the
slime they have plastered themselves
with"
Taking this as text the Weekly
urges that this way of regarding the
plight of the Democratic party is not
patriotism but narrow partisanship.
That it is expressive of the pride that
goeth before fall--the arrogance OF
Tammany triumphant of Hillism RAM
pant. and declaring that fortunately for
the Republican party, the spirit man
ifested by the few newspapers to which
we have alluded is not the spirit OF
the real leaders," Aud then proceeding
the Weekly Declares: W
"The country Is in dire distress, and these
partisans propose that they shall gain by re-
fusing TO help IL out of its trouble. IL the
sound-money Democrats are actively aided
by the sound-money Republicans substan-
tial and thorough currency bill may not be
passed, but the troubles that come from doubt,
uncertainty, despair Of good results, and dread
of what the future has In store for us may be
set at rest and dissipated by bill authorizing
Mr.. Cleveland TO appoint a monetary COM
mission. And to this some Republicans will
not consent, because they want TO gain what
small advantage may come to them from
Democratic blundering and incompetence
They even ask why they should not assume
this attitude, and under what obligation their
party may be TO help those Democratic leaders
who have sound views in their efforts TO re-
lieve the country's distress. These questions
are not asked by a foreigner who has just
come to the country, and who is ig-
norant of our institutions. but by q presum-
ably intelligent man, probably a native of
New England, and an editor of daily news
paper. Ii is necessary, in the last years of the
nineteenth century, and after the republic
has been existence for more than a hundred
years, to tell such man that his party
will basely Detray the country II 1t uses
fits power, whether IL be the power
of majority or of minority 10
gain advantage for itself by prolong-
ing the distress of the people. IL the ques-
tioner had stopped to think for moment he
would have realized that the course which ne
advises would be the meanest kind Of treach-
cry TO the voters who have turned to the
Republican party for relief. Why should
Republicans help Dem ,crats to do their duty2
Because 1t is their duty aiso-the common duty
otry succeeds in turning the Republican lead
ers from what II is TO be hoped is their present
purpose, 1t viii have to reckon in 1895 with the
civic virtue which transformed the Demo-
cratic majorities of 1890 and 1892 into the Re-
publican majority of 1894"
There is deal of sophistry in all this
the argumentative glamor that is re-
hected from the product of an able pen
reproduced in beautiful Typography on
highly calendered paper. But it is bound
to fade in tue washing. The Weekly is
correct in surmising that the editor of
The NEWS is native of New England,
and not a foreigner, and the presump-
tion of intelligence must likewise be
credited to him, as The Weekly remarks,
in so far at least as the constituency of
his newspaper Is intelligent and he needs
must produce work that will not insult
that intelligence. AS matter of fact,
as We pointed out In the article referred
to by the Weekly, what the
Republicans in Congress might
or might not be disposed to do
is not an important question, inasmuch
as nothing they can do can prevail to
stay the overwhelming Democratic
majority, saturated beyond redemption
with populism and unsound financial
ideas. Aud, as matter of fact,
in the earlier days of the life
of the Fifty-third Congress the Re
publican minority joined with any fac
tion of the Democratic majority that
was found to be "sound" on questions
OF national business moment and
national patriotism, aud earnestly en-
deavored to stem the overwhelming tide
of Democrat heresy by thus standing
shoulder to shoulder with the fragment
of Sound" Democrats among their
colleagues.
1t is question neither of patriotism nor
o. n a..