New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-02-08
THE ADMINISTRATIONS DEFEAT

The defeat of the Springer bill. otherwise Ad-
ministration Bill No. g. ends all hope or any
useful action in the House or by TINS Congress-
1t was rightly assumed that no such measure
could pass the Senate. Indeed, there had Deen
a careful canvass in that body, showing that IL
had no chance Of success. Then ex-Speaker
Reed offered his substitute, not claiming that IL
was by any means the best possible thlng Dut
affirming. with an ace iracy which the suDsc
urent vote in the House manifested. That IT was
the only measure for relief Of the Treasury
which had any chance OF success. 1t Is not at all
surprising that Mr. Reeds substitute was beat
en-. 100 to 49, and presumably he looked for no
better result The Administration Bill No. !,
which had never a chance of success unless the
Republicans concluded to support 1t with much
unanimlty. was then beaten, 13j to 162. ana Mr..
Springer again scores magnificent failure III
judging or forccasting the opinion of his own
partiSans In the House.
1t is plain that this action in the House rem
dprs inevitable the issue of bonds which the
Administration claims to have negotiated about
a week ago Here again, as so many times he
fore narrow partisanship dictated the course or
the Administration. The bonds could have been
placed at better terms. on The very face OF
things. without any vote in the House Tor or
against the issue Of gold bonds. hut the Presi-
dent determined, for no other than partisan
reasons To defer the issue Of bonds which, IL
was stated some days ago. had been finally ar
ranged with foreign bankers the Demo
cratic House had voted or the latest proposition
by the President. Right well he knew. as the
result proves. that he had taken care TO propose
what the Republican members of the House
could not approvc-the unlimited retirement OF
grcenbacks for one thing. and the substitution
Of silver certificates for small silver notes. What
the President was hungcring for was not bill
10 relieve the Treasury or the country. but
bill TO give the Democratic party an excuse for
existing He tried TO entrap Republicans into
helping this partisan scheme, and he has
wretchedly failed.
As 10 the merits Of the Springer bill-that is,
the latest Administration device-it is n waste
Of words to say anything. The bill was never
expected nor intended to be passed Mr.. Spring
or was perfectly aware. when he ros" To ask
it's passage by the House, that IL had nor
ghost Of chance in that body or In the Senate
and if ne did moi know that fact he was at that
moment The dulles man in the tnitcd States
The necessary alternative Is that he was not
the most honest man In his statements. but he
has been on so many sides Of the financial qucs
ton within two months that there * no occa
sion for supposng that he had any conviction
or opinion Of his own. But it was far from
decent for the Administration 10 insist upon
the passage OF such bin in the House when
II was perfectly well known that il had not
even IA possibility Of serious consideration in
the Senate.
The game Of picayunc politics has been played
by the President as far as 1t can be, and now
he has 10 issue bonds under cnacimcnts Of a Re
publican Congress fifteen years ago. which the
Democratic party AT that time denounced with
measurclcss indeccncy Of language and temper,
and which il has repeatedly tried 10 repeal. 1t
u.s. unfortunately. necessary, because Of the Pres
ident's unwisdom and the amazing folly Of his
party that these bonds should now be issued.
He will get all the credit 10 which he is en-
titled for thus protecting the honor Of the Nation
after he has imperilled IL for months in a fanai
zeal endeavor 10 serve his party at the expense
Of the country.
If the Administration had told or had known
the truth this issue OF bonds would have been
fruitless and foolish The latest letter OF Sccre-
tary Carlisle meant nothing II II did not mean
that such a sale Of bonds would be wanton
and almost criminal waste Of the Nations re-
sources and credit. But the Nation knows bet
ter. and is well aware that President Cleveland
must borrow a hundred millions, now and then.
so long as he sticks 10 Democratic theories
about the revenue He will pay big price,
hut It is part of the cost Of Democracy. He
will run a desperate risk but 1t Is for the sake
Of party He will give the business and In
dusrial world some months more of deep lis
trust and uncertainty. only because there seems
4 a n oh hn Of hp IN
folly Of the Democratic revenue bill may thus
I've avoided