The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1895-01-19
CONGRESSIONAL 1MPoTENcY.

have been compelled to make known our
dissatisfaction with the representatives
Of the Democratic party in Congress. No
greater illustration Of the utter i'm potency
Of that body could have been given than
their late attempt to decide upon policy
to be pursued in reference to the cur.
rency question. We had always regarded
caucus as means Of deciding upon Q
party policy. Yet not long since the
Democratic party OF this country was
compelled to submit to the humiliatlon
of seeing its large majority in the House
OF representatives utterly helpless and
apparently without leadership. Cha
grined and almost disheartened the
Democratic understandings in the major
ity when united against the enemy at
the last election either reluctantly voted
to sustain Democratic majority in Con-
gress or remained at home. The result
was the overwhelming defeat of the
party. Honest, sincere Democrats all
over the country hoped that the lesson
thus forcibly put before the party in
Congress would have the effect of bring
ing it to it's senses.
A Democratic President, mindful Of
general none airy disorder and of the
needs of threatened treasury, patriot
cally summons bis party to relieve the dis
order by casting aside local and selfish in
terests. Through the chief financial
officer of The go eminent bill is intro
duced. A caucus of the governing party
is called, and the result is that about one
third of the members of the party refuse
to enter the caucus and q majority OF.
those who do enter decide upon policy
to be pursued in reference to the bill.
When the bill comes before the. Ho use,
contrary to all party rule and precedent,
those who attended the caucus regard
themselves in no *ay bound by the &C.
ton of the caucus and as result the
bill is defeated and another charge Of
impotency laid at the door OF defense
less party. 1t is not the defeat of the
bill which we especially condemn now
but the utter lack OF skill and dignity
displayed in legislation by the dominant.
party. We had always supposed that
when a caucus was called the time fox
united action and the utilization of party;
discipline had arrived. That is what q
caucus, is for. and that is the only way a
legislative party can accomplish any
thing. Tn years gone by when the party
formed such an able ana effective oppo.;
sition party, man who bolted his party,
caucus Immediately lost ali his influence
both with hi constituents and his patty,
associates. But now that party in power
can not utilize the means so effective be-
fore to accomplish the fullflment Of it's
pledges. The action of the Democrats in
Congress is inexcusable. They seem to
have utterly forgotten manhood and
party honor in their wild and frantic
effort to make reparation to disgruntled
constituents. There has been an awaken
ing OF public sentiment throughout this
land and the Democratic voters will not
forget those who have from time to time
during this administration betrayed their
party and left it helpless to be jeered at
by the opposition.
President Cleveland is now practically
without party. The present Demo
cratic majority ia worse than minority,
because as long as the Republicans can
avoid responsibility they can be counted
on to do it. In President Cleveland the
country and party now place confidence
and reliance. His lofty motives and per-
sistent effort to bring about legislation
gives assurance that partisan interests
will be laid aside, and that on the asse ~
bling of the next Congress he will
promptly demand for the country that
relief which his own party has in some
respects so hopslessly failed in giving.
The Republicans will then be forced to
deal with the question they so much
drsad, and the country will. no doubt
judge them as merol1essly as it has
Judged the Democrats It is more than
probable that Mr.. Reed and other presi-
Dental ca ldidates would much prefer to
see the Democrats in control of at least
one of the Legislative branches during
the next two years. Thu Republican
party is as hopelessly divided on the sill
YER question as the Democratic party. A
Republican senator boastingly stated
that there could be no legislation in this
or the next Congress, which did not
recognize free silver. It Is not only pos
sible but probable that the Republican
party will be wrecked in the next two
years on this question. In the meantime
another sale Of bonds will have to be
made and the interest bearing debt of
the country thus increased. It is to be
hoped that the play Of politics will not
long continue to interfere with the gen
eral welfare. No wonder John Burns on
his late visit to this country said: 81
wollld sooner be a member Of q town