New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-12-03

most of them free-sver coinage fanat!cs-ars
left to serve as an ostensible but harmless OPP
positon At the same time, through changes IN
membership IN the Senate. the Democratic ma
tority of 1894 was reduced TO decided minor
ity and a Popullst balance Of power was estao-
lshed which is likely to yield to an actual He-
publican preponderance before the end OF the
present session.
In each branch Of the new body the Democratic
minority is cut into two hostile factions ana the
Administration Jointly responsible with the DEM
ocratc leaders in Congress for the legislative
bIunders and folles Of the last two years. finds
itself supported only by the feebler half nu-
mercally and Intellectually of the Democratic
remnant at the Capitol. American politicai MS
tory offers no extremer contrast. perhaps. than
that between the omnipotence OF the Cleveland
Administration in National politics two years
goo and its utter impotence and inconsequenos
now.
Mr. Cleveland did not send his annual message
m Congress to-day: nor did he otherwise optruoe
his personality upon the ceremonies wnicn emu
phasized the final and total extinction OF Au-
n,inistration "backstars' influence on elther
actual legislation on Democratic iegisid"N'
rorcv Yet the scenes in the two Houses of Con-
gross lust as inevitably brought nome the hu-
milia ting contrast both for Mr. Cleveland ana ior
his party. between December, 1898 and Decem-
her 1895 1t was the most striking suggestion OF
the day and the most obvious
AN AIR or QUIET CONFIDENCE.
The session opened in both Houses with an
air OF qu.et confidence and studied sef-res'raint
quite removed from the feverish excitaollty anu
exnloeivenass which have so often marked the re-
assembling of the National Legislature under
similar conditions of shifting party power and
That the eXtrdOrdl-
nary politica revulsion Of 1894, which so COM
nleteIv reversed the strength OF the two politi-
cal narties in the House of Representatives,, had
baen able to restore only prospective Repuo-
| loan supremacy in the Senate and had still ieft
q hostile though discredited Administration on
the hands Of the dominant party IN congress
NAV be taken 10 explain I'm part the notaole Hou-
! oration of tone and sobriety of feeling In which
the Republican return TO power in the legislative
branch was accomplished.
Vet there is undoubtedly a deeper reason tor
! the anparent lack in to-days ceremonies OF tnat
rot. ~ extravagant fervor and radical aggres-
sion which characterized the Republican assuihp-
,ion of undisputed legislative control in the
! List Congress In 1889. as it did the Democratic
return to power in all branches Of the Govern
| mani IN 1893 The experiments Of both the LIST
! and ,he JIIId Congresses with general legisla-
t,on esneciay with tariff legislation. II they did
| nothing else taught Congressman OF both par
ties the perils OF great legislative actNity'
For If the election of 1890 decimated the he-
publican ranks. that OF 1894, on the heels OF the
| Wilson German bill csndas, left the Demo-
oro,ic hodv in AZ least one branch OF Con-
orass ,put,lated almost beyond recognition; and
tbere are few survivors who have not now
wholesome fear of undertaking general ana IN
tricate legislation without the most painstaKing
delberaton and only in the most cautious spirit
of conservatism.
With an uncertain Senate and hostile Pres-
dent the prospect of enacting any radical ard
vigorous tariff measure is far from encourag-
ing. and the House ana Senate leaders seem 10
share sneakers Reeds view. expressed in his
| caucus speech on Saturday night and again to-
| day that a moderate legislative policy must be
| adonted to meet existing conditions. But with
| this feeling OF the necessity OF political SELF
restraint evnced to-day is coupled cheeriui
| confidence that legislation OF some sort VIII De
devised TO tighten the Treasurys emparrass-
ments and raise the monthly revenues To Level
with the monthly expenditures The sense OF
satisfaction that Democratic mala administration
OF the finances cannot long continue To threaten
the Nations prosperity. which has found con-
soling lodgment In the public mind. was also
asreeably reflected in the temper in which the
new Congress entered upon its duties and' al
though the opening ceremonies disclosed de-
gree Of political conservation rather unusual
under the circumstances. they also plainly sug-
gested that the gloom and dependency OF last
winter had given way 10 healthier spirit OF
optimism in both branches OF Congress. from
which some definite amelioration Of the hnan
cial situa ton and other present public Ills may
be very Justly honed
MR. REEDS RESUMPTION OF THE GANEL
The .chef feature OF the day. OF course, was
the elevation OF MI Reed once more TO tn,
Speakers chair. 1t served both as political in
cident OF the first Importance and as a spectacu
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BROADWAY. COR 26TH-Sr.-Advt