Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1895-10-17
They Are weak nearted.

The wise headed politicians among
the Republicans are afraid of the re-
sponsibility which the last election
gave them. Their fear and trembling
increase as the day for the meeting Of
Congress approaches. Senator Sher-
man has already put out kind Of
disclaimer. He was asked on Friday;
g Do you expect Congress to do any
thing this winter TO improve the situa-
tion" His reply is "That depends
on the President. Tho Republicans
have complete power in the House but
uncertain power in the Senate. | think
something can be done, but it will
depend on the President. I"
After all the denunciation OF Presi-
dent Cleveland and his administration,
after telling the people last fall that
their only salvation depended upon
downing him and his party, this long
headed Republican Senator now an
nounces that "doing anything 10 i'm
prove the situation" depends upon the
President. 1t is case OF self confessed
weakness. Why should the Republi-
cans, after their sweeping victory of last
fall, have to direct the country's atten-
ton to the Democratic President as
their only tower Of strength and hopey
If they have a policy worthy of public
confidence, why do they not announce
it and pass the legislation necessary to
put it in effect?
Oh no! They will do nothing of that
sort. Senator Sherman is not even
willing to say anything about the pos
sibility of increasing revenue by in.
ternal taxes. In reply to pointed
question on that head he says: 81 do
not care to go into that He is
equally shy Of the money question.
When asked .What is tine outlook for
financial legislation" he replied
THAT is question do not want to
discuss 1t is delicate matter and
had better wait. 1t must be considered
very carefully" They are all shy now.
Nothing to say on increasing internal
revenue Nothing to say on financial
legislation! Everything depends on the
President
Evidently the Republican leaders are
as much afraid Of power, now that they
have it, as AN old woman Is of a loaded
gun. Their programme is to shirk il
possible all responsibility. They can
easily reorganize the Senate and 20
control legislation in both branches of
Congress. But they say they will not
take charge in the Senate. They will
deny themselves the pleasure Of chair
manshlps of committees rather than
be responsible for legislation! An out
line of this policy is given as follows
in Saturdays Philadelphia Ledger:
Sin the opinion of Senator Sherman.
which is shared by number Of Re-
puhicane, the most probable outcome
of the situation is Il compromise be-
tween the Republicans and Democrats.
Such compromise would retain
Sergeant at Arms Bright and replace
Secretary Cox with Republican,
while there would be division of pa
tronage between the two parties, the
Democrats, however, retaining control
of the committees and Of the organiza-
tion of tho Senate.
This cowardly and weak policy has a
bearing on local Delaware politics, As
they contemplate it, the managers who
set up Colonel du Points claim for d
seat in the Senate feel congealing of
their marrow. When it was planned,
the planners thought that Republican
Senators wanted to control the Senate,
and that they probably wanted to con
troll it bad enough to vote to seat
Colonel du Pont on the thinnest and
most dubious preteXt. But they do
not want to control, They propose to
leave the Democrats in possession Of
the committee on privileges and cleo
tons. as we'll as the other committees
The policy Of do nothing and dodge,
will leave Colonel tu Points claim
out in the cold, cold world.