New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-03-02
THE TALK or An EXTRA SESSION.

PLAYING the demagOgue involves some FISK.
There is always the danger that more men Will
500 through a trick and resent it than will be
fooled bv it. The story at Washington that
President Cleveland intends to hold or call Con-
gress together to act on finances. if 1t prepares
to adjourn without acting thereon, would
scarcely merit notice If he were sincere ana
wise patrot as to the public interests. or even
if he were levcl-headed and shrewd man III
caring for his own interests But he has done
other things quite as objectionable Ills as
position to pose as Il master. his iondhcSs Tor
domincerng and rebuking. might easily Detray
him into this mistake also
1t would be Il mistake. As matters stand the
President has publicly offered to cooperate with
Congress in any measure OF financial ren't
other than those which he suggested, ana.
though he did not wait to see what the Senate
might do. the conduct of that body has fur-
nished excuse for his belief that ii would do
nothing But what he guessed correctly in Jan
uarv he now absolutely knows and the whole
country knows. that there is not shadow
of reason for suppoSng that Il prolonged or an
extra session would overcome the highway
mans policy Of the silver Senators. Most voters
understand that the responsibility Tor del'a'-
Ing financial legislation has been publicly as
sumed by The Democrats and five silveiItes' III
spite of the efforts and protests of the Repnb-
leans.
The step contemplated would be the more
foolish because ii would put the President MN
self in the attitude Of preventing legislation
while pretending To demand it. For everybody
knows that there are Democratic Senators VINO
do not draw a breath without his permission
Every one Of these voted against taking mp the
tariff bill. and refused To bring il to direct
vote without the silver coinage Amendment.
They were aware that it might pass If brought
70 such A vote. and preferred that the Treasury
should 90 on without needed revenue 80 lar
il might be supposed that they had been playing
a small game Of peanut politics without Iresi-
Dental direction. but if the President should
call an extra session, and all his worshlppers
in the Senate should continue TO vote with the
silver men TO prevent any increase OF revenue
that would fastcn direct responsibility upon the
President himself Everybody knows that he
could have secured the votes OF several Demo
cratic Senators for the pending tariff bill by
single word if he had chosen. His insincerity
would be papable if he should demand action
by Congress and yet permit his instruments IN
the Senate 70 prevent the only action 10 when
the majority in the House would consent
The President has gone far already in OPP
posing any increase Of revenue. on the ground
that it was not needed and would do no good,
that he is likely to adhere TO that position 10 the
end Of his term. He has another year. one
year more Of cant and false prctence. and III"
country will have in the White House II may
be hoped, Il man who will not sacrifice every
other interest or aim to the promotion or foreign
imports and the defeat Of American Industries.
BIT until he is ont Of the way the President
stands in great measure responsible for the con
duct Of many Democrats in the Senate. ana
therefore for the failure Of that body TO increase
the revenue and make further wastcfu borrow
ing Of money entirely unnecessary. That re-
sponsibility he would only increase and make
far more clear in the estimation Of the people
il he should insist upon an extra session Tor
financial legisatiOn without controlling the
action Of his own friends in the Senate.