The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1896-12-03
WASHINGTON LETTER.
(From Our Regular Correspondent

WASHINGTON, D. O., Nov, 26, 1885.
The industrious gentlemen who are
writing and talking about alleged dis.
sention in the Republican party are
merely showing that they do not know
the difference between a variation in the
individual opinions of Republicans and
party dissension. The Republican party
is not, never has been, and never will be
an organization of cuckoos, willing to
accept and echo opinions given by any
one man. One of the party's strongest
elements Of power has always been the
encouragement and individuality on the
part of its members in the expression of
opinions as to party policy. Repub.
lican Senators and Representatives who
have come to Washington to attend the
session of Congress have, as has always
been usual, expressed their opinions on
what should be the party policy at the
short session, and because their opinions
have not all been alike, a set of poorly
informed Democrats have tried to create
the impression that dissension was ram.
pant in the party. They are in sense
excusable. They are bound to say
something, and as there is nothing good
they can say for the Democrats they
have, like shyster lawyer with bad
case. taken to lying about the other
side. The Republican party was never
freer of dissension than at this time.
While expressing their individual opin.
ions Of what the party in Congress ought
to do this winter nearly every Senator
or Representative invariably adds "but
the policy of the party will be determin.
ed by caucus to be held as soon as we
know the recommendations of Mr.. Cleve.
land and Secretary Carlisle" or words
to that effect. Those who are hoping
that talking about dissention will really
make it in the Republican party are
doomed to disappointment, as will be
seen as soon as Congress meets and the
Republican caucus decides upon the
party policy. Then they will see that
the Republicans in Congress, excepting,
of course, those who bolted the st.
Louis convention and supported Bryan,
who still call themselves Republicans,
but are not so considered by the Repub.
licans, will act as unit upon all ques-
tions affecting that'l line of policy.
While making no pretense to know in
advance of the republican caucus what
will be determined upon, your cores.
pondert is confident that the feeling
that an early extra session of Congress
will be called by President Mckinley
for the purpose of passing a general
tariff bill is 80 prevalent that one decis.
ion will be that it is unnecessary to at.
tempt tariff legislation at the short ses.
sion, especially when it is matter OF
doubt both as to whether even 80 mod
crate bill as the Dingley emergency
measure, passed by the House, could be
passed by the Senate or would be signed
by Mr.. Cleveland. Even if Mr.. Cleve.
land would promise in advance that it
should become law, either with or
without his signature, and sufficient
number of Senators would pledge them
selves to make it's passage certain, it is
doubtful whether the Dingley bill would
be pushed in the Senate. Last winter it
would have been good bill to pass, but
with the prospect of a genuine and gen.
eral Republican tariff bill in four or five
months it is different now.
Whether there will be any attempt at
financial legislation at the short session
will depend largely upon the condition
of the Treasury. Senator Chandler
thinks the Secretary of the Treasury
ought to be authorized to borrow the
money needed to make up the deficit in
receipts as long as it exists, and he may
try to push the idea in the Senate, but
it hasn't the ghost of show, because it
would be opposed by all the silver Sens.
tors regardless of party and by a mum.
Der of Republicans who are opposed to
further bond issues. 1t is probable that
MIs SAoN0AoAu ucccaSo Will I0uOW LIE
recommendation that the greenbacks be
retired, but it will not be acted upon.
1t requires an enormous amount of
gal! on the part of the free trade Demo.
Gratis to argue that President Mckinley
ought not to call an extra session of
Congress to act upon the tariff, but
should allow the matter to 60 over to the
regular session in December, 1897, and
when they try to strengthen their argu.
ment by trotting out the assertion that
an extra session would upset business
they only make bad case worse. For
the Republican party to defer action
upon the tariff for nine months after it
has the power to act would be like send
ing for doctor and after having his
prescription for the patient filled to put
the medicine away for nine months and
let the patient worry along as best he
may. The voters have prescribed pro.