Marietta daily leader. (Marietta, Ohio) 1895-1906, 1896-11-30
THE POLITICIAN.

writing and talking about alleged dis
sension in the republican party are
merely showing that they do not know
the difference between 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 of
individuality on the part of its men,
bers in the expression of opinions as to
party policy. Republican Senators
and Representatives who have come
to Washington to attend the session of
Congress have, as has always been usu-
al, expressed their opinions on what
should be the party policy at the short
session, and because those opinions
informed democrats have tried to cre-
ate the impression that dissension was
rampant in the party. They are in
sense excusa BILE. They are bound to
say something, and as there is nothing
good they can say for the democrats,
they haye, 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 individu-
al opinions of what the party in Con-
gress ought to do this winter nearly
every Senator or Representative in
variably adds "but the policy of the
party will be determined by caucus
to be held as soon as we know the
recommendations of Mr.. Cleveland and
Secretary Carlisle" or words to that
effect. Those who are hoping that
talking about dissension 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 conve ntion 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 line of policy.
| While making no pretense to know
in advance of the republican caucus
what will be determined upon, your cor
respondent is confident that the feel
ing that an early extra session of Con
g1ess will be called by President Me
Kinley for the purpose of passing a
general tariff bill is so prevalent thai
one of the decisions will be that it is
unnecessary to attempt tariff legisla
when it is a matter of doubt both as tc
whether even so moderate a bill rs the
Dingley emergency measure, passed by
the House, could be passed by the
Senate or would be signed by Mr.
Cleveland. Even If Mr.. Cleveland
would promise in advance that il
should become law, either with OF
without his signature, and q sufficient
number of Senators would pledge them
selves to make its passage certain. il
is doubtful whether the Dingley bill
would be pushed in the Senate. Last
winter it would have been a good bill
to pass, but with the prospect of gen
uipe and general 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 ur
the deficit in receipts as long as it ex
lists, 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 Senators regardless oi
party aud by number of republicans
who are opposed to further bond issues
| 1t is proba BILE that MIR. Cleveland's mes
sage will renew his recommendation
that the greenbacks be retired, but i
will not be acted upon.
1t requires an enormous amount o
gall on the part OF the free trade demo
Gratis to argue that President Mckinley
ought not to call an extra session o
Congress to act upon the tariff, bu
should allow the matter to go oyer t.
the regular session in December, 1897
and when they try to strengthen thei
argument by trotting out the assertion
that an extra session will upset busi
ness they only make bad case worse
For the republican party to defer actiol
upon the tariff for nine months afte
it has the power to act would be lik
sending for doctor and after havin
his prescription for the patient filed t
put the medicine away for nine month
and let the patient worry along as bes