New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-03-09
IS CONGRESS- WISE!

r. 4, nrohoh,v ohyiOus 10 members Of Congress
a. wasbinrton that there is a growing impress
sion among Republican voters throughout 'I'S
country that the party is not representa- i'll '''
most crcdtable manner by Congrcssiohai "'"o"
thus far This is largely because many peoPie
have expected too much. not sufhclen'i! consu
ering that the Senate. composed or eishl! nine
members. of whom thirty nine are RepuDhcahs
five are silver boilers. two are Nevada men, lo'r
are Populists and thirty-nine are Democr''s' 10
not a Republican body. What the Senate hnahy
refuses 10 do the House cannot get done II 1t
ties Rut in order to remove that refusal. many
think. some things might be done which nave
not been done On the other hand, the two Houses
have both shown a somewhat impatient DISPOSE
tion to reach grave decisions on foreign qncs
t;ons without taking time to inquire, even in the
most hasty way. whether the interests they Wish
70 serve will be best served by the action taken
So much will be admitted. even by those who
entirely approve what has been done, and there
is growing impression that members are n'olc
anxious TO surpass somebody else, or anybody
else, in capturing popular sentiment IMAM 10
promote the real interests Of this country. II
that impression docs anybody injustice IL mas at
,east some excuse in hasty action on difficult
questions.
There Is no reason Why Congress shoulu ho'
be Informed that the great public, the miiiiohs
who seek no office and want nothing rom
party but the public welfare apprenend 'ha'
there Is too much President-makng ABOUT WISH
ington. Perhaps 1t gratiiies the souls OF the men
who hope for places If this or that candidate can
be nomnated; but vastly greater numoer oi
Republicans think that neither mistaken leslsii-
tion nor delay of wise legislation should be toll
GRATED for an instant in the hope Of promoting or
snoing any individuals prospects. Whcther
INV errors or shortcomings have in fact been due
IN sucb motives. members Of Congress alone can
saw But the popular impression is not 10 be
mistaken, nor can it fail TO work some harm 10
tho interests of more than one candidate, II the
course of Congress tends to strengthen that I'M
preston.
| II is no part of the duty OF Congress IN 4
Presidential year to make platforms or candi'
dates for any party The truth Is the people
are much inclined TO resent as an imperunence
efforts to that end. They feel quite able TO De
termne who ought to be sent as delegates 10
National convention. and with what instructions
or want Of Instructions 1t does not appear to
the public that, after selecting the present law
makers the people turned over to them the busi
ness Of running the Government in all It's 1unc
lions. Still less is 1t part Of the business or Con
gress to make laws, or delay or prevent laws, IL
order TO influence the action Of the people in inc
selection of candidates If a law is good one
and needed fol the public interest, 1t Is want OF
good faith on the part Of any membero OF Congress
| TO prevent the passage Of such law in order Il
accomplish this thing or that with reference t'
| a National convention and its choice OF candi
dates If measure Is a bad one. ii ought TO D'
unhesitatingly stopped In Congress by ever!
member who feels q just sense of his response
bility, no matter whether It's passage or its de
feat may help or hurt any candidate whatever
Congress Is intrusted with the duty OF maxim:
laws. and its sole business is to perform tina
duty without attempting to control the action o
the people in other matters
II these suggestions appear out OF place TO an.
member Of Congress. 1t will be easy 10
him to show the public that they are not calico
for by wise and vigorous action in the future. l
the people find that Congress does without della.
or hesitation what 1t ought TO do for the welfar
OF the country, regardless Of the real or supposed
interests Of any candidate, they will give credi
for that fact If they find that patriotic feelin
is tempered and restrained by sound judgmen
I'm all matters relating to foreign policy they vii
not be slow to give due credit to members q
Congress who bring about that desirable result
II rests with Congress itself to show that popula
Impressions regarding it's errors of action ar
without foundation.