The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-05-05
RIVER AT 8 A. NJ.
A SORRY SIGHT.

8 If the leaders of the two factions Of
the Democratic party would stop for
a moment considering on what terms
they would consent to associate
with each. other, and would turn their
eyes toward Washington and the con-
duct of the minority of the house, they
might possibly be convinced that the
process of Democrats abusing each
other for the benefit of Republicans has
gone about far enough. We have seen
no sorrier sight, not even in the last
campaign, than the conduct of the
house Democrats, who, for the second
time, have divided as party, and one
half of them voted with the Republic
b cans, as If that were a trif1ing affair
. or a.pleasant occupation. Party disci-
pine and party pride seem to have
been thrown to the winds, simply that
2 Democrats might have an opportunity
s to pound each others heads.
The question at issue was one that
ought to have consolidated the Demo-
cratic vote if anything could Speaker
~ Reed, having assumed entire charge
- Of the government Of this country, has
declared that no other legislation
should be considered at this session
Than the tariff BILL and has persistently
refused to appoint committees, or to
permit the transaction of general bust
hess. Having been challenged twice on
this policy he submitted himself to the
~decis1on of the house. Now, there was
every reason why the Democratic vote
should be cast solidly for the resolu-
lion directing the speaker to appoint
immediately the committees of the
house. A sufficient reason, no economic
principles being at stake, was that it
was directed against the settled Re-
publican policy and the RepubIi-
can leader who has never lost an op-
portunity in his life to spurn a Demo-
crat and to revile the party. The spec
Iacle Of any Democratic representative
voting to sustain Speaker Reed is. in
deed, an ominous and hateful one.
A better reason than this existed on
The merits of the case. The country
IS DESTROYS of certain additional Iegis-
ation. The Republican party ought TO
be held to its pledges. The bankruptcy
Dill should be put to the house. To
fatify the Reed policy is to give aid
Ind comfort TO Republicanism at a.
1lnPtUrh whore ha
difficulty and danger. Yet out of a
total Of sixty-five Democratic votes
fast in the house, thirty-three wore the
Reed collar and We're recorded at the
,fail Of the Republican roll call If the
gentlemen who have been for the last
year in charge Of the Democratic ma
eh1nery have ordinary political sense:
If they are capable of understanding
lthe necessity of organization within the
party; If they hope to be able to ac-
eomplish anything for the people, this
spectacle, which has been exhibited
twice during the present session at
Washington, ought to fill them not only
With indignation, but with alarm.
Their followers are not even true to
themselves and their allies. There is
no harmony among them. They can
not even vote as a party on a resolu-
lion which involves a distinctive and
Important party issue.
These same gentlemen who now pre-
pide at the councils of the party
have been active and louuacious
IN prescribing the terms and con-
Hitions on which other Democrats
who disagreed with them last No
Nember, may be allowed hereafter to
participate in Democratic conventions
and to vote the Democratic ticket
Would it not be a good idea for them
to devote a little attention to closing
up their own ranks and preventing
such an exhibition as this, which has
reflected upon the cohesion Of the party
itself? Would it not be equally well
for the sound money Democrats, who
are less voluble, but none the less posi-
tive In announcing the terms which
they have to prescribe before they will
support party councils, to consider, on