New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-03-03
AFTER THTPTY-SIY YEARS.

History was repeating itself yesterday IN the
Senate. Senators Dubois. of Idaho; cannon, OF
Utah; Teller Of Colorado; Stewart, OF Nevada,
and Morgan, Of Alabama, were It's unconscious
Instruments in the operation. Ihlrty-sX years
ago considerable number Of statesmen repre-
sentlng a minority Of States and minority OF
the people, having failed to bully the party 10
which they belonged into the support OF certain
dogmas of their own concerning the institution
of slavery, in which they had an enormous IN
yestment and vast financial interests, seeded
from the party and set up an organization or
their own. The subsequent election having dis
closed their numerical weakness they took the
further step Of seeding from the Union and
undertaking the enterprise Of setting up a new
Government. They had been playing for many
wears a bold game of buster and bluff in both
the great parties. and been so successful in 1t
that both had encouraged them with compro-
rises and emboldened them by concessions to
the point where they had the assurance to as
sert their right though n confessed minority, to
rule, and the audacity to put 1t to the final test
of war All sorts of offers short Of absolute sur
render were made to them in the interest Of
peace and union. 1t was in It's essence ques-
ton simply and solely of Save labor or free Ia
who honestly believed that the two systems
could exist in harmony and go on together
as they had since the organization of the Gov
eminent. They were willing to make conces'
sons. But as usual in such cases, the ex-
tiemsts, the loud and aggressive party OF
swagger and bravado had their way, and one
day they fred the gun that brought on bloody
war.
Thirty-siX years ago these gentlemen were
uttering dOleful prophecies of disaster to the
Union or making direful threats against the ma
iority who had driven them to take the final
step Of secession in defence Of their cherished
principles and peculiar institution. They had
broken up their own party because the major
ity in it refused TO obey the dictation OF tho
minority, and now they were about to undertake
the dissolution of the Union for the same reason.
| The debate or rather the speeches. in the Sen
ate yesterday-fOr there was no debate-rc-
called the scenes and the conditions Of thirty
six years ago. A truculent and turbulent minor
ity representing an interest. special, peculiar
| and local, with which all other business, finan-
cial and commercial interests are In conflict,
were indulging In the same dismal prognostica-
tons, uttering the same threats and making the
same play on the creduty and the fears of the
/ majority that the seeding Senators were put
ting up in 1861. Then it was the saveholding
interest that had been paltered with, deceived
md betrayed by both parties. until forbearance
had ceased TO be virtue. Now it Is the silver
mining interest that has been similarly paltered
with. deceived and betrayed. In the last days
Of the XXXyIth Congress the slavery ex-
tremists were denouncing the men of moderate
and conservative views. who up 10 the last
moment were hopeful Of compromise. In the
last days Of the LIVth Congress the silver ex-
/ tremlsts are holding the same tone toward Sen
ator Wolco,t and those who hope for blmctal-
lism by International agreement.
The parallel is complete. 1t was the culmina-
ton yesterday. as 1t was thirtysix years ago, OF
q gh-handed attempt to browbeat and over
ride a majority by an active and aggres-