New-York tribune., 1898-11-15
SUGGESTION AND CONFESSION.

1t Is cverybody's privilege. Of course, TO offer
advice TO the Administration and its Repub-
llcan supporters in Congress- and we note an
unusual eagelness In certain quarters, now
that the general results OF the elections are
known. to exercise this privilege. This Is cs-
pecially noticeable in the case OF some or our
contemporares whose activity and zeal in be-
half of Democratic candidates for Congress.
for weeks before and down to the morning OF
Election Day. could not have been outdOne.
Some Of these candidates had voted rs mem
bers Of the present Congress, for the Teller
resolution. but II was boldly claimed on their
behalf that they as well as all the other Demo
cratic Congress nominees In the Middle and
New-Engand States were sound money men
all except Sulzer-and on that ground Ell
titled TO the support OF the Gold Democrats.
We do not remember that the candidates them
selves were voclfcrouS in asserting this claim
In their own behalf If It was well founded
the Bryan Democrats who supported them in
Ncw-York. Pennsylvania. Maryland Ncw,Jcr-
sey and Massachusetts were terribly deceived,
and not fewer than thirty-two Democratic
Representatives from those States in the LNlth
Congress will uphold the gold standard and
support and vote for sound financial measures.
We hope such IS the fact 4 serious doubt
Is raised. however. by IN editorial which was
published in ''The New-York Times Of yes
teriay under the caption Meet the Currency
Issue Now" 1t Is argued that IA bill embody
ing the soundest convictions Of sane men
that Is. Republicans" could be passed, notwith-
standing the breyty OF time available, before
March 3. 1899" and that "pOstp0nemcnt will
make It more difficult 10 get bill through
'the House OF Representatives of the LNlth
Congress with It's reduced Republican major
'Hty.' 1t Is painfully apparent that "Thc
Tines" already realizes that upon Republican
majorites in Congress only can the country
depend for sound financial leglslation and that
that newspaper does not expect any assistance
from the sound money" candidates OF It's own
party whose claims il was advocating week
ago and who were elected. The confession
comes. however somewhat sooner than might
have been expected
The suggestion that the present Congress
shall drop everything else and address itself
10 the task OF reforming the currency this win
ter. with a Senate so evenly divided that
bill II 1t could be brought to n vote. which
would be impossible could not be passed with
ont the help of Senator Kyle and the casting
vote Of the Vicc-Presdcnt. is about as imprac-
ticablc as any that has yet been offered The
session will last exactly seventy-four days not
including Sundays and legal holidays. All the
war appropriations made at the last session
will expire by Limitation Oh December 81 and
many Of them must be renewed before that
date. IT may reasonably be expected there
fore that this matter will absorb large share
Of the attention of Congress during that month,
80 that only seven weeks Of the session will
remain Even If the House should pass Cur
rency bill by the middle of January. does any
body, not excepting our esteemed contempo-
rary, believe that II would pass the Joneses.
and Allen. and Pettigrew, and Turpic and
Stewart and the rcst. and reach n vote In the
Senate before March 3. 1890:
After March 3 there will no an effective
working majority Of Sound Money Republicans
in both branches Of Congress which viii be
both willing and competent to deal with all
legislative questions that may arise. including
those which relate to the National currency
and finances.