New-York tribune., 1898-11-10
CONGRESS- AND TIE DEMONSTRATION.

CONGRESS-
The unbroken rule of more than forty yearS
remains unbroken. That is the comment upon
the result Of this years elections for Repre-
sentatives in Congress We might trace the rule
still further back. But beginning with the time
when the present alignment Of parties began to
be made, it is 10 be observed that In every case,
without q single exception. til" Administration
has had fewer supporters III It's second House
OF Representatives than in lis first. II Is no dis
honor TO the Mckinley Administration that it
has not made an exception TO the rule to which
Lincoln and Grant were subject. After eleven
administrations have been confronted with re-
duced support, and all hut four Of them with act
ual transformation Of majority into minority,
the twelfth is not to be reprOached Tor meeting
like experience.
Mr. Pierce was elected with Democratic
majority in the House of 159 in a total OF 234
Two wears later he could command the supper,
OF only 80. while III We're directly hostile TO
him. Mr. Buchanan began with 131 Democrats
IN a House of 231. Two years later he had only
e3. against 113 Republicans. Mr.. Lincoln began
his first term with 134 Republicans and Union
lists in a House of lis. Put two years later
there were only 102 in n House of 1856 while
the Democrats had increased from 42 10 80. The
second Lincoln term began with 145 Republi-
cans and Unionists TO 30 Democrats. The mid
term elections changed these figures TO 143 and
40 respectively General Grant went into Office
first with a Republican majority of 1J9 20 Gl
Democrats. Two years later there were only
1873 Republicans TO 103 Democrats. In his sec
ond term the first House was Republican by
1875 to SS. but the second was Democratic by
16S 10 10S. Mr.. Hayes began with 40 Republi-
cans TO 1873 Democrats, and ended with only
1870 Mr.. Garfield entered Office with 147 Re
publican Representatives, just half the House.
Two years later there were only lis Mr..
Cleveland had at first 1S3 Democrats TO 140 Re
pubicans. In two years that majority was re-
duced TO 1G9 TO 152 Mr. Harrison began with
100 70 1G1. Two years later lie had only IS TO
go. Mr. Cleveland's second term opened with
2IS Democratic Representatives to 127 Republi-
cans, ard closed with only 104 to 24S
Such IS the record. The changes that have oc-
CURED in the composition Of the House during
the present Administration are not nearly so
great as III some Of the former cases cited. That
they have occurred at oil is doubtless cause for
regret 1t Is certainly not cause for surprise. II
would have been surprising If even this admira-
bic Administration had broken the hitherto I'M
broken rule.
II we turn TO the Senate we find far differ
ent state of affairs. The Republican strength
VII be much greater in Mr. McINnleys second
Congress than In his first That is in accord
ance with some OF tho best Republican prece-
dents though there has been no fixed rule on
the subject as In the case Of the House. Presl-
dents Pierce Buchanan Grant In both terms,
Hayes and Cleveland in his second term suf-
fered Senate losses ranging from one to seven
Presidents Lincoln. in both terms Garfield or
Arthur, Cleveland in his first term and Harrison
enjoyed Senate gains ranging from one TO five
President Mckinley is 10 be congratulated,
therefore, not only on following the latter cN-
ample, but on being favored with greater Sen
ate gains than any Of his eleven predecessors.
we sad the other day thai the Admnstra-
ton was in no need of "vindication," but that If
it were It would have cause for satisfaction
with tie results OF this falls elections. The
statement IS exactly verified. In respect 70 the
House Of Representatives the Administration
has Jared just about as It's predecessors Jared
for more than forty years In respect 10 the