The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-12-04
The Composition OF Congress.

The Fifty-sixth Congress, whose first
session opens to-day, has plenty OF work to
do. but necessarily good deal Of its time
will be given to emitting preliminary blasts
from the campaign trumpet. On tho Demo-
cratic side the Hon. JOHN JACOB LENTZ will
have to weep over the calamities OF his
fugacious idol. the Hon. EMILIO AGUI-
NALDo. lone of the heroes OF the world :"
the Hon. JOE BAILEY will have to shield
the Constitution with his illimItable
shirt bosom, as usual; all the rag-tag and
bob-tail Of anti-expansion will have to howl
it's howl. The Octopus will he duly
baked and grilled. Militarism and tho
money power will be solemnly banned. We
rather pity the Hon. DAVID BREMNER
HENDERSON and the substitutes whom he
drafts into the chair during tho weary
hours when the Democratic brethren are
foaming over the war OF criminal aggres-
sion in the Philippines and butting wood
emily against the iron fact OF expansion.
Meanwhile, Gen. JOE WHEELER. the
noblest Roman Of them all, Is criminally
aGgressing in the Philippines. Leaving him
out the House contains 100 Republicans.
1877 Democrats. Populists and 8 Silver
ties. The figures OF the Official list may
vary slightly from those OF the unoff1cial
list, and there is always more or less uncer-
tainty about the proper classification OF
the Fusionists, but In any event the Repub-
lican majority Is slender. Better that IL
should be so, for wisdom and caution
are more likely to mark the language and
the measures OF Congress In which the
dominant party is forced to do what II can
rather than what it would
In the Senate. the Republican majority Is
ample, the number Of Republicans being
81 and the number Of Democrats, Popu-
lists and Silver Republicans 35. We include
the Hon. WILLIAM NORRIS STEWART OF Ne
vada among the Populists or the Silver Re-
publcans. although II Is his wish to remain
unclassfied. There are four vacancies. not
including the Hon. RICHARD FRANKLIN
PErTIGREw OF South Dakota.
Tho relations OF Hawaii to the United
States should be defined by the Fifty-sixth
Congress and form OF government pro-
vided for 1t. Porto Rico, which Is In an
inferior state OF political development,
should at least have commercial freedom
with the United States. This Ia a much
more pressing question than that OF the
beginning OF self-government among the
Porto Ricans, as to whose political status
= conservative course is wisely suggested
by Secretary Roof. The extension OF the
tariff and financial system Of the United
States to Porto Rico, whose market has
been taken away by the war, Is a matter Of
justice a. we'll as OF sound business. But
we suppose that tho proposition 80 to do
will stir to mutiny and rage the gentlemen
IN Congress who have been passing the
summer and fall In the compilation OF
speeches on mo Colonial System!"
The Philippines are likely to be the sub
ject OF debate enough, but tho time has not
yet como to make them the subject OF legls-
latlon. The embers OF war have yet TO be
extingulshed. The erection OF a form OF civil
government for the islands is still at a
considerable distance and will require
wary elaboration. Currency legislation,
as demanded by a few enthusiasts, must
DO handled sensibly. The Flfty-sixth Con-
grcss does not need to waste time In merely
undertaking to settle anew what already
has been settled for twenty-six years.
On the Republicans of the Fifty-sixth
Congress, and on the Hon. DAVID BRRM-
EER HENDERSON in particular. rests re-
sponslblllLy which we do not doubt their
capacity to discharge. But they should not
try to do too much. After all, talk is the chief
business and pleasure OF Congress. al.
though everywhere OF making laws there
Is no end.
Triumph in War and in Peace