The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-12-19
A LESSON TO DEMOCRATS.

In the political events transporting at
Washington on Saturday, two circum-
stances were prominent which should
possess special interest to Democrats.
They show the politicians of the admin
istration to be very fully alive to all the
advantages of their position.
One of these circumstances Is the with
Grawal by .Mr. Payne, under the direct
advice and counsel Of the leader of the
administration, Senator Hanna, from the
projected raid on Southern communities
by reducing their congressional represen-
taton The other is the skill and tact
shown in the effort to stir up strife
among Democratic adherents. It is need
| less to point out that both lines Of con.
duct were dictated by desire to secure
a political advantage. and to avoid risks
to the administration which might ulti-
mately involve serious consequences.
1t IS many years since the bitter lesson
| of the force bill was taught to Republican
| politicians at Washington. The purposea
! Intervention of federal officials In con-
gressionaI and other contests was severe
| ly rebuked then; and in the Intervening
years but little has been said by Repub-
| licans in favor Of the policy of Interference
/ is ample reason for believing that, had
Mr.. Payne anG those associated with
him insisted on proceeding with their
! plan Of cutting off Southern representa-
ton under the clause of the constitution
which they had in mind to invoke, the
consequences were certain In time to be
| as serious for them as those which fol-
| lowed some years ago. 1t was decidedly
good politics which led the mighty Hanna
to Interfere and put a stop to the car
| rying out of the Payne programme It
was little more than an overweening
sense of security which provoked such a
contemplated policy. 1t would have add
ed little to the strength of the admins,
tration and would have been certain to
result sooner or later in bringing a storm
of popular disapproval on all connected
with its execution.
On the other hand The plan engineered
on the floor Of the house by Messrs. Dali
zell, Grosvenor and Dollfver was a well
conceived effort to stir up Denoocra flo
ofssension, and present the spectacle to
the country Of divided opposition. That
it failed in the end was due to the good
| counsefs of Democrats who succeeded in
seeing the drift of the entire procaed-
ing.
| With all the departments Of the ma
| tional government in control of the Re-
| publicans-a condition which we beIIeva
mas not been realized since the close Of
Grants administration-the duty Of Dem
| oerats goes no further than the fastening
on the majority Of all the responsibility
for the legislation which is enacted.
Ihere VIII be the amplest opportunity to
insist on that responsibility. The dis,
position is already clearly marked on tho
| part of the administration adherents to
go to the extreme of their power and to
fasten on the country measures which
cannot receive the popular approval.
| The only check exercised on that disno
sition thus far was that exercised by
Senator Hanna and the president in put
ting present ending to the contemplated
usuTpation of power in the South
With the Democratic minority In con-
gress and the Democratic voters through
| out the country united on all PROPOSE,