New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-08-23
From The Tribune Bureau. !

Washington, August =.
CONGRESS ADJOURNED.-Only those
who had the privilege OF being present dur
ing the closing hours OF this session, OF
passing among the members OF the TWO
houses and of exchanging views with them
can form any adequate appreciation Of the
remarkable change which has occurred In
the mental attitude Of the representatives
of the two-possibly three-parties during
the last few weeks. The regular Republi-
cans depart rejoicing. satisfied with their
labors and sanguine that the country has
come TO realize their difficulties and 10
appreciate their labors. The Democrats,
tenderly nursing that unfailing optimism
which has buoyed them up during sixteen
lean years, are unusually subdued, appre-
hensive lest their efforts TO make political
capital, to put the President in a hole,
and TO cater TO the demand for tariff re-
vision have been too eager. too obvious, and
have served TO shake, rather then TO pro-
mote, public confidence. And as for the
insurgents. melancholy has marked them
for its own. They go back to their homes
Inundated. disgruntled and chasrned.
many Of them realizing that their Efforts
to dscredit the administration have proved
a boomerang, have served no purpose save
to reveal the hollowness and insincerity Of
their motives.
RETROSPECTINE.-W President Taft
called the special session there were few
regular Republicans who did not believe
that he had made an irretrievable blunder
They were convinced that Canadian reci-
procity would fail Of approval and they
expected the Democrats to pass tariff re-
vision bills which the President would have
to approve or could veto only with embar-
rassment to himself and his party. The
Democratic leaders had warned the Presi-
dent of their purpose TO improve the oppor-
tunity by passing various tariff measures,
and the regular Republicans were fright
ened ut the prospect. Mr.. Taft alone had
carefully mapped out his course, and he
alone was free from anxiety because he
had determined to do his duty as he saw
il without regard to political consequences
Convinced of the farreaching Importance
of the Canadian reciprocity agreement, he
believed no question of partisan or personal
political fortune should influence him 10
leave untaken any step which would fur
Their its approval All other possibilities OF
extraordinary
comparison as inconsequent and inmate
rial And the fun measure Of his disinter-
ested advocacy Of the reciprocity agree
ment can he comprised only by those who
know that he had determined that If 1t We're
defeated he would not accept renomina-
ton for the Presidency. He would have re-
garded himself as q failure, whatever
might have been the verdict Of the Ameri-
can people When that agreement was
finally approved with the aid Of many
Democratic votes the gloom Of strictly par
tisan Republicans was almost limitless; and
when the President. convinced that no pol
lev affecting the foreign relations OF the
nation should be regarded from a partisan
standpoint, commended thu Democrats, the
cups Of many Of his party associates seemed
full to overiowing.
THE TARIFF.-Even in the case Of the
tariff the Democrats appeared ito be con-
Quoting themselves with unwonted wisdom
and good sense, and many were the nat
tering, though unpublished, comments on
the leadership of Representative Under
wood Republicans who, as protectionists
could not approve Of a tariff for revenue
only admitted the logic Of Mr.. Under
woods position and commended the appar-
ent sincerity with which he seemed TO he
seeking to fulfil the pledges of his party's
platform. Those who had believed that
long years of experience as minority had
left the Democratic party bereft Of con-
structive craftsmanship began to DOUBT
their conclusions and to regard the ma
tional elections Of 1919 with dire forebod-
ings Then the old and uncomfortable pas
sion Of the Democrats TO make votes