Year: 1879

The Extra Session.


We have heard of brides who were SO i'm
patient of the tardy pace of slow-footed time
that on the approach of the nuptial ceremony
they had themselves arrayed by their maids
in all the faultless elegance OF white in
which they expected to appear before the
altar. days in advance of the celebration, as
sisting their Imagination by the contempla-
tion of their mirrors in conceiving the
admiration of the spectators on the happy
occasion. Are the democrats, who have
SO long been out of power, and who have
forced this extra session, initiating the rest
less vanity of such expectant brides and
trying to realize to themselves how 1t will
seem to have control Of both branches Of
Congress after an interval of more than
eighteen years? Why could they
not have waited until the time
fixed for the opening of the regular
session in December? We have also
read of persons of gloomy imagination
and great personal vanity who had an
equally silly wish to anticipate the figure
they would make in their funeral pageants.
The most noted instance of this form of
human weakness was furnished by that
", who went through the ceremony
of o mimic funeral in the convent to
which he had retired after his abdi-
cation in favor of his son, Philip
II. 1t is too early to determine
which order of examples the new demo-
cratic Congress is tying to emulate in this
premature session. All that can be af-
frmed with certainty is that the democrats
are anticipating, foy no good reason, pro-
ceedings whose proper date is next Decem-
Der. Whether it is bridal or a funeral
which they are SO impatient to rehearse will
appear in duo time.


What is certain is that the putting of the
new democratic Congress into the exercise
Of legislative functions nine months in
advance of the regular time is a stroke Of
party tactics for which there is no reason
able justification. The democratic Con-
gress can do nothing now which would
not be just as seasonable and just as
efficient if done any time next winter. The
President has been forced to call this extra
session by the resolve Of the democrats to
withhold appropriations necessary for
keeping the government in motion until
the federal election law is repealed. 1t
makes no real difference whether that
law is repealed now or at the
regular session. It Is imperative in
the elections of the present year. 1t
applies only to elections in which men,
bers of Congress or Presidential electors
are to be chosen. Neither Representatives
nor Presidential electors are to be chosen
in 1879, and hence there can be no plea of
haste or urgency which is not ridiculous
on its face. A repeal of the federal elec-
ton law at j any time during tho
regular session. which is to begin in
December next, would accomplish every
practical object which can be attained by o
repeal Of the same law at this needless
extra session. Why, then, is the country
subjected to the-expense Of called session?
It is idlo to plead the jury law, the test
polls, because it was perfectly we'll under
stood at the late session that these points
would have been yielded il the House had
consented to pass the appropriation bills
without insisting on repeal Of the federal
election law. The republicans will make
their stand on this law at the extra session,
and it is not doubted that the President
will veto any bill for its repeal, and veto
any appropriation bill to which the repeal
is attached as o rider. But If Congress
adjourns the extra session without pass
ing the appropriation bills how can the
democratic members face their constit-
uents? The question will be necessarily
put to them, "Why block the wheels Of the
government. now to head of an evil which
cannot be felt until the autumn Of 1902
To this question there can be no answer
which would not be utterly childish.
repeal of the federal election low in 1879
might be important if the law applied to
the elections Of this year. But inasmuch ns
twill next become operative in theelections
of the autumn of 1880 there is not the
shred of IN excuse for the bother, expense
and inconvenience of this extra session.


The idea in which this extra session origi-
mates is palpable absurdity. This absurd
idea is that political party which gets
control Of the two houses may force
it's policy without any regard to
the constitutional rights of the Execu-
tive. The veto power OF the President
is q nullity according to the theory of this
extra session. The two houses of Congress
cnn at any time bring the government to a
deadlock and block its wheels If they
choose to go to the extreme Of Withholding
the regular annual supplies whenever the
President withholds his signature from
fills. Undoubtedly the veto power with
which the constitution clothes the President
could be made an impotent nullity in
all cases If either house should tack the