Providence Morning Star

Two weeks from yesterday the special session of Congress will meet, to receive from the administration no other than special business, particularly on deficient appropriations and, possibly, on the French exposition. All other business will originate with Congress itself, and will include, without doubt, much discussion on general finance. Secretary Sherman has expressed a desire that Congress shall not intermeddle with the subject. The resumption act is favored only by both platforms of Massachusetts, and the Republican platforms of Maryland, New Jersey and New York; all other platforms either oppose it or are silent. Hence a discussion seems as probable as a general Democratic movement in favor of its repeal, the fatal word having already been pronounced by Mr. Tilden and the St. Louis convention.

Nearly the same is true regarding silver remonetization. It is favored unqualifiedly by both parties in Iowa, by the Democrats in Ohio, by the Republicans in Pennsylvania, and by the Democrats in Wisconsin. The qualified remonetization of silver, its remonetization in such manner that gold and silver shall both be retained in circulation, is favored by the Republicans in Ohio and Wisconsin. Hence a debate in Congress seems almost certain. The duty of the country, in this connection, is plain. It must give close instruction to its representatives at Washington, and watch their every act and vote. Should unfortunately the worst happen, the President will be the only hope of those sustaining the present laws, and he must be appealed to to veto all acts repealing the resumption or the coinage acts. The other questions of interest will be first, the organization; second, the admission of the Senators from Louisiana and South Carolina; and, third, the attitude of both the Republican and Democratic Congressmen toward the administration.

The organization of the Senate admits of no doubt; that of the House clearly belongs to the Democrats, and, probably, Mr. Randall, unless the relations of the House to the President should decide the question. In that case we expect to see a Speaker who is friendly to the administration. Civil service reform will come up incidentally, and all enemies of the administration will make that an occasion for a general attack. There is no telling where that may lead us. It would undoubtedly be best for all if the meeting would remain as technical as possible, would simply organize, vote the appropriations, dispose of all routine business, and go home, reserving the great battle to the December session. The less Congress does on its own responsibility, the better it will be for itself and for the country. Almost all the great problems of the hour, it is safe to assume, will only be complicated by congressional action.