Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1870-04-12
HOW 1T WORKS.

The exclusive devotion Of the Radical
party to its policy of reconstruction and
prescription is beginning to have a very
palpable and desirable effect The peo-
pie, the business, industrial classes, are
growing weary of that character of legis-
latiOn to the neglect of such legislation as
will relieve the country of the burden of
oppressive taxation and give to US con-
sistent and reliable financial policy. The
New York Times sees in the result of
the recent election in Connecticut some
thing which should make the Radicals
pause in their present course. In COM
menting on that election it says:
We must look to Washington for a
satisfactory explanation of the result, and
the same influences which have operated
so depressingly in Connecticut are to be
found silently but powerfully at work all
over the country. One year ago the
great body of the people were buoyed up
with the confident expectation that they
were close to realization of practical
policy of peace, 10 be based upon section
al Cancellation, final adjustment of the
remaining details of reconstruction, a
material reduction of taxation, q definite
and settled financial policy and rigid
economy in the administration of affairs.
The issues of the campaign of 1868
were undeniably those we have Just stated.
They had been so long postponed, and
tho raaCY,la hod haap 90 nf4o,, 10
their efforts 10 have them crystallized into
policy, that popular feeling had been
intensified. Nearly four years of con-
slant struggle and contention between
Congress and Grants predecessor had
wearied the general patience, although it
had not weakened the popular resolve of
adherence to that policy. Under such
circumstances it was natural that the peo-
pie should rely upon the Forty-frst
Congress to carry out their behests
without further delay, and thereby |
afford them an opportunity of |
entering upon the long-deferred work 1
of material development and recu-
peration. But when that body convened, !
and gradually evinced careless disregard |
of the pressing necessities of legislation, |
as well as of the stringent requirements of |
material adjustment when week after |
week was consumed in purposeless ora
tory; when weeks merged into months |
without bringing any substantial result; /
and finally, when the old antagonism of |
the Senate toward the Executive was
allowed TO mar the general accord, then
popular impotence BEGAN gradually to
grow into evaporation.
Congress, and especially the Senate, is
rapidly losing its hold upon the popular
confidence by the dilatory and trifling
course which it has pursued for four
months. The evidence seems conclusive
that in every section of the country the
Republican party is suffering severely
from It's omissions as well as its acts. The
rank and file of the party are becoming
lpathetic, if not Indifferent, and we ac-
1ept the result of Mondays election in
as an evidence of the fact.
We have no doubt that if Congress had
itself to the work before If
with a more evident desire to achieve
practical results; if it had been harmoni-
JUS with itself and the Executive, and if
{ had wrought out definite financial pol
cy involving recognized expedients of
economy and relief to the suffering tax
ayers and business interests, the apathy
We have mentioned would not have ex- (
sted, the four thousand Connecticut citi- !
ems who staid at home on Monday would
ave voted, and Gov. Jewell would have
cen elected by majority much greater /
nan he received last year. 7
1t is gratifying to learn that so able and 0
lfuential journal as the Times sees the =
eCessity of a change in the tactics of its
lrty. 1t concludes its article with the
lmonition to Congress that eff it does T
1t hasten to perform the work which it =
-ould have done long ago, and to which A
stands pledged, it may be sure that Con al