The Portland daily press., 1874-06-30
Found Wanting Again.

For twenty long tedious years, the leaders OF
the New Hampshire Democracy have, at their
annual conventions in the fercest resolutions,
denounced the radical majority and deplored
the reckless 1uiE which ruled the nation.
During all those long years they have i'm
plored thepeople to give them chance to
see what they could do; and, to leave no
doubt respecting their purpose, they told us
annually in English more vigorous than ele-
giant, the reforms they were nursing until the
people should give them call. What abuses
they would sweep awayl What mountains
of taxation they would roll from the backs Of
aprostrate people! What pure democracies
they would build up in each state, town and
school district! What local selfgovernment
they would restore to the people
For long time the country has been in
such a condition that the people had no dis
position to try experiments. At length
when all national questions are in the course
of sure adjustment, the people of New Hamp-
shire have yielded to their frantic appeals and
entreaties and givenithe old leaders an op-
portunity to put into operation the theories
of state government that twenty years of
political responsibility and leisure has given
them time to perfect. They have a working
majority in the legislature and an executive
of the same way of thinking. That body has
now been sitting four weeks, which is about
the length OF ordinary sessions, and if these
old Democratic leaders. who have acquired
such skill in resolution writing, are able to
make good any of their promises, the Granite
State to-day would be the nearest paradise of
any sovereignty on this globe, by sheer force
Of wise legislation.
What has this Democratic legislature ac-
compished? What is this Democratic legis-
atdre doing? How many laws has it en-
acted for the reduction of taxes? What
measures has it devised to protect the cities
and towns in their ancient rightsp Alas,
nothing OF this kind has been done. We say
1t with regret, for we hoped that twenty years
OF penance had purged the spoil-seeking old
organization of its mercenary desires, and
that now though tainted by bad name, it
might afford a nucleus for real reform
party. But again in power, the Democratic
leaders have lost sight of their lofty resolve
and firm purpose. The Democratic legisIa-
ture can only be called SO by courtesy, as the
Democratic majority is disciplined like a
battalion of troops under few officers, and
adopt only such measures as a central COM
nttee, not of that body, but of the party
leaders perfected at meetings held long before
the legislature met. This method of legisla-
nna oil 10 &. I
jectionable ii the leaders had not forgotten
their own resolutions and refused to stand on
their own political platforms. Instead of
perfecting new schemes of taxation, and
measures to advance the educational and in
dustrial interests of the state, they set them
selves not exactly to secure representa- ton to
minorities, out to go gerrymandering the
wards Of the cities of the state so that four
tenths of the voters when Democrats shall
elect seven-tenths OF the representatives.
The next step has been to remove the Super
intendent of Public Institutions and score
or two of country officers by address on no
other pretext than that they desire to fill
their places with Democrats. The proceed
ings of the House are characterized by the
most narrow and bitter partisanship. The
lights of the minority have been constantly
outraged, and no measure coming from that
side of the House has been deemed worthy of
notice. The other day the Speaker directed
the doors to be locked and under shameless
violation of parliamentary rules, forced
through the edicts of the partisan caucus.
Another scheme under consideration, lis to get
rid of the present Republican members of the
Supreme Court by changing its name and in
few other immaterial points, altering its
organization, so that full bench of Demo-
Gratis can be appointed in place of the present
bench, majority of which are Republicans.
Among the measures yet to be considered is
a bill redistricting the senatorial and coun-
selor districts, which is said to be the most
infamous scheme of gerrymandering which
has ever been attempted in New England.
And all this is done by men who have been
prating about reform and protesting TO be the
champions of popular government.
The Democratic experiment is failure so
far as there is any idea of reform connected
with it. The old party have not acquired
particle of wisdom the past twenty years:
and as progressive political organiza-
ton is as useless for real.reform as it was in
the days of James Buchanan The New
Hampshire experiment settles the question.