Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1874-02-20

Democratic Practice ". Democratic Preaeh'hs'
Some excellent people who noticed with
main and alarm the evils which in time are
ant TO grow up in the shadow OF any great
marty doubtless began to think two or three
wears AFRO. that change of the control OF
the Government was desirable, even II 1t IN
volvei 4 return of the Democrats topower
Some very good Republicans. from such
belief. worked with and for the Democrats
in the last national election. Others, IN
willing 10 trust party hitherto 50 corrupt
As the Democratic party, preferred to wait
awhile and watch the course Of events
before changing their party relations. The
events Of the past two years must have con-
WINGED All such. that no true reform or sub
stantial Improvement can be expected from
the democrats, or from any party OF which
they are the controlling portion. On paper
and in words, the democratic party has for
several wears been violently for reform. In
act. it, partizans resist every true reform,
and practice everything that needs reform
in-. None denounced the increase of sala-
ries more loudly than the democratic press
and democratic spouters But at the open
inc of Congress, the democrats put forward
as their candidate for speaker Fernando
Wood, leading advocate and defender OF
the salary grab" back pay and all In 50
doing they swallowed all their past protests
and nullifed in advance all they could
have otherwise hoped to do TO right the
wrong. That the increase Of salaries Is re-
pealed, is no work of theirs. In like
manner they practically DO their best to
hinder all progress towards reform OF the
civil service. The greater number and the
heaviest in amount Of recent deialcationS,
are OF democratic Office holders. Wherever
the Democrats are in power in city or State
extravaganza and corruption prevail. They
are always ready to talk economy and re
trenchment; but when they have publi'
money to spend, none lavish it 50 reckless
" as they. W. need not 20 outside of our
own city for illustrations OF this. Demo
Gratis among Us talk as soundly as the best
republicans Of the need Of - thorough by
economical administration Of public affairs;
of the evils of a city debt; Of the dangers
Of excessive taxation. Yet the large and
reckless increase of the city debt this year,
if the tax PAYERS shall vote to fund the
floating debt. or Of taxation if they vote Il
pay off the floating debt, is mainly the
work of a Democratic W;-ter Committee
And this will prove to be but the prelude
to more reckless expendit ures in future, j
the Democrats should sue eed. a. they boas
they Will, in securing a permanent majorit,
of the Board of Alderu zen at the comm.
city election.
We consider it demon trable that what
ever j. being honestly ard eiiectually don
towards economy. retren chment. and retu II
to purer ways in the ma ton, in the State
or in the cities, is due mainly to the cour
age and fidelity Of Re- publican Congress
men, presses, and State and city officials
And the Democrat ic party, wherever it sc
cures control, + royes 10 be in practice
what it showed Itself in the Tweed Govern
ment of New York city, ever reckless
wastcfui and corrupt.