Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1874-04-22
DEMoCRATIC CoxeREssurx

~ IL
Those Pharisees of the press, who
are wont to assume a monopoly Of all
the virtue and morality of journalism,
straining at gnats and swallowing cam
els, take frequent occasion to criticize
the Democratic minority in Congress.
One time they abuse the Democrats for
not being a unit infayor of Carpenters
Louisiana bill, forgetting that Con-
gress has no power to set the time or
mode of a purely State election. Again
they abuse the Democrats for not pre-
senting some remedy that is constitu-
tonal; and when Bayard presents such
a one, they merely run off to attack
Democratic Congressman on some other
measure, such as the finance question.
In noting the attitude of some South
ern members on this subject, which IN
wolves a deviation from the old Demo-
cratic doctrine of a constitutional spe-
Gle currency, they ~studiously forget
that this attitude of Southern members
is a natural result of the Radical mo-
nopoly of finance, built up for the ben
eft of the East at the expense of the
South and West-Merrimon, Gordon
and others merely ~contending for
an equal share in such deprecated
money as Radicalism affords. In view
fthe overwhelming Republican major
ity. Democratic members differ only
as to how far and in what manner they
can modify existing evils, being de-
barred from placing the knife at the
root. Under such circumstances, the
dominant party are unquestionably re-
sponsible for all evil legislation, while
the minority often deserve praise that
the evils are not worse. The majority
are jealous for thecredit of the smallest
pretense at reform. 1t viii be remem-
bered that, at the opening of Congress,
there arose a bitter rivalry between the
the Republicans themselves as to which
should have the credit of initiating the
so-called salary repeal. Under no cir
circumstances could a Democrat
have started the ball, the
entire machinery Of organization being
in the hands of the Republicans. This
illustration Will be understood by those
who have not studied the additions to
parliamentary law made by Congress
in the past thirteen years, and which
leave the minority absolutely power
less. Under the various gag rules that
now fortify the previous question, and
a two-tbirds majority, the Repub-
licans are necessarily responsible.
are often compelled by duty
TO vote for the lesser of two evils. Dur
this financial discussion, innumer-
able suggestions by Democrats to mod
fly the banking monopoly have been
In committee; still
have boen negatived on
he spot. We doubt that there
S a single Democrat in either
House who does not think all financial
legislation should look to specie re-
sumption, or who would not favor the
Of a set date for resumption.
But many, seeing that such sound leg
is hopeless from the present
Congress, demand for their section its
hare Of what can be obtained. In the {
anne way, all Democrats are opposed
o Pacific railway subsidies. Yet, we I
nay find many Southern Democrats
trongly In favor of Substituting Tom I
Texas Pacific. Why? 1t is not i
because they think it rightper Sc, nor be- [
ause they wish to participate in ill-got- {
en- goods. They'd not abate one jot of t
heir disapproval of the Cakes Ames G
ascality. 1t is not that they seek to
their hands into the Government /
treasury. 1t is simply that the North
m Pacific railroads have already done I
his thing, and, unless they be made to
isgorge, it is only justice to give the [
'outh a like proportion out of the pub |
funds. Two wrongs never make a :
light; but a wrong which cannot be
righted, may be partially /
toned for. The wrong of Substituting :
Northern roads out of a Treasury filed +
y taxation Of South as well as North, V
nay be remedied to some extent by y
.bsidizing a Southern road out of the :
anne Treasury. L