The Fairfield herald. [volume] (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1849-1876, 1875-12-15
The New. Congress.


Tho congress which has just
oponedsits first meoting is in more
than one particular a remarkable
body. The. sudden change in the
political complexion of, the body,
resulting from the political revolu-
ton last fall, must OF course have O
decided effect upon it's policy and
epactments. In the house of rep
rescntativce, the democrats. from
having been for many years in a
helploss minority, now find them
selves the ruling faction whilo in
tho senate, the republican, majority
has boon greatly reduced A
democratic house, republican
Donate and a republican president,
oil at work Mt the same timt, present
q political anomaly POSSIBLE only
in q country like ours, whore peace
full revolutions are wrought at the
ballot-bo1 The meeting of the
present congress has for many
months been looked forward to with
great interest, we might say with
eager curiosity. The chief interest
conferred of course upon the house,
where the democrats were to have
m opportunity of exercising n
power to them quite new. There
are many in tho ranks of the ropub-
lican party that seemed to feel, safe
in'predictins that what seemed n
victory for the democrats would
ultimately rebound to tho triumph
Of the opposite party. Thore were
not few who said that the demo
cractic party did not know how to
use the newly acquired power, and
that, left to, themselves, they would
soon rush headiong to destruction.
This is the merest partisan tattlo
A party that has in it's ranks many
of the ablest and purest statesmen en-
America has cver. producod,. (,
party that has experienced almost
every possible phase Of prosperity
and advorsity, end como out witt
it's honor unsullied, it's great" name
undishonoccd, is not likely to be
guilty of the folly to which it,
enemies charge it to be. 80 prone
The action of the present demo
cratic house is sure to be em;nentl,
cautious, sagacious and patriotic.
The first thing to be done by
the new house, in it's power tt
regulate tho expenditure of the pu'.
lie money, is to keep its pledges
so often made, to practise gene,
al and wholesome economy in th,
fiscal ,sffairs of tho government
The charge Of rccklees extravaganza,
is ono which has been repeatedly IN
most justly mado against the re
publican party, and the: nuddc;
success Of the democrats was large
ly due to the hope, on the part Q
the masses, that political factio1
so long in q helpless minority
would, on their accession to powc,
bring about speedy and, univcrs;
retronchmcnt. Accordingly, til
democrats claim that they can an
will reduce the annual expenses g
tho government fifty millions bt
low tho present figures and thi
too without at all cramping any {
the departments or impairinc thci
efficiency. Candid republican
freely admit that reduction {
twenty millions can be made, bu
assert TINT any attempt to carry tn
economy further would cause grew
financial embarrassment. Retwce
these extremes the democratic major
ty in tho house will be forced t
adopt somo means, that will receiy
the sanction oftho senate aha tn
prcsdent,l This will no, doubt b
done. The republicans in congres
cannot be blind to the y faot tha
the entire people Of the nnioh :, ar
demanding retrGnchment, and ttha
the party that attempts to- resis
such d demand IL doomed to ,solit
cal annihilation.' Nor are tho tinorr
ees OF the government tho only fiel,