National Republican., 1876-10-14
The Work of the Next Congress.

CFIom the New 1ork Times.l
The great gain made by the Republicans in
the Congressional delegations of Ohio and
Indiana is one of the most significant features
of the recent elections. It points clearly to
the fact that on the issues most distinctly
affecting the National Government public opin-
ion in those States is strongly Republican.
Indeed, all the elections this year bring into
relief the exceeding consequence of Congress.
1t is largely on the record made by the Demo-
cratic House of Representatives that the can
vass has been based. No better index of the
tendencies Of the respective parties can be had
than the conduct of their Representatives at
the last session, and 1t is conclusive proof
that the people of Ohio and Indiana are not
willing to trust the settlement of national
questions to the Democratic party when they
choose Republican Congressman in a large
majority of the districts of each State.
This result is the more encouraging when
we consider the character of the work which
will have to be done by the next Congress.
On that body will depend largely the prosper
ity, and, perhaps, the peace and order of the
country. In the excitement of Presidential
canvass it is natural that attention should be
concentrated on the executive offices: but i'm
portant as these are, the possession OF the Ma
tional Legislature is In all essential regards
even more so. The Republican party, through
its National Convention, has expressed its de-
termination to compass three things-a policy
of justice toward the South without reference
to race or politics; resumption of specie pay
ments in accordance with the plan already en-
bodied in the statute, and practical reform
in the civil service. These aims have been an-
nounced in a manner which leaves no room for
1r,nI .nrks1 -
tion, essential to the national welfare. With
Democratic Congress not one of them would
stand the shadow of chance. With Re-
publican Congress, fairly in sympathy with
the spirit of the party, there could be no doubt
in regard to any OF them.
Any one can see that the South has nothing
to hope from Democratic Congress, because
Democratic House last year only succeeded
in plunging the section into confusion, and
putting barrier to the movement toward har-
mony and sound government which had already
begun. If we had not had a Democratic
House we should have bad no such condition
of things as we now see In South Carolina, for
instance. Wade Hampton would not have been
nominated by his party. Toombs, of Georgia,
would not have been stumping the State, max
ing speeches which his own party papers do
not care to report. The audiences at Demo-
cratic meetings would not be ostentatiously
divided into 'infantry" and .scavalry." 1t
would not be impossible to try white man
on negro testimony, as 1t now is, for come,
tion with the Hamburg murders. Govern II
Chamberlain, who had won to his side the best
Democrats in the State by his earnest and sue
cessiul efforts at reform, wJuld not now be
abandoned by them to the hatred and abuse of
the more violent partisans.
The Charleston Neus aud Courier would
have been allowed to continue In the work of
honorable reform and pacifcstion, instead of
being compelled to bay like a huntsman's
hound to the halloo of the ruffians and fire.
caters of fits party. In word, the Democratic
House awakened bad spirit In the South,
which has set IL back long way In the path
toward prosperity on which it had entered. A
Democratic Congress would carry the same
work to far greater extremes. There would
he no measure of justice in the South for Re
publicans, especially for negroes, except such
as the bitter animosity of the lower class of
the white leaders chose to allow.
In the matter of resumption of specie pay
ments 1t is hardly necessary 70 say that the
business community has everything to fear
and nothing to hope from Democratic Con-