The Findlay Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Hancock County, Ohio) 1870-1881, 1876-02-04
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THE FRUITS OF A DEMOCRATIC
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
From the Cincinnati Gazette !


From The Cincinnati Gazette
Some one may say there are no fruits.
| True in one sense, but there have been
lessons, and those of no small import
ance. In the case of choosing Presi-
dent, and by necessity changing the
men, if not the policy of the government,
it is very important that the people of
the country should know of what
material, and of what spirit and purpose
the great parties which contend for
power, are composed. These parties
comprise the people it is true, but it is
only small part of them-such as
Congress and State officers, and ambi-
tions politicians-who assume to guide
and state the principles of parties. This
is emphatically true of Congress. Since
the year I719 to that of 1924, a consider
able portion of our history-the whole of
political business-was settled by
Congressional caucus. The only deprrt-
ure since from the caucus system is in
the Convention for the nomination of
President. The business of Congress is
still, in all importants, directed by the
caucus, and this from the necessity, as
well as convenience, of concentrated
action. The Speaker was nominated by
caucus; the taxing up and the termina-
ton of certain subjects are directed by
caucus: We mention this to show that
Congress is the central body in which
begins and is shaped the great subjects of
political section and discussion. This is
Very proper, because it is the direct rep
resentative of both people and States.
The people are indeed the supreme
court of appeals, but it is proper and
convenient that the political attorneys
should bring their cases before this su
preme tribunal. Well, such being the
fact, let us see what Congress, especially
the House of Representatives, is prepar-
ing for us. The house came fresh from
the people, The majority were elected
not merely by Democrats, but also by
disaffected Republicans. In one word,
it represents the feeling that there was
something to reform, something to econ
omiZe, some faults and evils to be cor
rected. Now, let us see how the House
represent that feeling, and what they
find TO correct. 1t has been in session
nearly two months. 1t his held its eau
cuses. IL has appointed its committees.
1t has ATTEMPTED to shape policy, and it
has utterly failed. In the mode and
manner of this failure there are some
great lessons. There is a powerful,
though silent, appeal to the people
against putting the Democratic party in
power. First, this session of Congress
mo matter what may come, has demon
strated the ineapacity of that party to
successfully carry on government. On
the floor of the House are Randall,
Wood, Cox, Kerr, and several ether
men, who are noted leaders of the Dem
ccratic party, with a powerful majority
of the House behind them, and, one
would suppose, capable of both shaping
and acting on public business with sue
cess. What is the result! With a few
honorable exceptions it has exhibited a
sympathy with rebels, a weakness in tai
ent, and an ignorance of public affairs.
Let us take some of tine facts. Mr.. Kerr,
the Speaker, was well spoken of as
man and a statesman. He was elected.
What did he. The first great work was
the appointment of the committees. In
stead of shaping the committees with
regard to their capacity for public busi-
ness. he shaped them in reference to
tIieir services to himself (such as Morri-
SOM, and 10 the Presidential candidates.
They we're such that almost the whole
newspaper press ridiculed them, and the
the worst of it was the ridicule was well
deserved Morrison, Whitehouse, and
others, in places where statesmen OF all
parties had served, We're enough to make
a lest or point a sarcasm. Then came
the introduction of some important res
olutions and bills concerning Louisiana,
amnesty, etc. In the course of these
proceedings the Democrats, who had
seventy majority. were signally defeated.
! The point OF this is not in the result, but
in the evident, palpable fact that the
Democratic party III the House wanted
capacity. 1t was incompetent to the
practical conduct of parliamentary af-
| fairs. They either had not the men, or
| did not send them, who were capable of
conducting the business of the country.
1t was not want of experience, but want
of capacity. This state of fact, too, not
from the want of capable men in the
party, but from want of the moral pow
er to prefer and elect them What, then,
can be expected from the administration
ola party which makes such a demon
stration before the Nationf
Let Us t,irn now to another fact-the
| views of the House on reform. We have
seen that Whitehouse is chairman of
some committee on reform Such an ap-
point,nent was the most perfect satire
which the Speaker could have made
/ This man is the representative ofDuchess
and Columbia counties, n. Y, and was
notoriously elected by corruption. In
the last election QS65) it gave 4, 900 Re.
publican majority. Comment on this is
unnecessary But let us see what they
are trying by way OF economy. They
have proposed-or will through the
conmittee-to reduce the paw of the
professors at West Point, the cadets. and
of Second Lieutenants. This is the
most perfect example of the old line.
'.Parturiunt monies nascetur ridiculus
mus" which has eyer been exhibited in
cur annals.
The mountain was in labor and has
brought forth a ridiculouse mouse I
| Ridiculous in every way. In the first