, 1876-04-26
DEMOCRATIC CONGRESSIONAL 1MBECIL-
ITY,

Five months hare passed. avny sinco tho
Democratic House Of Representatives organ
ized and entered upon tho long-promiscd
work of restoring the Government to sound
system Of hnance, currency, tariff, taxation,
aud Of general administration. But tho flve
months have gone by and so fur thero has not
been refor1datory net passed not even
single proposition matured to giyo assurance
aud confidence to an anxious mud expectant
country. For sixteen yeara the Democratic
party has been asking tho country to givo 1t
majority in Congress that It might
bring the country back to a sound
currency, low taxation, and general
prosperity, aud for six months tho
Democratic 1party las been in tho abso-
lutte control Of tho House Of Representatives,
the fountain OF nll revenue legislation, and
wlat Las it done?
The Democratic members OF both Houses,
after protracted caucusing, were unable to
agroo upon any measure relating to green
baeks, National Bank notes, expansion or
contraction, or specie payments. Though
the Democrats arc numerically almost two
to Que, no proposition Of any kind relating
to either OF these subjects has received the
voto to take it up for consideration, much
less vote approving 1t. On all that relates
to finance aud currency, the House il more
ut sea than 1t has been for ton years, and tho
Democratic majority confess to an utter in-
ability to doal with any branch Of the ques-
ton. or to pasa any act Of legislation in re-
lation thereto.
For fifteen years the people and the coun-
try have bocn subjected to an infamous sys-
tenn Of tariff taxation which has been dentroy-
ing the trade, defeating revenue, impoverisl.
ing the producers, and consuming the sub.
stance Of tho whole people. II there be one
thing in tho ante-War hiatory Of the Demo-
cratic party eutitling it to honor and credit
| it was the zeal, and aarneatness, and fidelity
with which it confined taxation TO revenue
purposes, aud administered the tariff on
sound and correct principles. A thrift foi
revenue only, and 10 taxation except fol
revenue constituted policy which, while
securing prosperity to the country, waa ao
copied gospel In tho Democratic party. But
| the Democratic HouBe, With liberal aid from
! tho Republicans, have not dared to pscsen,
that question to \ vote. The moment that /.
way suggested that 80 per cent ba taken from,
The tar on tho shirts, coats, pantaloous,
overcoats, hats, and boots aud sAoes oi
men, and as much bo taken from the
tax On tho clothing Of women and children
aud from tho tools, implements, and ma
ehinery OF production, aud from all the asti
clea entering into the general uses Of domos
Tic economy, which reduction Of tax nigh
bo made with 1itslo or no loss OF revenue
and to substitute low tar on tca and coffee
which, when collected, would ba al revenue
the traditional followers Of the great Demo
cratic fathers, ancient and modern, to US,
one Of the cant expressions, laid down on th.
new Tariff bill. FERNANDO Woop, who claim,
10 he the modern JEFFERSON, SAN RANDALL
the hA11roa OF this ago, BARNun, who per
sonihes tho wisdom Of MADISON, and LAs
pxns, compared with whom JACKSON wa
insignificant, all entered their protest ageins
any such rational and intelligent proceeding
Tho TAn6 hill-the measure which nigh
have baen beneficial 10 tha country au
cEeditabls to the pasty-ia therefore ~ dea
in the Democratic House ~ II. tho only Den,
ocrats In the body represented Pennsylyani
iron and Vermont alate.penoils.
Ths House has undertaken to investigate
| sn1 hsa bsaa suoossstul 10 ths sxtsna ol COZ