Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1876-05-03
The Farce Of Congress.

Congress have already elapsed, and
what has been accomJ lished worth
speaking of? In vain do we seek for
a satisfactory answer in the record of
its proceedings. A very few acts of
secondary Importance have been passed
and much partisan talking and "in-
vestigating" has been done amounting
to nothing. This. in brief, is the
history of these five months in Con-
gress. 1t is rdicuously paltry
showing toward the realization of the
great expectations with which the
leaders of the majority in the House
sought to inspire their friends at the
opening of the session And that the
Democratic majority in the House are
responsible for the obstructi rs, de.
lays which notably characterzes this
Congress, is too obvious to admit of de-
NAL.
The fact is, the Democratic leader
ship of the House is so entirely DEM
agogical, SO utterly partisan, aud 50
sadly lacking in the knowledg &c
and arts of craftsmanship, that it is
not surprising that the legitimate
work of legislation, and with it the
great interest Of the nation, should be
neglected postponed or bungled, pre-
cedence being given by these mere
politicians to the pitiful business
of hunting for subjects of scan
dial against their betters, aud max
ing partisan capital for service in the
approaching Presidential campaign.
Those who watch the progress of
events in Washington, need not be
told that the time of the House com
mittees is being consumed, almost ex-
clusively, by the efforts of Democratic
tricksters, to concoct ISLANDERS with
which to asperse the characters of
faithful public men, and that the time
Of the sessions of the House is similar
ly occupied, for the most part, b. the
same class of politicians; in airing
their turgid and turbid rhetoric in the
cause of partisan clap-trap. Baked in
their desperate endeavors, step by
step, they only became more persistent
in their pursuit of that party capital
for which they are so eager, and in.
stead of devoting a small portion Of
the time which they owe to the gene
raj interest of legislation, as they did
at first, they now actually give their
entire time to partisan tomfcolery.
If this sort Of thing is to go on
Congress will either adjourn sometime
about the Fourth of July without dis
posing of the currency question, the
necessary appropriation bills, or any
other important measures now pend
ing, or remain in session through the
entire summer, keeping the country
in state of continuous suspense fnan
ciallv, and continuous scandal m ong.
ing politically, socially and otherwise
| from which we pray the good Lord
to deliver us!
| We need scarcely remind the public
that during the seven Republican
Congresses preceding the presen
Democratic one, comparatively bu
little time was wasted in partisan
trickery, and but very few measures
of mere party character were pro
posed or adopted. The Democratic
minority, as a rule, received fair treat
ment, and the spirit of dignifee
craftsmanship, rather than Of low
demagognism, generally characterized
the proceedings. Already more dis
reputable trickery and more unseemly
demagognery has been obtruded on
Congress during the five months ses
sion of the Democratic House of Re.
representatives. than were apparent dur
ing all the sessions Of the seven pre-.
ceding Republican Congresses. We
appeal to the records in testimony Of
this assertion, and point to the fact as
illustrative of the wide difference there
is between the two political parties Of
tlo oonnfvu nha.nn., Ioa,4,o1