Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1878-07-04
The Democratic Congress.

The New York Tribune in commenting on
the recent Congress, says; A calm and can
did review of its performances, when the roar
Of crazy demagogues and jobbers has died
away, will show that no House of Represent
atives since the independence of this country
was declared has been as reckless Of the pub
lie honor, as dangerous to the public peace
and prosperity, as servIle in pandering to the
passions and prejudices of the most ignorant
classes, as regardless Of the necessities of
business and industry, and as incompetent to
perform intelligently even the more routine
duties of legislation, as the House which
blessed the country by adiourning yesterday.
''Never such a House again, as long as the
Republic endures." That ought to be the
firm resolve of every patriotic citizen. 1t
will be the first purpose of intelligent voters
Of both parties. But presently other motives
will come. Partisanship will be aroused.
Personal and local interests will be employed
to secure the renomInation of unworthy men,
bers; party spirit will be kiniled to secure
their success. Sophistry viii be employed to
palliate crimes. Ingenious excuses will be
made for wretched blunders. Responsibility
for outrageous incompetency and disregard
of public interests will be cast upon Others
Such another House will probably be elected
another as madly partisan, as dishonorable
in finance, as shameless in jobbery, as reck-
less in demagogism, and as. incompetent in
until hr1c int "a
better class of voters, irrespective Of party,
now resolves irrevocably to punish the men
who have so disturbed and disgraced the
country. There is but one way to force a
party to behave decently, and that is to pun
ish 1t sternly for misdeeds.
This has been peculiarly and conspicuously
Democratic House. Elected at time when
that party expected also to elect President,
and to be able to cast off the restraint which
the struggle for power involves, this House
has shown more clearly than any other what
the Democratic party is, and what its CON-
plete control of the Government would mean.
In purpose and policy it is essentially reac-
tionary. 1t would put the gray above the
blue. 1t would punish those who saved the
Union, and reward those who sought to de-
stroy It. For the first time since the war the
country has had opportunity to see a
Solid South in full control OF Democratic
House, and to learn, both by what that House
has done and by the measures proposed but
laid aside until the Solid South can control a
Democratic Senate also, what changes are to
be expected if men at the South who do not
cease to toady. get the Government into their
hands. - .a .r ......... ....... .....t a.
To business and industry, a transfer of leg
islative power from one party to the other is
always dangerous. 1t is especially so when a
definite policy, the outgrowth of events, has
been long pursued, and has become the basis
Of vast industrial, commercial and financial
interests. The new party is necessarily tempt
ed TO oyerturn everything; its passionate crit
icisms and repeated pledges when in opposi-
tion drive it forward. But such change has
never been as dangerous to business interests
as it is now. For the very existence Of banks,
savings banks, insurance and trust compa-
nies, the modes and resources of finance and
commerce, have come to depend upon the
fidelity Of the Nation to its war debt, and to
the policy with regard to that debt which the
Nation had solemnly pledged itself. Transfer
Of power to the party which opposed the war
necessarily involves danger Of most radical
and fatal changes. We have seen what