The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1878-06-22
THE LATE SESSION OF CONGRESS.

rem of good works. Yet what it has done Il
mserably insignificant when compared with
what it might and ought TO have accom-
plshed. Perhaps no assemblage of the repre-
sentatives of great country ever so wretch
eddy failed In the management OF danger
GUS and difficult crisis in public affairs. Lit
tie other than routine business has beer
transacted while all public and private in
} terests, and all classes OF the people are
staggering and suffering under the evils and
burdens of the vicious legislation the Re
publican party imposed upon the country
during Its long and unbrdled reign.
At the opening of the session hopes were
entertained that there would be new de-
parture in our national legislation, and that
with Democratic House of Representatives
o recent national Democratic victory and O
great diminution of Republican strength In
the Senate, there would be a vigorous effort
made to re-estabish our public policies on
Democratic principles.
After great amount of labor tariff bill
was reported to the House. 1t was not all
that we had right to expect from Demo-
cratic body; but 1t partially recognized the
Democratic principle of free trade. It largely
|
post, though, compared with the free trade
system adopted by England, and which gave
30 miraculous an impetus to the foreign COM
MERGE Of that country, 1t was but a feeble
birth. Yet even that poor effort to relieve our
trade from the crushing influences of "protec-
ton" failed, and the manufacturing interests
of the East triumphed over all other CONNER
clal and Industrial interests of the country.
! The House, however, gave sufficient indica-
tions Of free trade spirit to inspire the conf
dent hope that the next Congress III not the
next session OF the Forty Fifth) which will be
Democratic In both houses, will inaugurate
the free trade system which has worked so
wonderfully well in England.
The reconciliation of silver was great
measure In the interest of the people, and
one important step toward return to
sound Democratic financial policy. But the
other step, unfortunately, was not taken; and
without that, the reconciliation of silver
will accomplish little good. Senator Butler,
Of South Carolina indeed, introduced bill
In the Senate to repeal the federal tax of ten
per cent on State bank circulation:
but the Western Democrats were SO
wild with the greenback fever and the Eastern
men Of all parties so determined, in the In
terest OF the gold rings and national banks, |
to reduce the whole currency of the country
to the gold standard, that Gen. Buffers bill |
was, until toward the end Of the session. COM
pletely overshadowed. Nevertheless. in the |
course OF the discussion of financial questions |
very strong sentiment in favor of this all |
important measure was developed In the |
Senate and throughout the country. If we |
are not mistaken, every Southern Sem
ator favors the repeal Of this tax,
and we have recently printed num-
Der of articles from the leading New
York, Baltimore and other Eastern journals
in favor of 1t. Indeed we believe that the
next session of Congress will repeal the tax.
The DEMOCRAT was the first journal in the
United States to propose the restoration Of
the State banks; the retirement of International
bank and United States Treasury notes or
greenbacks, and the restriction of the national
government in the manufacture of money to
the coinage Of gold and silver, as the true
solution of our financial problem on Demo-
cratic principles.
The bill to substitute Brazilian steamship
line was an important measure as the initial
step in policy which would, If adopted, open
a rich market for our productions and manu-
and give q great stimulus to
our trade and industries. It is difficult
to estimate the benefits our commerce,
and what is of equal, IL not greater
Importance, our working classes would
derive from q system Of legislation which
would give us the mastery of Europe in the
Mexican and South American trade The bill
an |
lost by q trick In the Senate and the rulings of
Its INSCRIPTIONS enemy, Speaker Randall, in
the House. We have no doubt similar bill
will be adopted by the next session.
In reviewing the work of the session just
closed, and after analysing the causes of its
failure, we are more deeply impressed than
ever with the Importance of the success of
the Democratic party In the approaching
elections. II the Democratic sentiment of
the country had had control of Congress and
the administration, it Is evident that the free
trade principle the State banking system,
and other measures looking to the emancl-
patton OF the commercial and industrial in
terests OF the country from the money power,
would have been effected. But the Demo-
Gratis had only an Insignificant majority In
the House; the Republicans controlled the
Senate, while the administration seems to
have been in accord with no party or inHuen-
tial element in either body.
Under such circumstances, the Democrats,
though controlling by small majority one
branch OF Congress, was utterly powerless to
carry out any great Democratic measure.
Restricted to bare majority In one branch
Of the National Legislature, and with the
Senate and the Administration against them,
the Democrats were naturally timid and un-
decided. With the prospect of an early con-
troll OF the government in all It's departments
before them, or the loss of the one house of
Congress which they hold, they were timid
and shrank from the great and radical de-
parture necessary to the restoration of
that sound and healthful governmental
system which we require. We can !
never hope for any wise and vigorous legis-