The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1878-12-06

The democratic majority 10 congress
seems to have begun its work in earnest.
At the last session, its efforts at retrepch-
ment and its determination TO enforce econ
omy in public expenditures and in the ad-
ministratiOn of the different departments
of the government, has bad its effect upon
the heads Of the different departments in
making up their estimates. There is still
room tor improvement, aud the reports of
the sub-committees of the appropriation
committee, as far as they have been made, |
show that the democrats do not propose to
stop in their economic measures untilthey
have reduced the cost Of administering the
government TO within reasonable limits.
commensurate with the economy that the
great mass Of people aud the business in
terest all over the country are obliged to
practice. Ii is q source Of qualification to
democrats TO see that their representatives
appreciate the situation of the country and
are meeting it fairly and fully, by insisting
on the course adopted at the last session.
They seem to realize that the great body
OF the American people are laborers; that
they work with their own hands and earn
what they have; that their industry and
economy is the great and only source of
national prosperity, and that they want the
proper encouragement to toll and enter
PRISE. The people demand that every uu-
necessary restriction shall be removed, as
consideration for their support, and this
support will inevitably be given to the par
" which best represents and does the
most for these industrial and business 10
terests. 1t is fact that the republican
majority 10 congress, during the past
ten or fifteen years has gone on
the principle of - the republican
party, first, last and all the time" and has
let the business of the country take care
of itself; and, even more than this, its
legislation has been Of that kind which
has nearly bankrupted every business
man in the country in order to help the
money power, while it, 10 turn, has used
every effort of honesty and of dishonesty
to keep that party in power, to the end
that its members might be supported and
even riot in the public money. The re-
publican congresses have sacrificed every
interests of the country to partisan pur
poses. They have acted on the assump
ton that the continued success of the re
publican party was more important TO tht
country than u revival of Industry, al
improvement Of business. the restoration
of friendly relations between the states
the encouragement of commerce, and the
development of the immense natural re
sources of the nation" The new depar
ture OF the democrats 10 congress, il
making its first work the passage of tn,
several appropriation bills, SO tina
every item may be closely scrutinized ant
reduced to the lowest reasonable aud prop
er figure, is an assurance that they are de
termined that the government shall be ad
miuistered in accordance with the de
mands of the people and in proper an
economical manner. The reports thus ia
made of appropriation bills is evidence {
this determination and is an assurance thG
the other reforms of republican leeislatio
and the Investigations of republican fraut
thieving and skuIlduggery, iuaugurated
the last session will be carried out; tn
they will be placed beyond dispute
doubt as facts in history,-let all the
things be finished up, no matt
who ;it may hurt or what gre
statesmen may be consigned
everlasting political disgrace let not Il
mantle of charity cover either democrat
republican. The sooner this great countl
and our public men get back to the o
democratic moorings of honesty and eco
omy, the sooner will its perpetuity be a
sured; and, by all means, let the great ma
ses of the democratic party. the men WI
do the voting and make congress, hold ia
to these principles and see that their vot
be cast for those candidates who mo
nearly represent them, and then no develi
tricks Of dishonest politicians can ste
away from them the already assured vi
tory in 1880.