The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1878-07-06

small majority in one house of Con
gress the Democratic spirit was
strong, earnest and aggressive
enough to manifest it's power and
indicate the great and beneficial line
of legislation thoroughly. Demo
cratic Congress- would pursue. They
have not told their readers that the
late session of Congress remonetized
silver aud made an appropriation of
1888 O0l, to restore the mint in New
Orleans that strong free trade
sentiment was developed, looking
to a tariff OH sugar. and . few other
articles for revenue; that an ini-
tial appropriation was made for the
protection of the New Orleans har-
Dor; that Sl25, con was appropriated
for the Improvement of Red river !;
that $4,000 was appropriated for
the improvement of Bayou La
fourchc. 1t seems to us that there
is something here to be thankful to
the Democrats for. 1t seems to us
that this legislation will prove of
more benefit to Louisiana than the
reconstruction measures, the insti-
tuition of the Freedmen's Bureau,
the force bill and other measures
of "the widest Radical House that
ever assembled in the Palmy days Of
Republican rule" 1t seems to us,
Notwithstanding the Picayune, that
we might have had much worse leg
islation under Republican rnle.
The indignation of our coDserva-
tive contemporaries is aroused be-
cause the subsidy tor the Brazil line
failed, ard because the Texas Pacific
and levee bills were not passed.
On these grounds they furiously
charge upon the Democratic House.
|. This is sheer folly or base treason.
The subsidy for the Brazil line failed
through the Impotence of its friends,
who gave his enemies the opportu-
nifty to kill it. There was MAORI
ty in both houses in favor of it, and
it will pass at the next session.
AS to the Texas Pacific bill there
were many Southern men opposed
to it under its present auspices. In
deed, we cannot ourselves give. that
bill a very cordial support until we
have better evidence than has yet
been shown us that it is not. a Pacific
extension of the Pennsylvania Cen
trial. We want u Southern Pacific
line; bnt we want it to be as much
"a Southern road as the Union Pa
cific is Northern road.
The levee bill will pass the next
session. The controversy between
Eads aud Humphreys divided the
committee and delayed u report un-
ill it WIS too late to pass it at the
last session. We have before us a
list of eminent Eastern Democrats
who will support the levee bill as 1t
was reported by the committee, and
which is all we ask at present.
Amongst these Democrats is Speaker
Randall, who, though he opposed
the Brazilian line subsidy and the
Texas Pacific bill is in favor of the
levee bill.
Considering the complexion of the
Senate and the Administration, we
see nothing in the late session of Con-
gress to justify the efforts of the
Times and Picayune TO destroy the
confidence of the people in the Dem
ocratic party. On the contrary, we
see in it everything to prompt the
people to make determined effort
to place the control pf the whole
government in the hands of that
party. As far as the Democratic SEN
timent found an expression in the
late Congress it was favorable to re-
form aud retrenchmcnt; to free
trade and tn Southern interests.
The Democratic party was defeated
in Congress just as it was defeated
in our late Legislature, by Conserva-
tism and Republicanism. The fight
has not, as the Times asserts, been
wen. The Democrats have only au
uncertain majority of twenty in the
House, with the Senate and the Adj
ministration against them. The
fight will not be won until the DEM
ocracy shall have gained control of
both the House and the Senate by
decisive majorities and Democrat
is in the Presidential CHAIR. Let the
people look at these facts dispassion-
ately; let them look at what the
Democrats have done for them, and
at what the Conservative aud the
Republicans prevented the Demo-
Gratis from doing for them. And,
finally, let them look at the legisla-
ton of Congress during the eight
years of Grants unbridled reign and
compare it with that OF Congress
since the Democrats have had con-
troll of the House, with their clutches
upon the Senate and the Presidency,
and then determine whether or not
it is their duty to 60 on with the
great struggle against Radicalisin
and Republicauisn until the govern
ment is in tho hands of the Demo.
cratic party.