Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1879-04-10
Congress.

the disagreement of the two houses OF
the forty-fitth congress to become laws,
the politicians and newspapers of the
republican party began to predict
the most direful consequences to
the country rs the result Of demo-
cratic ascendency in the legislative
branches Of the government at Wash
ington. Most earnest and vociterous
were these stalwart partisans in their
prognostications of evil Starting with
the impudent aud baselcss claim that
all the patriotism Of the country was
to be found within the bounds of their
party organization, they could only see
lin the presence of the rebel briga-
dicrs' a fact fraught to their perverted
vision with alarming peril to the wei
fare of the Union. They could anti.
cipate no good in the coming together
of Il majority unbiased by the fell
spirit of sectionali.m, and unawed by
the fulsome pretensions of those who
had feasted so long in the high places
of the nation rs TO really imagine that
they, of ali the people Of the land,
alone possess the attributes and pre-.
negatives of Gods anointcd rulers.
Again their sensitive nerves twitched
with convulsive dread Mt the grim
spectre of war that ended fourteen
years ago. In Imagination reyolu-
ton" was rampant aud ready to en-
gulf all in common destruction, aud
like a horrid Banquo's ghost, it would
not down at their bidding. Revolu-
tionary purposes were freely aud We
hemently charged against those chosen
to rule in their places, and dreadful
results must follow their displacement
from power as certainly as the gloom
of night succeeds the bright sun shine
of day.
What an cgregious miscalculation
all this has proven to be. The demo-
cratic congress met in pursuance Of
the call of the administration aud has
remained in session in the discharge
Of its legislative duties since the 18th
of March. What business interest
has suffered since then? Upon what
sacred precept of constitutional liber-
ty has Il rude hand been laid? Does
not the blessed peace that came with
the end of the rebellion still remain
with US? 1t is true the majority mark
ed out its course at the start and it
is equally true that it has followed it
with dignity, honor, calm determine
ton and state-manlike wisdom. But
that course did not lead in the direc-
ton Of revolution and oppression. On
the contrary, it was n manly stride to-
wards free elections and impartial ju-
ries, and through orderly and we'll
conducted parliamentary proceedings
the FIRST victory in the house of repre-
sentatives has already been scored in the
passage of the army appropriation bill
with the clause excluding the presence
of federal soldiers at elections. Other
reforms will follow until every trace
of the partisan machinery for controll-
ing elections and federal juries in the
interests of political party, by depu-
ty marshals and test oaths, are strick.
en- from the statute books. In this
grand work the good, strong, .conserv-
ative sense of the country is with the
democratic majority, and it will not
falter or hesitate in its duty. Neither
the threats, taunts or jeers of the angry
and perverse minority will stay for a
moment its firm resolve to repeal un-
just and oppressive laws. That ma
jority will prove worthy of the ancient
traditions Of the democratic party-oi
the days and teachings of Jefferson,
Madison and Jackson--and, in the
meantime, the solid foundations of the
Union will not be disturbed ghastly
pictures of revolution" will frighten
no one; peace will stay, with security
for local government and individual
rights; and a growing prosperity will
continue to enrich the nation.
The senate committee on appropri.