Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1879-07-18
Democratic Promises and Performances.

The Democrats in 1874 elected large
majority of the members of the House
of Representatives in Congress, owing
to the disgust of the people concerning
the back-pay and other blunders and
weaknesses of the Republican majority,
and because of the loud protestations
that the Democrats would make such
reforms and changes in the legislation
of Congress as were seriously needed.
The Democrats entered office in De-
cember, 1875, but during the two years
ending in March, 1877, never inaugu-
rated any measure of reform. The
party confined its efforts to weaken the
Government. In 1876 the Democrats,
bv the aid of the Solid South, again
ofecVeu maJorlSy OI representatives
which body devoted the two years of
official existence to doing nothing OF q
general or National character beyond
such acts as were intended TO render
the solidity of the South more solid.
Its excuse and apology was, that, the
South being Republican, the Demo-
cratic House was unable to accomplish
anything. The result of the elections
of 1873 was to place the Democrats in
a majority in both Houses of Congress
after the 4th of March, 1879, and it was
because of this known fact that the
Democrats forced an extra session after
that date.
On the 18th of March Congress met,
with Democratic majority in the Sem
ate and House. With clear ma
iority in both Houses, with the COM
plete control of the whole machinery
of legislation, what did it dOP
During the years of reconstruction
Congress had found it necessary to pro-
tect the people against fraud and vio-
lence in the elections of members of the
National House of Representatives, and
this they did by making provision for
the appointment, by the courts, of per-
sons to supervise the elections and the
returns of the elections of members OF
Congress. Under this law the facilities
for dishonest voting, the violent exclu-
sion of honest voters from the polls,
and of fabricated and forged returns of
the elections were reduced, and the
voters were secured some protection at
the polls and in having the actual vot-
ing honestly returned. The return Of
the Democratic party to power in both
branches of Congress, and the "capt-
ure of Washington" by the Confederate
Brigadiers, was celebrated by the DEM
ocratic party in forcing an extra ses-
sion of four months duration devoted
to the repeal of that law providing for
honest elections. The emancipated
energies of the Democratic party,
the hopes and aspirations of eighteen
years of exclusion from office and of
power, the g claims of half score of
aspirants for the Presidency, the hates
a Af nd hnf1 ln1
bellion and civil war, the memories of
long-cherished slavery remorselessly
eXtirpated by the Union bayonets-all
these were concentrated in this mo-
ment of restoration topOwer to the sole
purpose of abOlishing honest elections!
And this was Democratic statesmen
ship, Democratic patriotism, Demo-
cratic reform and purity! For this
everything else was neglected, ignored
and postponed. For this the Jacobin
Club was organized, and the caucus in
vested with dictatorial powers. For this
OratOry put on its most brilliant man
ners and the shotgun and the rifle were
offered as alternatives to the Opposi-
tion. And after all the 100 days of
never-yielding, of last-ditching, of
never -back-dOwh. and Of eternal fidelity
10 State sovereignty, the men who lald
down their arms at Richmond, and at
Vieksburg, at Charleston and at APP
pomattox, despite their windy protests
and their vehement neyer-g -give-ups, have
again laid down their arms. have again
surrendered Internationally, and have
again gone home to be reconstructed
under the Christening power, the lib
eral spirit, but determined rule, Of the
American people, who demand honest
elections, and who are pepared to main
tain the Nation by the exercises OF all
necessary National authority. Chicago
Tribune.
An faohionaI,Ia ,na,,-;a,a ;o Vatay-