The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1880-09-17

The Work Of Five Years.
The Republican party met with the
first blow al its authority in 1874. after
an uninterrupted rule Of thirteen years.
In that year. Grant being President, the
elections for members Of congress result
Ell ina Democratic majority in the House
This was the Forty-fourth Congress. an a
when il met VI. G. Kerr of Indiana. was
chosen Speaker Of the House to succeed
Speaker Blaine. Of Maine. who had pre-
sided over its deliberations during the
larger part Of the previous Republican
regime. Two years later the Democrat ;
maintained their advantage. and the
House Of the Forty-fifth Congress was
Democratic also, Sam. j. Randall. Of
Pennsylvania. being Speaker. Again.
two years later, the Congressional cleo
tions yielded Democratic majority.
and sam. j. Randall was reelected
Speaker OF the House Of the Fortv-sixth
Congress. now in existence. For nearly
SIX years. therefore, the House has been
in control Of the Democrats. Bot their
authority has been limited MI this time:
nrsI. BY the presence Of Republican
majority IN the Senate down 10 the be-
ginning Of the present Congress. and
next, by the presence Of Republican
Executive in the White House: and thew
have had an opportunity to exhibit only
a promise OF what thew would do II in
full authority. Still. they have excrted
some influence upon the policy Of the
Government in the last five years. AMI
i will not be amiss 10 observe in what
manner that influence has been directed
What have the Democrats done in the
last five years? What changes have
they brought about' What evils have
they arrested What notable public
good have they effected?
First-They have brought about a
reduction in the public ex-
penditures. In 1874. the last year the
Republicans had control Of the House
and Of the appropriations MIR. Gar
field himself being then Chairman Of
the House Committee on Appropria-
tions-the net ordinary expenditures.
excluding interest and other payments
on the public debt. were Sl9l. 600.
IN 1879, the latest year the Democrats
have had control of the House and Of
the appropriations. the net ordinary ex-
penditures were $l61.l2O.O00 Here.
then. i a saving of $50. 9es. 900 which
the country owes to the Democratic
majority in the House-and that. too.
although the expenditures for 1879 in
clude -. 800. 900 paid to Great Britain
under the Fishery treaty, and 81. 373, 600 I
paid for arrears Of pensions both ex-
traordinary items. The actual reduc- |
ton in the regular ordinary expendi- /
lures effected by the Democrats in the
House l. Si3. s71 600.
lSccond- They have reduced the con-
fition Of the South from disorder. strife
md discomfort totranquiIlity. order and 4
cheerfulness. Down to the close Of the
Iirant Administration the Southern
states We're governed By the bayonef.
Ind we had repeated outbreaks and
conflicts between the whites and blacks.
he shameless rule Of carpet-haggers.
violent dispersions of Legislatures by
Federal troops. and reseniful in
by the whites. Now
We have contented industry. pros
,erous enterprise, more cor
iial feeling between the whites and
fiNNh~f Nltl Tit uD>OANAt tllluludlIDU OF
ne Louisiana question. the South Car
lima question and the Mississippi ques-
ion from National politics. These be-
ieticent changes are sometimes credited
o Mr.. Hayes: but Il must be remem-
'cred that MIR. Hayes effected them
through a Democratic policy forced
Ipon him by Democratic majority in
he House in spite Of the stubborn OPP
'osition Of the Republican leaders.
they are, indeed. and in truth. the
ruits Of Democratic influence in the
louise.
Third-They have put an end to the ,
razen reign of bribery. corruption. I
Ayoritism and official plundering Of the
evenues that prevailed down to 1876
n era Of immortality in which brides I
Tere openly offered to and accepted BY
lembers Of Congress and members Of
le Cabinet. and in which scores Of
rominent Republicans. including Mr.. :
srfield himself. compromised them !,
lives in WAYS which they have never /
cen able wholly to defend
These are some Of the changes I
rought about BY five years Of partial II
Iiiuence on public affairs by a Demo- y
attic House Has the country any 4
'ason to regret them?--St- Louis Re- Ii
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