The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1880-01-09

under Republican auspices, have grown larg- |
er since the Democrats took charge of the /
public purse. But 4 corporsls guard Of
Southern and Northern Democrats have had
the courage TO resist these shameful bills.
Northern Democrats, as q rule, have been
as greedy for large appropriations for their
districts As their Southern colleagues. Re.
publicans and Democrats unite, and by dis
graceful logrolling millions are annually
squandered upon so.calltd national improve.
ments.
Little by little the Democratic majority in
Congress has been drifting away from the
reform policy which, in obedience to popu-
lar demand, was so worthily began In 1874,
The vast reduction in national expenditures,
which the Democratic House of the Forty
fourth Congress accomplished, could in de-
creased proportions have been continued.
But there was perceptible retrograde move.
ment in the Forty-6fth Congress, and with
both Houses Democratic, no improvement is
thus far promised by the Forty-si1th Con.
gress. The influence of the Democratic rings
and jobbers is beginning to be noticeable.
The manifest absence of elevated statesman
ship, of commanding ability, of efficient
leadership in the Senate and the House is
most disheartening. Personal jeslousies and
Presidential rivalries have a controlling in.
fuence in shaping the party policy.
The secret history of the intrigues which
were successful in compelling the extra ses-
sion has not been written. Three independ-
ent motives inspired them. The first and
most potent was determination to defeat
Rsndalls re. election to the Speskership.
Personal pique, sectional feeling and job
berry inspired the fight against Randall. The
second was movement to create new issues
for 1880, and was directed chiefly by the
} friends of Thurman, although the chief op-
ponents of Tilden cordially assisted: Mr.
Randall, as an avowed friend of Tilden, had,
of course, the enmity of his enemies. The
third was greed for the Senate patronage and
the control of the perquisites and stealings
of the Government Printing Office.
There were a few blathering idiots from
the South-mere hangers on the lobby here
: who intemperately demanded the defea,
of Randall because he WAS the friend of Til.
, den, who had mortslly offended them by de
claring against Southern war claims. Fol
three years and half the Democratic rep.
resentatives have made it seem as though
their party was steadily drifting away from
the reform policy which made success
possible in 1876. Possibly they may sharp
ly recover the lost ground, but is not 81,
months too short period in whichto sstisf.
+, the public that their repentance is genuine
Unfortunately, while the national Democrs
, cy has been driving off elements of mora
: strength, corrupt local politicians in New
York and Pennsylvania have been doin,
, their utmost to disgust all decent men will
f the very name of Democracy.
, 1t is true that the nomination of Grant 70
$ third term should make it possible for th
Democratic party to elect any reasonabl
b. good Northern Union Democrat. He mus
3 be man acceptable to patriotic Republi
4 cans. He must be man of known mora
1 courage. He must have record, and on
= that gives positive assurance that in each an
t every one of these particulars he is abov
e suspicion.--N. Y Sun.