National Republican., 1880-03-20
ArraIsnment of tho nemocrncr.

arrangement oil the democracy.
While the Deficiency bill was under consid-
GRAFTON IN tho House of Representatives on
Thursday, Mr.. Horr, of Michigan. got tho
floor aud administered the following mertod
rehuke to the Democratic party;
Mr. Chairman, had not intended 10 take
any part in this debate, and should not do 80
now were IL not for peculiar feature that
seems to attend this bill, asst has all similar
bills since / have boon q member of this
House.
When my friend from Mississippi (ATr Sin
glcton) sought to strike down one of the old
officers of this Government he attempted TO do
so by attaching rider 10 this BILL and seemed
perfectly satisfied that his reason for doing SO
was complete when hn could say that In Andy
Johnson's timo the Republicans did Just as
mean thing. [Laughtor.l That was the very
acme of his argument.
Not rider has been put on an appropriation
bill by tho majority of this House that has
not been defended by tho Democrats upon tho
ground that you Republicans have donc Just
tho same mean thing" Aud yesterday, when
tho gentleman from Ohio (Mr. McMahon), who
has charge of this bill, sought to cinch the
matter beyond all doubt, he stated as a reason
why he and his party have tue right to violate
the law and refuse appropriations for marsals
who have done their duty "You Republicans
once violated law; you did not enforce LIIe
fugitive-slavo law" So it has ever boon, Ii
Democrats eau got is to try TO initiate the
mcanest measures wo Republicans have ever
passed Laughter.
Why, Mr. Chairman, 1t would be refreshing
to me to have these gentlemen introduce one
bill here upon which they could stand up and
say before the House, Eve are in favor Of this
bill because IL Is right, because the interests
of the country demand it," aud not have to re-
sort to tho argument that IN some uuguardcd
moment tine Republican party had done some
thing just Us bad. Has it come to this, that
tho Democratic party of this country has no
higher idea of legislation than to follow and
initiate our mistakes, Is 1t true that tho
meanest things we have ever dono seem to
Democrat to be directly in the line of re-
trenchment aud reform2 [Grcat laughter
Mr.. Warner rose aud attempted to interrupt.
Mr.. Horr-I hope tho gentleman from Ohio
will not interrupt me, for he has the ability 10
speak longer aud oftener on any subject with
out exhausting either the subject or himself
than any man | over saw laughter.
Mr.. Chairman, there are before the country
great questions that this Congress ought to be
ut work upon. We have boon here three
months and a-half aud only n single general
appropriation bill has been reached. Our
river and harbor bill still sleeps in committee.
Tho great question, what shall be done with
the Indian tribes aud their reservations? ? is
still unsolved. The question of inter State
commerce, which has agitnted this country
from end to snd, is still unsettled. Oar friend
| from New York (Mr WoOd) has in his charge
undisposed of one Of the most important Anan-
cial measures yet introduced into this Con-
gres5. | refer, sir, to the funding BILL aud
say to the gentlemen who live on tho sea-
board, you ought to be here with some
measure that the men from the West, who arc
not familiar with the subject, can support,
providing for the restoration of our commerce
to the oceans of the world" But nothing of
| the kind has yet boeu proposed
Yet sir, with all these questions aud many
others demanding Immediate attention. we
cannot have presented here a littlo bill to
mako up deficiencies without a week being
| frittered away on this kind of pro6tlcss dis
cussion. say Mr. Chairman, it is time that
this Congress should go to work aud do some
| of tho business for which we were sent here.
should leave this subject right here but for
4 "snOer" which fell from the lips of our Dom
ocratic friend from Ohio (Mr. McMahon) in
reference to the "blOody shirt" / was sorry
TO hear him refer to that. The effect was not
great. have heard that snoer before 1t is
twenty years old. | was in Ohio during the
war, and well remember how the party he
represents was in the habit Of sneering at that
same shirt when the blood on It was yet fresh
aud new, and when il was tho only winding.
sheet of 80 many of the brave soldiers who
won't down to death that tho Nation might
| live, and these same gentlemen have been
| snoerng at this bloody shirt from that time
until now.
Mr.. Weaver-Did the gentleman get any far
ther South than Ohio7
Mr.. Horr-No, sir; WIS not In the service
Mr. Chairman, unfortunately, Ohio had so
many rascaly copperhoads within her riders
At that time that she was compelled tn keep
some of her best men at home to take caro- Of
those fellows in the rear. LGrCat laushter.l