Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1880-09-08
Democracy Arraigned.

Democracy Arraigned.
From a speech in Congress June. 1850, by
Hon. R. G. Horr, of Michigan.
Nearly six wears ago the Democratic party
came into power in this branch of the Cen
eral Government; came in with flying BAN
ners and sounding trumpets, and what nave
they accomplished? What great measure
have they originated, what plan have they
devised for the good of our people! They
have attacked cur industries by threatened
legislation. thereby disturbing values and
causing great loss to our producers: but they
have built up nothing. They have preached
loudly of retrenchment, but have actually
increased expenditures. They made loud
rrotestations of reform. but in every instance
where they have had the power they have
deoauched the civil service. They have pro-
claimed from the hou>e-tops that they are In
favor of purity of elections: and vet they
bring in the great appropriation bills and
leave out all pay for United States special
deputy marshals, for fear that these marshals
xill prevent outrages and intimidation at the
polls and thereby secure fair election. 1t
il not enough that You have already starved
them for nearly yea you now propose To
still refuse them food and raiment. Ii mat
tiers not that they have served the Govern
ment faithfully, and that their just wages are
and have been SD long due; you still refuse
To pay them.
WHY. then wonder that business men all
over the country are tired OF your methods
and Disguised with your management. And
Just think this is done in he name of fair
elections. by party that has seated members
here by the dozen. many of whose constltu-
ents dared not go to the polls. Have you
ever exam ined the returns as shown by the
Congressional Directory? Look at them and
YOU will discover many curious facts. For
example, you will find that there are three
members who hold a seat in this House from
districts whose entire vote did not aggregate
$500 each; there are five members where the
entire vote was less than 4 900 each and eight
members where it was less than 1000 in each
district. just think for a moment of such an
election. Why. sill, there are eleven men,
beers here whose entire districts did not cast
as many votes as were polled in the one dis
trict represented by my friend Mr.. Anderson,
from Kansas. Indeed the young State of
Kansas alone, with its three Representatives,
cast Just about as many votes as the old
States Of Alabama and Mississippi. " it'll their
fourteen MEMBERS and the new State of
Michigan cast more votes than the three
States Of Alabama, Mississippi, and Georgia
combined. We have nine members; they
have twenty-tnree.
Thus l might go on repeatine figures, but
| have given enough for my purpose. Talk
about free and fair elections. l would like
to ask what has become OF the voters in
those districts. Why were they not at the
polls? Ii there was no reign of terror, no
intimidation down there, why did they not
vote? What allied them? DO Won tell me
there was no contest; that want of interest in
the result caused such apathy? What gave
them this lack of interest! How came it
about that they so suddenly ceased to care for
the result? 1 think Esop tells us in one of
his fables that once upon a time the animals
had an election Suppose they were to do SO
again, and it was agreed that all the animals
in this country, wild and domestic. should
have a free and fair ballot. Then suppose in
one precinct you should locate the polling
place in den of wolves; how many lambs
think you would attend that election? Can
not you see how suddenly they would all lose
their interest in politics! Or suppose another
voting place was located in a Jungle of
grizzly bears; how many cows and oxen.
think you, would go there to vote? DO you
not think all the cattle Whereabouts would
lose their interest in the result? Then sup
pose you were TO ask the wolves and the
bears whether they had a quiet election in
those precincts or not. How demure and
how wise they would look As they informed
YOU that there was not the least disturbance
in the world; that the quiet was almo, pain
full. Still. do you not think that the m, ag,r
returns from those precincts would BE- fl
cient evidence that the amin Ills in that vicin-
ity were not all represented
| do not say that such is the exact condi
ton "f these districts that have mrnii med
but | do say that n" satisfactory reason for
notIf ,f h..
upon any other theory. Just think of the
CHI elk il requires for a party with snch
record staring it in the face to boast about
being in favor of n pure ballot. in favor of
free and fair elections. Then why wonder
that the people of this country are already
tired of such party? They cannot forget
how great was your promise and how little
has been your performance. Is it NOT strange
that we cannot have even an appropriation
bill made out on business principles? OIL
course. I understand full well that YOU will
go on as you began. But let me say to you.
here and now, the day Of your reckoning
draweth near. The people of this broad land
are not asleep. They will soon call on each
party for an account of its stewardship.
When that day comes it will be well for that
party which can say. You trusted us with
power and we have not abused it: we have
u, ed it only for our country's good" Rut
what will be said of that party which has
been now for two sessions in power in both
branches of Congress and vet has done abso
lutsly nothing-a party which stands before
the world afraid of its own shadow. having
n" settled policy. no fixed principles. no
trusted leaders, which is simply an ncon-
gruous, unorganized mass, floating about
without chart or compass, without helm or
rudder' on Its way to certain disintegration
and destruction?