Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1881-12-10
the DEmoCRATs IN coNGREss.
Theharmonioasand united action

The harmonious and united action
Of the Democratic members of the
Lower House Of Congress i'm their
caucus at Washington last Saturday
night, in indorsing and putting in
nomination, all the old officers of
the House, without any pickering
or dissenting voices, and voting
solidly for these nominees at the or
ganizatiOn Of the House, although
il was a mere empty honor and
form, cannot fail to elicit the APP
plause and respect of the members
of that party throughout the coun-
try at large. 1t will be received as
most favorable and satisfactory
foreshadowing of their policy dur
ing the present session of Congress.
I'm ali their legislation and actions
heretofore there has been too little
union, and a certain want of concert
of action which has no doubt great
~ weakened the confidence OF the
people in the party. Boilers and
dissatisfied members OF the party
have done more TO injure it in its
efforts to get control of the admins
tration of the government, than all
other causes combined. In union
there il strength and without this,
10 party can hope to succeed. We
are glad to know that they acted as
a unit, and made nc alliance or at
tempt at affiliation with any of the
dissatisfied Republican members or
the mongrel minority parties in the
House. They could have gained
nothing by any possible combina-
ton with the Greenbaekers and had
every thing to lose by even the
smallest appearance of coalition
with the Regulators. The Repub-
lieans have proved themselves the
allies and friends of this latter infa-
my and it is the part of wisdom in
the Democrats to let them enjoy an
undisturbed monopoly. They want
nothing to do with them. Although
in the minority they have great
and heavy responsibility resting up
on them and the country will watch
with great interest and anxiety
their counsel in the present Congress.
They will doubtless have it in their
power to make grand record for
themselves. They must stand uni
ted and with bold front, and COM
bat with untiring zeal, energy and
vigilance, every effort on the part of
a corrupt and arrogant majority to
foister unlawful legislation upon the
country. The Republican party
now having once more got complete
control of both branches of that au-
gust body may be expected to make
great errors and to attempt to carry
through any number of colossal jobs
and schemes for the benefit of its
friends and the perpetuation of its
ceHtralizing Government. 1t will
be the part and duty of the Demo
Gratis to watch them at every turn,
and if possible to crush out all such
nefarious schemes. Allow the ma
jority no opportunity or field for
plumber. The Democrats can make
their influence felt in every depart
ment of the Government. They
cannot afford hereafter to come be-
fore the country and say they were
in the minority and therefore had
no part in the enactments of the
present Congress. They will have
in both Houses a number so nearly
equal to that of their opponents that
they cannot be entirely freed from
responsibility. OF course they
could not take any part in the or
of either House, but they
can and they should stand a united,
and vigilaut body.
ready to expose and defeat the
measures of the majority when I'M
wise and detrimental to the inter-
ests of the country. They cannot
do this if they are split up into jeal-
Gus factions among themselves.
They must act in harmony and
with their united strength. Let
their policy still continue one of re-
trenchmeIt and reform. Let them
choose and follow tried and safe
leaders and act together, and they
will have such a beneficial influence
or the national legislation that the
people will hail their efforts with
satisfaction and applause. If they
will pursue this policy, we believe
the time will not be far distant
when they will be rewarded with a
grand victory in their brave strug-
gle for national power.
THE PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.