Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1881-12-01

New York Tribune
Is Change Needed ?

not little apprehension in regard TO posi-
bic legislative action. This is in part be-
cause business men have learned to dread
Congressional interference, and threats Of
interference. and in part because there is not
an assured majority in either House known
to be in favor Of maintaining the features
Of public policy which have secured for the
country such marvellous growth and pros
pcrity. Congress has become a nuisance,
Of late wears. because every ill-informed and
inexperienced member fAncics that the mil
lennium would come on the instant II he
could only make the laws. because every
demagogue has some fraction Of the people
which be wants to please al the expense OF
the rest, and because the party IN the ma
joriiy in Congress has been eager TO
gather in votes from ever, quarter in order
to overturn the Republican party The
country hopes FOR better things from the
Republican members Of the new Congress.
1t would have little fear If the members o:
that party were in an assured and positive
majority Yet there are some Republicans
who have seemed inclined 10 favor legIsla-
tive reconstruction and r-,oilil.n in many
directions. as II, IN their opinion. the ooun
Ia had only taken the first step toward vice
government in sending them to Congress.
The Republican party has nov been re-
.pousiblc FOR all the leading features OF pub
lie policy during a period Of tseHiy years.
Within week Nil come the tEeHtieiE al.
niser,ary Of the !rgular meeting Of the FRS;
Congrrs. ever controlled IN both branches
b, tina, party Prior to ls6l there he'd been
a Republican House. but i; was thsaried by
a Democratic senate and President Pror
70 December, in 1861. there had been
specia. sassion, but II vas who'll, occupied
With the nreeAs!i.rs arising from the csyll
war. Twenty years aga tho part, entered
upon the task Of framing q peTH.-algt poll
icy for the government Of the couatrt, and
its efforts have been so far approved tha, at
DO time during all the InterN cnIng period
hars thf people consented 10 take the power
wholly from thf Republicans. When Mr..
johnson transferred tbs Executive power to
the Democrats the Republicans had strong
maiorli, in both Houses u CongItGt
When the democrats succeeded. through
force and fraud at tbs South. IN capturing
fret the House and afleF~ aTd The Senate,
there were Republican Presidents 10 NEE.
ever, reaciionary measure with 4 veto. Now
the main question for every new Republican
Has not the eountTy prospered greatly. in
consequence Of goteIRRent on the whole
wise and able, during tseai, ,esTs of Re
publican rule
That the growth Of the country in com
metes. industry. wealth and individual we'll
being has bseD greater within the past TWEEN
~ wears than during Ely other period Of forty
years in It's whole history. /. stubborn fact.
Theorists who think everything goiLs 10 the
bad because their ideas do not prevail, anu
psIiissns Sho spend their time in lament
ing The faults Of the party ~ power, must
face that great fact. All candid historians
recognize II, whether they approve GT cen
sure the policy which has prevailed. StS,ssr
men. journalists and sensible business men
IN foreign countries publicly recognize the
fact even though their own beliefs may lead
iseI. 10 deny that the policy of the United
States Cos lEBwent has caused the exception
al Development VI lbis country within the
past twenty YEAR, they DO not pretend 10
deny that the progress aud Development
have been exceptional and marS ellOus. H.
view Of this great and indisputab!e fact, - il
not lbr first duty Of any American politician
who propose. change Of policy 10 be sure
that il sill bring sbSGi positive and impor
tani beneficial resuitsf II ibe country has
been 50 g0geTaed IN the past that yGgder-
ful prosperity la. resulted, no man has :
right to urge change UIcepl for the clear
est reasons, and with the greals.t possible
certainty that the consequences viii be
good.
Ii is proposed to change the public policy
- to the tariff. the debt, the currency, the
banks. and in many other respects. But
the country L44 done wonderfully well with
the tariff as il is. IL les startled all the
older nations by the progress Gf 4. industry,
and attracted millions Of laborers from G.k-r
lands by the happiness and well-being OF is
workers. l. tbs reason for sudden and
YjOlent change? The GGuptry has surprised
even is best friends, at homs md abroad,
by its sstehlsss success in dealing vllh :
great debt, j. that reason for urging new
methods The banking and currency system
has been developed and improved qgtjl it is
recognized as the best tbs world has yet
seen, and by it the country has bsen greatly
aided in growth and prosperity. Is that ,
| reason for smashing the system that works
! so well, in order TO adopt any new and un-
tired plan?
The Republican party is proud of the mag
nitcent res1,s Ct its work thus far II has
made mistakes. OF course. Ii is not wholly
blind TO its own faults. Ba; j knows that,
With all its failings and errors, il h.a given
the country for many years a wiser and bet
, ter government Than any other the world
has yet seen here or ssTxhere else. When
& change Of policy Is proposed, Republicans
viii take great care TO satisfy themselves
that il viii result 10 substantial and sure i'm
provement before they eesGienance a de-
parture from the course which experience
mas so fully justified.