Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1881-03-07
WORSE THAN FAILURES.

To-day the third Democratic House
of Representatives since the war passes
out of existence. For ten years before
the first was elected the Democratic or
gan and orator had been telling US of
the reforms which would be inaugurated
as soon as the statesmen of that party
were in the majority. Once call them
to shape the legislation of the country
and the people would have greater as
sortment of blessings upon their hands
than ever before fell to any given por-
ton of the human race.
What has been the result? How far
has the country realized these promises ?
The Democratic majority in the House
of the Forty-fourth Congress was nearly
as large as the Republican vote. 1t
could have passed under the suspension
of the rules any measure. Instead of
attending to such matters as it might
have been expected to take up, it busted
itself with investigations. in presenting
claims, in pairing down appropriations
for running the Government and in at
tempts to repeal laws which protect the
Treasury against multitude of South
ern war claims. 1t bore aloft the ban
ner of reform, and yet Its chosen SER
wants were charged with fraud and
compelled to resign. After complain
ing dozen years of Republican expen-
diture for official service, this House in
creased the number of its employees. In
short, it so misbehaved that there would
not have been second Democratic Con.
gress had there been fair elections in
the South.
Again, take the tariff. During twelve
years the Democratic leaders had beer
denouncing the Republican system O
protection. And yet the Democratic
Ways and Means Committee was unabl,
to frame bill which would secure tn,
support of its party in the House. Tn,
caucus whip and spur was applied t
force the Wood Tariff bill through tn
House. but of no avail, because the CT
of alarm which the measure evoked il
every industrial community deferred d
few members from obeying the caucu
mandate During the past two year
the Democratic party has had a major
ty in both branches, and yet the onl
tariff reform it has accomplished wa
:. the putting of quinine on the free lis
, The only tax it has RENTED is pal
) of that laid upon whisky and tobacco
the first in the interest of large produ
ers and dealers. a4 r.84 sw 3
1.-The record of the three Houses upc
f financial topics could be no worse tina
| it is. That it did not involve the coul
!, try in ruin is due to a Republican Sc
r ate four years and to Republican Pre-
ident the entire six years. Again
their better judgment, at the suggestic
of Mr.. TIlden in order that the Dem
cracy might carry the soft money Stat
of the West. Democrats voted to repe
. the Resumption act and did repeal
! When the second Democratic Congre
n was summoned to make appropriate
q for the army which the first would Z
l. vote without being permitted to assn,
q the constitutional functions of the Pr
a ident, it set itself to the work of defe
90 ing specie resumption instead of prom
o.. ly voting money to pay an army viii
as had not seen the paymaster for mont
). With few exceptions, its leaders
e. came the champions of the imitation b
IN esy. Until specie resumption took Pill
Dv the second Democratic Congress foue
Al it with all its force. Not content W
~ passing one bill for the unlimited CO
to age of 95-cent dollars, the House. VIII
.er expires to-day, passed silver coin;
bill which involved the most glar
jobbery in the interest of those who Q
: silver bullion that ever received