American citizen., 1881-04-02
What the Democratic Party Has Ac.
COmpiished.

The Democratic party have surren-
dered legislative control of this coun-
| try, which it has held in part since the
4th of March, 1875, and wholly since
the 4th of March, 1878. 1t may be
that the Senate will be nomnally held
by the Democrats for the next two
years, but if SO by SO frail and uncer-
tain tenure that it will amount to
nothing practically. For all purposes
of Legislation and in all that affects the
public polity of the Nation, the Demo-
cratic party will have no direct power
to act or to influence, and will be re-
licved of all further responsibility.
The Republicans, of course, come into
power with magnificent professions and
n plentitude of promises as it is their
custom to do; and we may expect to
hear from the organs of the party Il
general congratulation to the coun-
try th:tt it has seen for time at least
the last of Democratic rule. and upon
the roseatc prospects of the future,
with the Republican party controlling
the National councils. Undoubtedly
the Democratic Congress, just expired
by limitation, and its two predecessors,
have made mistakes, as all Congresses of
whatever party have done and will do
while composed of falliblc human be-
ings. 1t has done some things that.
perhaps, had better have been left un-
done, and omitted to do some that it
should have done. But none of these
sins of omission or commission have
been of such magnitude Us to affect the
country injuriously; they have been
faults of party more than of public pol
icy. The things which the Republican
party charged the Democrats would do
if intrusted with power they have not
done, nor attempted to do. They have
not brought ruin upon the country.
They have not paid the rebel debt nor
rebel claims. They have never in all
the course of their legislation evinced
any disposition to do any of these
things. There is something more that
it is well enough to recall, now that the
Democratic party has transferred the
Legislative power into the hands of its
adversary. The six years of Democrat
ic control has brought the people pros
perity. While Democratic Senate
and House of Representatives have been
sitting at the Capitolthe business of the
country that the Republicans left pros
trate has revived and flourished. The
industries that were in ruins when the
Republican party went out of power have
been rebuilt, increased and multiplied.
The ''hard times that came upon the
country under Republican rule have
given place to prosperity and plenty.
The Republicans. when six years
ago they transferred political suprem-
acy to the Democrats, transferred
with it crippled industries, PROSTATE
business and people groaning under
load of financial distress. The Demo-
Gratis in turn yield control to their old
4
full and prosperous, with Industries
thriving and business booming. Is this
nothing? Does not this grand result
atone for multitude of shortcomings?
Ought not the Republicansfor shame in
the face of this contrast cease their
howling about Democratic incapacityp
There is something else that should be
remembered. In the three Democratic
Congresses there have been no public
scandals. The Democrats may have
their faults, but they have not plumber
cd the Government rs their Republican
predecessors did; there have been no
Credit Mobilier affairs and no rings; the
lobby has been suppressed and the rec
ord of the Democratic party is clean i'm
that respect. 1t may not have passed
so many laws nor made so much noise
in the administration of affairs as the
Republican party did, but its laws were
wholesome and what it did redounded
in all eases to the peoples benefit. 1t
did not steal the peoples money nor
shame them in the eyes of the world.
On the whole we are willing to compare
the record of the six years Legislative
control of the Democrats. with the pre-
vious six years that the Republicans
were in power, and to contrast the situ-
afin Of rha wit -