National Republican., 1881-12-07
The Rc,ired Demooraoy.

For six years the Democratic party has
had uninterrupted control of the popular
branch of Congress. and during two years
of that time it had a large majority in the
Senate. By suppressing the Republican
vote in several States through the en-
ployment of force and fraud this ascend
ancy was continued for four years, or two
full congressional terms, after the anti
Republican spasm of 1874 had subsidized.
We do not believe there is a single men,
Der Of Congress from any State, or we'll
informed man in any part of the United
States, who entertains doubt that had
there been fair vote and an honest
count all over the country the Forty
fifth and Forty-sixth Congresses would
have been Republican.
1t is equally we'll known that hut for
suppression Of the colored vote the pres
House would be overwhelmingly Repub-
lican, instead of showing so slight pre-
ponderance on that side.
On passing the sceptre over to its OPP
ponent what account does the Democracy
render? Where is its record of good ac-
complished, or even attempted? We
admit that there has been no opportunity
for that party to carry out any legislative
design against the executive will, but it
may be fairly judged by what it tried to
do and what it left untried.
For many years it had been assailing
the tariff. 1t had hurled anathemas from
all its conventions, in all its platforms,
in all its organs, from all its leading states
men at the alleged iniquties of the
schedule of duties on imports. 1t had
charged that labor was plundered and
corrupt monopolies were fostered by
"infamous discrimination against labor"
But where are all its promises to reform
the tariff? If it be true that monopoles
were ever fostered and fattened on the
sweat of honest labor by any Congress
those cormorants have found their most
plant tools in the Capitol during the last
six years. All that the Democracy can
show in the line of "revenue reform" is
the quinine bill! Its ten thousand
promises have been ruthlessly disre-
garded. A Democratic Speaker, repeat
edly elected, has arranged the Ways and
Means Committee with the single pur-
pose of preventing "revenue reform"
The only great and persistent efforts
made by the Democracy during all these
years were their repeated attempts to put
the States on top of the Nation by de-
stroying national supervision of national
elections. For thispurpose they imposed
immense expenditure for special sessions
and used various devices for stirring up
strife in the country. They were de-
liberate but desperate in their malevolent
purpose to enthrone their old deity
State Rights.
And they carry their design.into theil
retirement, intending, if ever they come
20 the front again, to sweep away the
last vestige of national supervision o
elections for Congressman. They have
not learned that this is q Nation. They
still regard the Union as confederation
The old heresy Of State sovereignty i:
still the dearest tenet of their creed.
Time would fail us to review the in
vestigations intended to bring to light
great frauds in the public service, bu
the main result of which was the serious
damaging of number of Democratic
statesmen of previous high repute. Nol
will we attempt to portray the suffering
of the Democracy on the great nationa
question of Keeping Door. The party
seemed to have lost all its capacity for af
fairs. 1t could touch nothing withou
scandalizing itself.
All the great wants Of the Republic
have been neglected Our navy has con
tinued to rot, and our commerce ha
nearly disappeared from the seas. Th
party intrusted with the public purse ha
: devoted its time to bowling Fraud
Fraud" and trying to put the ballot
box in the hands of Thugs, while tn
great interests of mighty Nation hav
, languished in neglect. 1t is high tim
for a change. We can have nothin
, worse; we hope for great deal better.
/, | ---n-s--------