Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1881-03-11
A Proud Record.
Baltimore Gazette.

1t has been six years since the Demo
cratic party assumed control of legisIa-
ton in the House of Representatives and
virtually the direction of the legislation
of the country. The nation was then
staggering from the terrific blow which
the crash of 1878 had dealt it full in the
face. The credit of the government was
threatened, business had been paralyzed
for nearly two years and the outlook was
gloomy enough to discourage the stout
est heart. Corruption had fastened it.
self like vampire upon almost every
department of the government, and
the reckless misrule of INSCRIPTIONS
politicians, intoxicated with a decade
of successful plumber and public
debauchery. had became insolent and
defiant. The lobby had long been king
in the halls of Congress, and its shadow
darkening the executive mansion itself
The whole country was in gloom and
uncertainty, and the fearful hand of
communism was more than family visi-
BILE across the threatening sky, growing
darker and darker amid the crashing fall
of financial institutions from ocean to
ocean. AS we look back, the contrast
between then, and now when the party
surrendtrs its control, is strong
enough to challenge special won
der. The Democrats went into
power with many promises We call
upon the country to say how well they
have fulfilled them. The course of legis-
lation has been turned back to honest
and economic methods. Michael G. Kerr
was placed in the Speakers chair, and
the subsidy seeker and job broker knew
that his day of domination was over.
The jobbing lobby has since that day
been banished from the floors of Con.
gress, and has found no safe resting
place in any part of the capital The
affairs of the government were admins
tered with strict honor and with great
economy; public confidence was restored /;
capital, which had fed to strong
boxes, was encouraged; the strain of
the panic was tremendous, but
wise and prudent legislation guild
ed the country safely through
the storm, An entire Democratic Con-
gress had scarcely closed before our
credit and currency was established,
trade was revived and an era of pros
perity set IN, which to-day is marvel
to the civilized world. There will not
be wanting those who will question the
justice of the claims of the Democrats
for these happy results, but it is a SUI.
1cient answer to them that while kind
and favorable Providence has watched
over the destinies of our beautiful land,
had the government in that its gloomiest
period since the war been wanting in the
safe and wise legislation of the party, the
blessings of prosperity would have been
at least much longer delayed. No
stain rests upon the administration of
these six years Clean handed the party
went in and clean-handed and with
honor untarnished and faith unbroken it
goes out. The giant hand Of monopo-
lies has found no strengthening power at
the hands Of either of the Democratic
Congresses which have dominated in the
six years Just closed. The party has
kept The faith, and it can resign its pow
er in the proud consciousness that it has
ever kept in view the public good, and
in its administration the nation has been
led from midnight darkness to splen-
did morning of peace and prosperity.