The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1881-03-19
The Democratic Record,

The Philadelphia Times, independent Re
publican, of March Sd, made the following
retrospect of tho record made by the Demo
cratic party in Congress:
"To.morrow noon the functions OF the For
,y-sixth Congress come to an end and the
Democratic domination OF SIX years Will be
brought to a close Though not called upon
to deal with events SO momentous as the
three Congresses which followed the advent
of the Republican party to power in 1861,
these six years are marked with some excel
lent as well as some questionable work. Re
Numbering the condition of the country IN
1878, when the unframed leaders OF the ma
ority took their places, to deal with pubhc
affairs, enlightened popular Judgment VIII
credit the party now going out with a record
on the whole not to be ashamed of though
the work accomplished falls far below what
the friends of reform had right TO expect
The Democratic party, however, must forever
bear the honor Of the first steps in turning
the government back to the course of econo-
nv in administration which Signalized the
early traditions Of the country They set the
example Of selecting their best and purest
men Tor responsible place and they close their
career with the passage OF funding bill
marking the highest water mark OF national
credit and enlightened legislature.
ut can never be forgotten that 1T time
when party domination had come TO mean
the right TO plunder the National Treasury,
to place VIGOROUSLY corrupt men in places of
trust, the new majority, alter hiteen years
exclusion from power, chose Michael !. herr
TO the Speakership and drew the hines openly
against subsidy aud Jobs. Since 1879 1t has
been the complaint of the free handed in
Washington that there was no longer place
for the lobby. The j0yial ranks OF those sIn-
ster make weights to the legislation between
1861 and 1915 found their occupation gone
under the austere regime of Kerr. NO
Der of the lobby was permitted 10 90 upon the
tloor Of the House whereas before his day
they had swarmed in the seats OF the mem
bers. The opulgnt teasts al the rings which
had been wont to enljyen the social h;e OF the
CAPITAL came to an end, and it IS the glory o.
the retiring party that their tenure vas de-
nounced as duh and Improbable to every
form OF the shitty trade Of lobyng-irom the
astute log rolling of the Pacific mouopollsts
to the transparent bullying Of the yenat news
paper stoolpigeouS,
THE court of the king Of The lobby, which
had been before respleudeut with every rank
of legislative life, came TO an end, and the
fallen monarch became q wanderer, without
hope or purpose, until the revolution OF last
autumn opened way for the renewal OF his
reign. But the majority did not conient Itself
with merely tentative weil-doiaE. Il pushed
the practice Of reform acEressiyeiy. The hTst
session OF the House was illustrated by the
uncoveriug Of the colossal cogrupuuns theR
existing. The hands % Secretary basiow
we're upheld ia the face OF strong executive
opposition. TO lay bear the memorable taeits
OF the whiskey ring, involving The reputation
OF nearly every eminent friend OF the admin
istraiion In more or less intimate conUlvAues-
and tracing the guilty riag into the very oii1ee
Of the President The expenditures W lhe
government we're cut down at one blow iAlFiy
or forty millions The scandals Of the pos&
iradership system we're exposed aud corFeci-
cd. implIcaGiug the Secretary ct " ar lg 1he
extraordinary rascalues, and M spite 81 me
cIampr and adroit obstacles OF the stall pos
erful minority, he was driven in isueminF
from his place. The rob6erses o. The Nary
perhaps the mos; shaWeia. and
reckless of which an administration taa ever
been eoavicted--were LAID tSre. and Though
the chief culpTit escaped by 'eeanfeailues ana
the interpretation Of powerful party machinery.
the practices whieh we're Usstlns the nat fonal
substance we're brought 60 ara eud.
The urofigale expenditures ~ tae Depart
meut Of Justice. she PrluunE Bureau tGc
Commissariat and other departments nssc
exposed, aud II unhappsly noi punished
brought 30 aa end. The odIogs reign q the
CARPET bag dcbauehees Nas overtHrnc1 ana
thrifty knaves who had been living yn thc
plunder OF the helpless Commonwealth has.
"a frusn the hAuuts Of civilized meh- lac
baIsjul interference ot the agfuy 90 civic pro
/ G. Hure vas checked. though aoi 81 et.ce1'yeiy
( as IAN abiding citizens could wish. ae FOR.
/ Il. Fourth Congress NAY be said % have foau4
i the country in the chaos shat follows clst
( var, and thoush they and their successors
Z we're not able u deal aith the wgonEs aad an
4 ronahes cgowdiug upou them tog redress, %
f must be owned thai they did noi alieselhcT
Z fall! short Of the iryiag mandate imposed uPoa
I them. Ihey rescued rs from banded rings OF
I thieves las breakerv and denagpsEes, -
Z whom Il would be a feeble comparison Go llkcn
f the tnereenarv teegaus of she Roman SenAtn
I In IFS deeadeucc OF the eprraps Aisal'aus q
lhe Sgcaaris Ia she worst DAYS ct iaatr uag'.
( tioas Iauiessness. Nor eiH 5be ia'aTe ht'6o.
I riaa dealing pAilnsaphlcaliy N3ia me ha.af@'
rrsup called 10 poser. whtle yet nupscpaFcd,
4 hesitate to accord them certain Eiors Tor 10
I trepid resolution ia She facc Of an oFPos.uea
more powerful thaa most an;ried men ara
called upon 10 face TIE Democracy has
/ been out Of the habit ot responsibility sar sach
Z q term oi wears that time and practice aseae
f could qualify then for the execution Of lae
E vast work expected q; them, Al 'heif aaics'
men had beea Jared By office and honor q 3y
s eonvicsieu iato the ranks os thcgr adStfs2ries.
i WIKI very rare exception the maB NRo ga'a
& "a the councils OF the party know oniY ~
tradition the methods 81 Democratic pol'ty.
.,The misrale Of leu years bad plunged tae
I couBtrF into the most dep.arable results tha.
attend civil war. without that reflex oaoyauey
that sas,aias great people who have 1881
I emerged from successful battle ne cFeds5
of the government was doubtful, the trade a
u Ha# of
territory seethsaE ia 3 revolutionary pAhic.
The new Congress undertook The colossal
burden al re-established peace and prosperity
with = certain unshriukjug contacuce ia Itself
aud in the country that shines oat COS a. q
species OF heroic eh5vairy, recalling the Nte's
STUDIES that the party has since undergone.
Within two years the atiairs Of the nation
we're brought back to their RoTmal conditions
the credit and currency Of the country we're
re established; trade revived aud an era Of
prosperity akin 80 the good Old umSs SCI IN
and continues a. the result Of the WISDOM
moderation and sagaciiy Of these iaeApeft.
. eaced bat conscientious and scTuPa'ous pa5-
lie servants There IS, wtth all this, much
( andone that should have been done and mach
done thar nj ght better have been lett andone,
bnt 30 criticism, from however hostile point
T OF view, can charge crImlualtty encouraged
/ or lawlessaess condaHed No moaapoles
have been built 10 through their instrumental
its. no constitutional Compacts lntruged- 40
right Of the majority invaded, no conspicuous
law breaker rewarded or armed with rlgh;
to prey upon the helpless. Wiser and better
trained rnea might have made better laws,
might have more completely guarded the
people against the sNarming evils the next
lew years are likely TO lie; loose upon rs, bU'
no men who have yet been called TO Po~er
have so thoroughly, 50 eonscienJIousiy aud
faithfully worked tor the interest conhded
them as the three Congresses whose mission
ends with the Forty sixth.
A. the election inst held IN Indiana those