The Portland daily press., 1882-02-16
tspecial Correspondence of the Press.)

Special Correspondence of the Press)
WASHINGTON, Feb. 13.
A discussion of the merits of the present
Republican House of Representatives cannot
be prefaced better than by quotation from
the last Sunday Capital, Democratic paper
which in the habit of treating Republicans
and Republican measures with extraordinary
severity. Says this paper:
"The zeal and intelligence that the House
committees are displaying in their discharge
of the various important duties conhded to
them are beyond praise; and any thoughtful
man who may have watched the committees
during the past six years cannot fail TO be I'M
pressed with the radical difference between
the methods of legislative body under Re
publican control and inspiration, and one un-
der Democratic management. Inc hepupll-
cans legislste like men. sensible alike OF duty
and responsibility, investigating subjects with
thorough care and digesting them with delio-
crate intelligence; while the Democrats used to
go to work like boys set at an irksome task, 10
get through with which was the sole desldera-
tum, regardless of every other object.
After trying to excuse the Democratic fail
ures and faults of six years legislation, or pre-
tended efforts at legislation, this editor again
breaks forth in complaint of his party.
"Great questions crowded thick upon the
Democratic majority" he says "But it took
the off side of every one of them 1t battled
against specie resumption, but specie payment
was resumed. 1t did its best to stay the bus
mess boom that followed, but business doomed
nevertheless" And, once more, whenever
a measure of public progress or enterprise
came up the Democratic majority strangled or
smothered it. Whenever true insight into the
material needs of the body polite and intelli-
gent conception of the relations between the
people and the law-making power were re-
quired, the Democratic majority sought to
conceal its lack of them under the hue and
cry of an Notwithstanding generally In
the discovery of something that Democrats did
not want to find. :"
The picture drawn by this indignant Demo-
crat is one which great many other sorrowful
Democrats are now contemplating. With
fine opportunities to signalize their advent to
power in Congress by assisting the business
"boom," instead they set to work inventing
obstacles to progress, and wasting precious
time in discussing frivolous objects for the
purpose of making political capital. And the
fact he states that the present Congress is
oASNN ~
lemnity to the average Democrat who sees in
it long lease of power to the Republican
party. The Democratic editor voices the sent-
ment of many of his faith, when he says, all
the time showing his teeth at the Republican
party:
Little as we love the Republican party,
great as are its faults and terrific as have been
its errors or its crimes in the past, 1t must be
ass;f nf Eoo fc
brains at the front. If in the future the Re-
publican party will be as generous as it is in
telligens and as benevolent as it is shrewd, the
people whom it has wronged and. oppressed
sciH forget the past and rally TO ats stdnddTd Jor
the promise of the fttture."
A plain hint at revolt from Bourbonism is
a ching of the past and, this is echoed far and
wide.
This is business Congress. 1t has seemed
to 20 slowly in legisl alton, and circumstances
have forced it to that attitude in many things.
The Republicans have small majority in the
House and the Senate is tied. Therefore re-
forms in the methods Of the past six years of
Democracy must lag or seem to dc so. But
H. Hesitation is much farther along than II
has been at this Time Ior y-------- ri,
appropriation bills are much farther towards
perfection than they have been on any first
session of Democratic Congress, and this not
withstanding many other equally important
matters have taken the time of those who do
the work of committees In fact, all the i'm
portant business is being perfected in commit
tee and when the whole is seen in the history
of this session, it will appear to good advant-
age. The apportionment of Represe ntatives
is one of the greatest objects, and that will be
sent to the states in a few days, in form that
no party can object to. The Republ ican poll
upon subjects which the Democrats sought to
force upon tno narn0xfsJ oOJecIioh-
able form.
Among the more necessary work of the ses-
sion is the in, estigation of Democratic election
methods in Tie South, and these cases are
well advanced. The result will be many new
evidences Of Democratic iniquity, and unfit
ness for free government. The cases in which
Democrats will certainly be unseated to give
place to men who were honestly elected are
two in South Carolina, one in Florida, one in
Alabama and one in Mississippi. Dbble and
Fillman misrepresent the South Carolina dis
tricts that were purposely formed by
Democrats to contain all the Repubi-
can maiorities and Democratic Congress has
heretofore allowed these to be stolen by their
tissue ballot and bull doing adherents. Each
district has more than five thousand Republi-
can majority, and Mr.. E. W. M. Mackey and
Robert Smalls, (the gallant colored man
Of Rebellion memory will take the
seats that belong to them. Mr.. Horatio Bisbee
claims Finley IS seat from Florida on similar
grounds. and he has strong case from the fact
that in the last Democratic congress, upon the
same testimony as be has now, he was seated
although the Bourbons unjustly kept him out
until the very last moment of the session. Mr.
w. NJ. Lowe will succeed Wheeler in Alabama
and Mr.. j. r. Lynch (colored) will succeed
Chalmers of Mississippi, thus disposing of two
very disreputable rebel generals. The men to
be seated are Republicans except Mr.. Lowe.
who is a Greenbacker, and to do justice by
whom TIE Republicans will vote just as solidly
as for one of their own members.
trial people, which the Republican legislators
are studying upon is the means of reviving our
commerce, and, as necessary result, extend
ing our markets abroad and improving the
profits of the farmers and mechanics. This is
one of the subjects which, now to
their own grief the Democratic per-
sistency neglected doing their six years
Of Congressional existence. What forms this
subject of relief and advancement will finally
take it is now impossible to tell, but something
will be done surely by this Congress to help
along the prosperity which is now as wide as
the country.
Equally advantageous will be the Republic
can duty of staying the hands of the Demo
cratic mischief Makers who are clamoring for
the abolition of protection to home industry,
in the interest of British freetraders. There
may and possibly will be reforms in the reve-
nue. system and reductions in taxation-very
large reductions the Republicans promise and
will make-but they will be in a line quite diff
ferent from destroying the protection which
now surrounds the New England farmer and
artisan. They will be in the line of fostering
all Our domestic interests. j. w. b.