The Portland daily press., 1882-05-02
WASHINGTON APRIL IS

the fact that the Democratic policy is one of
obstruction and of ruin. The Bourbons fought
and defeated the early consideration OF the bill
to extend the charter of national banks whose
lease expires within twelve months; they have
killed time on the tariff commission bill, hop
ing thereby to strangle every effort at reform
in taxation that doesn't involve free trade and
obstruction to New England manufacturing
and agricultural Industries; they have obstruct-
ed and postponed the decision of the election
cases, thereby keeping in their seats members
who were elected by fraud, intimidation and
open violence; they have strangled and well
nigh killed plans to provide for the ad1udlca-
ton of private claims SO that Congress may
not be monopolized by questions that should DO
heard by judicial tribunals; and they have
made as desperate fight to uphold Mormon
ism as they did for slavery in the old days,
but the Republicans have decided that no Nor
mon will ever sit in Congress again. In short,
the Bourbon schemes for obstructive mischief
seem to be limited only by their opportunities;
for they apparently never neglect any chances
to commit blunders to the injury of themselves
or their country or both.
The present condition and prospects OF
those several measures may be briefly stated.
The question of extending the charters Of the
national banks is one which concerns the peo-
pie who transact business and who raise crops
and make articles for general consumption
more vitality than it does the people who run
the banks. The failure OF extension Of thei1
charters will operate as a withdrawal, at least
temporarily, of many millions of the circula-
ting medium. 1t would force a contraction OF
the currency, which is one of the great scare
crows heretofore urged by the greenbackers 1t
be would contraction which would operate with
greater hardship than gradual contraction by
law, since it would be sudden, and would Gre
ate an immediate shock, which would embar-
rass the farmers and small traders most disas-
terously, especially those who belong to the
debtor class. The value of money, the rate Of
interest, would be emphatically increased,
bringing ruin upon many who would have
obligations to meet at the time. Sincere
Greenbackers, as well as Republicans,-in fact
all classes except the Bourbons who evidently
appear to be laboring for panics in order to go
into power upon the tide of disasters-would
naturally favor the present status OF the money
system until a better one can be devised. Yet
in spite of the ruinous threat in this obstruc-
tive Bourbon policy, the two ex-Greenback and
full fledged Democratic members for Maine
vote every time against any consideration OF
the subject, thus directly promoting sudden
and extensive contraction of the currency,
which their constituents would 30 much
deplore. 1t is believed. however. that the
Republicans and enough liberal and fair men
of the other parties will be found to pass this
measure of relief at an early day. Some of its
opponents have evidently heard from their
constituents, for there is said to be chance of
voting within day or two in favor of guard
ing against disaster before it is too late.
AS to the election cases. the Republicans
and Greenbackcrs are substantially united up
on them, and will bring nearly all of them up
this week and press to an issue one or two of
them at last. The fact is, the Southern Bour-
bops have treated the Republicans and Green
hackers alike, and counted out members fairly
elected to give place to rebel generals like
Chalmers Of unsavory fame. On the election
cases all the Greenbackers, except the alleged
ones from Maine, will it is understood, vote
with the Republicans. The first case on the
calendar is that of Lynch VS.. Chalmers of Mis-
sissippi There is no doubt that Mr.. Lynch
was fairly 6leCl6Q ne IN d cOlUr0u HAL, us
district is about three to one colored and Re-
publican, and the so-called election OF Chal-
mers was one of the most glazing frauds on
record. The House has so decided and seated
Lynch. The second case on the calendar is
Mackey VS.. O'Connor of South Carolina. o.
Conner was elected by tissue ballots and fraud
ulent count. After the election he died, and
the Governor called special election, at which
one Dibble was elected, the Republicans tax
ing no part, on the ground that Mr.. Mackey
had already been elected and would be seated.
Mr. Mackey claims his seat on that account,
and the only defence at all worth considera-
ton is that Dibble is the sitting member, hold
ing certificate of election where there was no
opposition. The third case is that of Bisbee vs.
Finley of Florida, which is another case based
will be that of Lowe VS.. Wheeler of Alabama,
although this is not yet reported. Mr.. Lowe is
a Greenbacker Notwithstanding Bourbon
fraud, Wheeler was returned by only 43 ma
jority in vote of over $4,000. Another case
from Alabama yet to report upon is that of
Smith VS.. Shelby Those cases will be dis
posed of probably in the order named, and the
contestants will all be seated. The Democrats
threaten to flibuster, and the cases are SO
clearly against them that the Republicans will
not, or should not, regret such action, for it
will show the country distinctly that Bourbon
ism means corruption and general wrong in
elections. Some Democrats boastfully declared
with reference to Mr.. Lynch, thai mo id
niger shall ever again sit in Congress" But
he is there, and the fight against him is an I'M
healthy issue for the Bourbons to make in a
case 80 clear as his and against colored Rep
resentative SO able as he is.
1t is possible yet that something may be done
to relieve Congress of the annual avalanche OF
private claims, even if the present plan, or
better one, shall fail through Democratic de-
sire to repress all effort at reform. The bill
under consideration was net all that could
have been desired and many Republicans
would favor its revision by Mr.. Reeds Judici-
airy Committee, were it not for the fact that
abated by further perfection, and there is
danger in delay. 1t is hoped, however, that
enough conservative Democrats in the Senate,
as well as in the House, may join the right
movement to make captious opposition una
vailing as also IN the case OF the revenue and
banking questions.
Every development in the adverse discussioR
of the tariff commission bill shows that the
leading minds in the Democratic organization
are tending towards absolute free trade, and
that finally all who believe in any measure of
protection to home industry must leave that
party The Democratic orators do not tolerate
differences upon that subject as they did for
merly, and some of the more liberal Demo-
Gratis are daily read out OF the party because
they are coming round to the Republican
standpoint. The tariff bill will probably pass
next week, although the Republicans
are apparently in no haste about it,
believing that the Bourbons are ev-
cry day piling up speeches that will count
against them in the coming campaigns.
1t is curious to note the effect of the sober
second thought on the late local Western cleo
ton The boundless brag of the Bourbons here
at having carried several western cities has
been turned to sad reflection, and the anxious
inquiry with them now is whether elections
carried solely on the rum issue organized and
led by the liquor dealers association and the
beer brewers constitute substantial victories to
boast off, But the whole story hasn't been
told In every case where the rnm-sellers
made gains it is known to be bya light vote,
the saloon elements being the only one fully
represented. And further, it appears that
whenever there was fulli vote, and uniformly
in the country towns, the liquor dealers and
the Bourbons went down together Republic
can Members of Congress express themselves
as well pleased with the Spring elections all
round. Many who are not prohibitionists are
gratified that the liqaor dealers association
have allied themselves SO decidedly with
the Democratic organization because that
alliance will drive reputable people away from
any party at the polls.
Many inquiries are made touching Maine
politics, and it is evident that all eyes
are turned there as upon the first deci-
sive battlefield of the campaign. The
RanublicanE are confidently expecting