The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1882-10-06
Reform Despite Malign Influences.

OF course the Michigan Republicans,
in their unusually and unnecessarily
long platform, arraiSn the Democratic
party with the savage ferocity which is
supposed to be the ear-mark of a first-
class Republican. Dur ne its six
years of supremacy in Congress. saws
the Michigan platform, it showed it
self incapable of a Single great measure
of legislative or administrative reform;
neither tariff, currency, revenue. civil
service, army, Indian policy or any
other great interest received improve
ment at its hands" This implies that
after fifteen years of unbroken and un-
obstructed Republican rule, all these de-
partments and bureaus of Government
had fallen into such . deplorably cor
rupt state as to need reformation. The
Michigan Republicans denounce the
Democrats for not correcting abuses.
But what are we TO think of the party
that brought about these abuses and
then left them for its opponents to cor
rect.
1t is true that while the Democrats
had control of Congress-it was not six
years, but four-the did not effect as
much in the reformation of abuses as
could be wished but this is because while
tUG DCIlOItdbS lletAi CNItAbl "a 1OAtS- At7,s
the Republicans had control of the whole
executive and administrative machinery.
The Presidency, the cabinet. the revenue
service. the Indian Bureau. the
custom-houses and the 100, 600 Federal
offices were still in the hands of
Republicans, and what the Democrats
did had to be done against the stubborn
opposition of these powerful influences.
everheless, they accomplished some-
thing that deserves to be remembered.
They overthrow the fraudulent demon
citation of one half the ancient metal
money of the country and restored the
silver dollar 20 its old and Leo innate
position; they stopped the eXtraya-
gance that had become chronic under
Grant, and cut down the appropriations
$4,000, 600 a year, and they assisted Mr..
Hayes in introducing that feeble
measure of Ciyil-service Reform which
has been almost wholly lost under the
present Republican Administration.
All this was effected under formidable
difficulties. The Silver bill had to be
passed over Presidential veto. and the
reduction in the appropriations had to
be enforced in the teeth of persistent re-
sistance from all the leading Republic
ans in Congress.
w nat the democrats accomplished Is
not great deal, but it is something.
What the Republicans accomplished in
the same direction, with all the organs
of Government in their hands, was
nothing at all.-St. Louis Republican.
"A curious-looking specimen of the
bovine race was exhibited on the streets
of Greensboro. n. c., recently. The
animal is a DeVonshire bull calf, three
months old, with tail and hide SINH
lar to those of an elephant. The calf is
about the usual size, and apparently
well and hearty. Its hide is entirely
destitute of hair, lies in heavy folds
like an elephant 5, and is about the same
color. The tail is short and spiked
"A New York undertaken has in
augurated a system of cheap funerals.
For thirty dollars he offers TO furnish a
large coffin. plate, hearse, one carriage
and opening the grave. When asked
how he could afford to do it so much
Lee 4I,a,, tho ofhar.- ba II,