New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-10-20
RETROSPECTIVE.

IF laborers and business men suffer ano Their
Democratic Congress to be elected, 1t VIII
prove that they have very short memories. III
is not yet two years since they voted with
great intensity of feeling to get rid of Dem
ocratc majority in Congress. Whyf Be
cause il had tried to overthrow the tariff, made
war upon the banks, labOred to debauch the
currency, refused money required by law for
the support of branches of the Government,
disgraced the country by their partisan SLAM
ders and crimes, and disOrdered all industry
and business by threatened mischievOus legisla-
ton. Working men by the thousand, in all the
manufacturing States, refused to allow DEM
ocratic majority to mcudle with the tariff.
Merchants and bankers, with unusual una
nimity, declared that the financial tendencies
of the Democratic party were a perpetual
source of alarm and danger, and that peace
and assured prosperity would not be possible
until the power to do mischief had been taken
from that party
In what has the situation changed! AT the
very threshold of the last Congress, though in
minority, Mr.. Randall brought forward
financial measure that embraced some of the
worst provisions of the bill which had been
defeated only 10y the veto of the President. Other
Democratic leducTS III JHO OCudtC OhOlOu anu
urged measures still more pernicous, and
managed to get some of them adopted by
nearly united Democratic vote, aided by
d few mistaken Republicans. From the very
beginning of the session, important branches
of industry were kept In continual hot water by
Democratic efforts to repeal the taxes OH
whiskey and tobacco. AS to the tariff, that
party loudly and persistently demanded an I'M
mediate and radical change, and voted almost
untedly for many amendments which were
both calculated and intended to break down
the protective system. These are simple facts,
known and read of all men. What reason
is there now for putting the business and the
industry of the country at the mercy OF the
Democratic party
There has been dissatisfaction with the con-
duct of the Republicans in Congress, 1t Is true.
But in consequence many of the members who
we're responsible have f;dled to be renominated,
while some Others have been defeated at the
polls. Constituents arc abundantly able TO get
rid of Republican representatives who prove
unworthy, without putting the Democrats into
power again. Moreover, it must be remem-
bered that, in many important matters, the Re
blican majority acted very wisely. 1t pre-
vented hap-haZard tlnKerlnS WITH tnc IdlIh
by creating a commission which is now IN
vestlgating the subject thoroughly. 1t provided
for refunding $250,000,000 of three and a
half per cent bonds ut per cent, and would
have passed much wiser and more beneficial
measure for that purpose if Democrats had not
almost amended it to death. They passed an
Apportonment bill, Il strong measure to over
throw resistance TO law by Mormonism, and
voted almost unanimously for, and but for
Democratic opposition would have passed. an
excellent bill to reduce taxation. Would it
not be foolish in the extreme, because this
Congress did not in all things do as 1t ought,
to give power again to the very same Democrats
who made so much mischief in 10oO-'Sl, and
who made all the mischief they could at the
last SESSION.