The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1883-03-13
THE 47TH CONGRESS-.
OPINIONS OF IT'S WORK,
New York Herald,

The Forty Congress, which
cane TO an end yesterday at noon, will
not fil very creditahle psge in the
Congressional history. 1t did little or
nothing that it ought to have done and
it did number Of things that it ought
not TO have done The single unqnes-
tionahlv i'm mpoitlnt and bene6rent law i.
passed in the whole course Of two years
was the Civil Service Reform bin, which
owes it's being as a law TO a democratic
Senator, Mr.. PendIeton, and was adop.
ted by the unwilling republicans. amid
private curses. only because public opin-
ion demanded it.
New York Herald
The tariff bill agreed upon ny the
conference com niitee passed The House
by 152 TO lis and thus one great agon,
is practically ever. We do not see,
however. tina! the "revision" OF the tar.
III thus accomplished in one upon which
there is good reason 10 congratulate the
country. II satisfies no one who took
part IN 1t, and can not fail. hut utter
inconsistency, to enrage every one who
has at heart, anv tariff theory OF any
kind The "revision" is OF value in
only one respect lit confirms the wis
dom of the people who in November
last declded that a great number OF
Cor gressmen we're unfit for the seats
they occupied.
New York World
Wna'ever the causes, the fact remains
that the Forty seventh Congress met for
its second session under burden OF
popular disgust such az no previous
Congress has ever had to carry, and
which hal already changed Is efficient
maj 'ritv into a weak minority of the
Fo tv.eighth Congress. The second
session has done nothing wha' ever to
relieve the odirn the Republican party
sustained from The acts OF the first, and
the last act OF Congress was fitlv enough
the helpless adoption of tariff Of which
not one of its advocates prof,ssed to be
able 10 foreteil the results either upon
revenue or upon business,
Washington Pest.
O. the tariff AMI internal revenue bill
that was rushei through the Congress
bv an arrangement very similar to the
tlectorial com mission, we shall have oc.
casion t, speak more at length at an
other time. 1t is very far removed from
the relief measure that public sentiment
demanded, and nothing Objectionable or
exssperating was spared in the long
course of deceit and laundering that led
up to the final contamination. We are
glad, however, that the majority was. at
least. compelled take the responsible
ity of passing tax bill The political
situation is far more favorable to the
Democracy than it would be had Demo-
cratic which most OF the
Republicans hoped for and some OF them
worked for-prevented any revenue leg
islstion at oil.
Pittsburgh Dispatch.
The passage Of bill greatly modi
tying the tariff, bv a republican Con-
gress, serves notice on manufacturers in
al departments OF industry that the pro.
tective tariff idea. distinctivelY for pro-
lection, is not in as full feather with the
party OF protection as ii has been here
tofore.
No matter what standpoint the bill is
viewed from. it looks like an entering
wedge, and driven. too, nv the Republi-
can party. which will finally shiver the
protective tariff to pieces, and leave only
snch protection as may he granted by
the demsnd for revenue.
Manu- 'acturers may net he forced to
conteu, WITH ac,ual free trade at all 1t
is hardly possible ths, they will be
But they will unnuestionahly he COM
PEELED To. face tariff before many years
that will he even less satisfactory than
the mod fl d rates OF the new bill, which,
il is conc !1ed, are no' so had for Ameri.
can industries as they were thought to
be at frst glance.