The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1883-08-17
Democratic Economy.

Democratic leaders and Democratic man.
agere have often committed great bunders
since the close of the civil war. The new
conditions created by the fall Of slavery are
responsible mainly for these errors of judg-
ment.
The chief misfortune resulting from this
mistaken policy has been the prolonged life
Of the Republican party, with IL continuation
ofthe corruption system which has demoraliz
the administration OF p1blic affairs and en-
Outraged venaity and plumber and fraud in
all branches of the public service
The causes that misled these leaders are
disappearing fast, and Il change for the bet
ter is visible in every direction. Hope is en-
coumgcd and confidence is checred by The
promise of brighter future, now within
reach of the Democratic party.
The reform movement in New York State
in 1874 was the beginning off new era which
| would have attained the grandcst results but
for the Great Fraud of 1876. The Presidency
wns stolen by IL conspiracy backed by the
| whole military and civil power of the govern
ment, with General Grant in the White
House menacing civil war in case of resist.
ance.
That crime blocked the wheels of reform
so far as the executive department was con
| cerned. 1t crammed the public offices with
thieves perjurers, ballot box suffers, forgers
| and the like, who were the Instruments o
Chandler, Sherman, Garfield, Stanley Mat
| thews, and the other conspiratOrs who pre-.
petrated that iniquity.
The Democratic House of Represt natives
chosen in 1874 kept faith with every promise
of reform which had been made during the
| canvass The appropriations for the fiscal
year 1876 had already been made when the
Democrats took possession of the House in
December, 1875. The aggregate voted for
1876 by the Republicans was $l77370, G27S1
including $50 600, 900 for pensions.
The Democrats found Republican Prcsi.
dent and Republican Senate to oppose them
at every step of reduction. They reported
and passed bills aggregating $139. 752, 343 AZ
for expenses, including 500 ,533, 800 for pen
sons Here is an economy of nearly thirty.
nine millions to start with The Senate
fought every bill obstnately, under the lead
of John Sherman, who repeatedly declared
the public service would be crippled by the
proposed changes.
In the committees circumference the Senate
managers resisted these reforms az tenacious
ly as the Republican majority had done on
the floor and threatened to defeat all the ap-
preparations. Finally a compromise was
reached, and the bills summed up $147,7l9,-
074S5, or saving of thirty millions in round
numbers for the same items, rs compared
with the previous year
The result was obtained in spite of organ
lied opposition, and with the doors closed
against all information that could be useful
to the reformers. This reduction in the
public expenditures, which might be called
radical from the manner in which it had to
be made, did not make a jar in the machinery
government. 1t cut Oft useless offices and
stopped huge stealing, but the public business
went on as if nothing serious had occurred.
That experience was clear proof OF the
prodigality that had been going on under
Grantism, and ofthe corruption that had per-
vaded the whole operations Of the Treasury.
This was economy pursued until one hun
dred round millions were saved in four con-
secutive years. The country was put again
on the right road of prudent and responsible
administration.
The election of Garfield reversed The engine,
and House of Representatives fifty led by
Secor Robinson, returned to the excuses
which had been arrested by the Democrats.
The people passed judgment on that House
ut the very first opportunity, and now the
Democrats have been rcinslatcd hy II vote
nearly rs large as that cast in the tidal wave
year.
The Commercial Gd2ctte of Cincinnati Co0lly
asks, in presence of these facts IF Demo
Gratis are for economy, why do they not show
it when they have fair opportunity :" The
record of three successive Congresses con
fronts and answer this inquiry. And we ven
ture to predict now that the record of the
Forty-eighth Congress will fully suslains
these examples of reform and retrcnchmrnt
". Y. Sun.