Daily Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1876-1884, 1883-04-18
The Coming Congress.

Sometimes we are tempted to think
that tho Democratic party is too good
for the country. When we allude to
this time-honored party, with Its splen-
did and resounding history, we have no
reference to the Sixth District, New
York, or to its oorrelatives In San Fran
cisco and other leading cities. We are
perfectly aware Of the fact that, on both
sides Of the continent, the Democratic
ideal has been dragged in tho dirt.
Were one TO take the exemplar Of the
Democratic party from certain speci-
mems in New York City, San Francisco
and other leading cities, while one would
not warm up to the Republican party,
one would become very cold, indeed, to
the party of Jefferson. But the truth Is
that, at no time more conspicuously than
now, the Democracy of the country
at large has voiced the noblest as
prations Of the masses from the natal
day of the Republic. We can only
Judge Of the results Of the "tidal wave"
of 1882 by those of 1874. The Thirty
fourth Congress, which was ushered
into being by that splendid Democratic
impulse, which even elected CASTOR, a
pure and undiluted Democrat, Governor
Of Massachusetts,, replaced House Of
Representatives which had been nearly
three-fourths Republican, by one which
was quite two-thirds Democratic. His
tory will record the fact that the Democ.
racy was by no means unworthy of this
special and complimentary trust. No
Legislative body, in the history Of oon-
stitutional government, ever rose, to u
public and critical trust, with more i'm.
pressement than signalised the action of
the Forty-fourth Congress, under the
inspirations Of Samuel j, Randall. I'M
der that inimitable and mastery leader
ship, the national expenditures, In the
two sessions VI tho Forty-fourth
Congress, were reduced in q sum
rising upon s60,OOO,00O. Since the
advent of the honest Democrats, raised
to power by the famous Democratic
''tidal wave" Of 1874, the reductions then
established have been maintained and
increased. But little more has been ac-
complished; although, by the way, the
most nippant and vonal of the newspa-
per correspondents who gathered around
Washington, in the heyday of Republi-
can ascendaney, have been compelled to
confess that the large infusion of Demo
cratic blood, in both houses Of our Ma
tional Legislature, has banished the cor
rupt lobby, as by the spell of some such
enchantment as waited upon the wand
of Prospero, in this land created by the
fecundimagination Of Shakespeare.
The question arises, shall we look tor
less benefcent results, as an incident Of
the Democratic "tidal wave" OF 1882
We do not think 30. The country is
really gasping for release from benumb.
ing Republican administration. The
Democratic party, throughout its whole
history, has been noted for its devotion
to the highest possible revenue and tariff
imposition. The next Congress will
open with an overwhelming preponder'
ance of parliamentary talent and exper.
fence, in the lower house, on the part
of the Democratic party. The same
honest and able impulses, which charac-
lied the 44th, will signalize the isth
Congress. In the one body, as in the
other. whether or no he be elected
as Speaker, Samuel J. Randall, of Penn.
sylvania, will be the leading spirit.
Every impulse of rctrenchment or refor'
nation will really be referable to this
matchless partizan and paraliamentarian.
No one need doubt but that he will be
equal to the occasion. The Forty.
eighth Congress, which will be, at the
start, almost "stand or in the Senate,
owing to the treachery of Malone and
Riddleberger, will, in the House, be SC
decisively Democratic that we confident
ly look for results, in national and re-
formatory legislation, commensurate
with that of the memorable and illus
trious Forty-fourth Congress, which
was Democratic to the tap roots in thu
House of Representatives, although
weak in the Senate.