The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1883-07-21
Democratic Econo,rv.


civil war. The new conditions crea.
ted by the fall Of slavery are respon-
sible 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 a continuation of the
corrupting system which has de
morelized the administration Of pub.
lie affairs and encouraged yenality
and plumber and fraud in all branches
Of the public service.
The causes that misled these lead
ers are disappearing fast, and a
change for the better is visible in
every direction. Hope is encouraged
and confidence is cheered by the
promises Of brighter future, now
within reach of the Democratic party.
: The reform movement in this
State in 1874 was the beginning of
a new era which would have attained
the grandest results but for the
Great Fraud Of 1875. The Presi-
dency was stolen by conspiracy
backed by the whole military and
civil power of the Government, with
Gen. Grant. in the White House
menacing civil war in case Of resist
ance.
That crime blocked the wheels of
reform, so far MS the executive de-
partment was concerned. 1t cram
med the public offices with thieves,
perjurers, ballot-box suffers, forgers,
and the like; who were the instru-
ments Of Chandler, Sherman, Gar
field, Stanley Mathews, and the other
conspirators who pcrpetrated that
iniquity.
The Democratic House of Repre-
sentatiyes chosen in 1874 kept faith
with every promise Of reform which
had been made during the canvass.
The appropriations for the fiscal year
1875 had already been made when
the Democrats took possession of the
House in December, 1875. The ag-
gregate voted for 1876 by the Repub-
licans was 77,370,6S781, including
$50, 1000 900 for pensions.
The Democrats found Republican
President and a Republican Senate
to oppose them at every step of re-
duction. They reported and passed
bills agregating $13s,752,343.42 for
expenses, including $29,533,500 for
pensions. Here was an economy of
nearly thirty-nine million to start
with. The Senate fought every bill
obstinately, under the lead of John
Sherman, who repeatedly declared
the public service would be crippled
by the proposed changes.
In the committees of conference
the Senate managers resisted these
reforms as tenaciously as the Repub-
lican majority had done on the floor,
and threatened to defeat all the ap.
preparations. Finally a compromise
was reached, and the bills summed
up $l47.719, O74S5. or saving of
thirty millions in round numbers for
the same items, as compared with
the previous year!
That result was obtained in spite
of organized opposition, and with
the doors closed against all informa-
ton that could be useful to the re-
formers. This immense reduction
In the public expenditures, which
might be called radical from the
manner in which it had to be made,
did not make jar in the machinery
of government It cut off 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 60
ing on under Grantism, and of the
corruption that had pervaded the
whole operations of the Treasury.
This economy was pursued until one
hundred round millions were saved
in four consecutive years. The coun-
try was put again on the right road
of prudent and responsible admins
tratiOn.
The election of Garfield reversed
the engine, and House of Repre-
sentatives fifty led by Secor Robson
returned to the excuses which had
been arrested by the Democrats.
The people passed judgment on that
House at the very first opportunity,
aud now the Democrats have been
reinstated by vote nearly as large
as that cast in the tidal wave year.
The Commercial Gazette of Gin
cinnati, coolly asks, in the presence
OF these facts: "If Democrats are for
economy, why do they not show it
when they have fair opportunity ?"
The record of three successive Con
crosses confronts and answers this
inquiry. And we venture to predict
now that the record Of the Forty
eighth Congress will fully sustain
these examples Of reform and re-
trenchment.-N. Y. Sun.
New York cattle dealers and butch
ers are discussing with much interest
the dispatches from London announc-
ing that the House of Commons has