The Douglas independent. [volume] (Roseburg, Or.) 187?-1885, 1884-03-01
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THE INDEPE I.
SATURDAY, MARCH /, 1884.
Political Issues.


members Of that body favor measures
which the Republican, members oppose
So marked are these political differences
that they furnish issues for the coming
presidential campaign. The most
marked differences on the great na-
tional questions which have developed
themselves in the various committees,
are: First, the Chinese restriction bill,
to prevena the importation of the poems
OF that race to this country. The bill
was prepared by the Pacific coast dele
CATION with great care, to prevent the
further evasion of the present law OH
shat On estion, which has, by the sane
ton of dishonest Republican officials,
been rendered imperative. It was in
troduced by Henley Of California, at an
early day of the session and referred to
the committee on foreign relations.
The Democratic members Of the com
mittee were in favor of reporting the
bill back to the house with recon-
mendation that it pass, but were unan-
imously opposed by the Republican
members, who have detained the bill In
the committee room until the present
time, under pretext of discussing its
various provisions, while these objec-
tionable people are flocking to our
shores. What will be Tie fate Of the
measure remains to be seen. With a
Republican senate and president, the
present effective measure will hardly
pass the veto power without modiica
&ion which will render imperative the
efficiency of the bill, as was the fate Of
the original bill, which received the
conformation of a Republican presi-
dent until its effective provisions were
stricken out and the law failed of it's
object.
Second, the policy Of the two great
political parties is we'll marked and
clearly defined on the donation of the
public lands to railroad corporations
Bills have been introduced by Demo
cratic members to declare forfeited and
open to settlement the public lands
granted to the various railroads which
lave not been earned by the companies
according to the terms of the giant
These measures are neatly all opposed
by the Republican members who favor
confirming this vast territory to these
various companies who under the rul-
ing Of a Republican admin ,tration
have kept the best portion of the pub
lie lands tied up to the exclusion Of
settlers, for more than twenty years,
without any claim Of right whatever,
the time for the completion of the
roads having larsed before any effort
was made by the corporations to build
them. These same lands were OBJ
tanned by Democratic administration
for the use and ber.etit of the homeless
of the nation and held for actual set
tlement. The Republican PARTY, which
has been so lavish in the donation Of
these lands, are endeavoring to uphold
the monopolies which they have crea-
ted, and on this issue the parties now,
as they ever have been, are opposed to
each other
Third. On the question of tariff and
revenue the parties are divided. The
Democracy favor collecting no more
revenue than is needed to lefray the
expenses of the government economic
ally administered, and oppose the accu-
mutation of the currency in the treas
rry vaults, and oppose the use of pub
lic monies for individual aggrandize-
ment. In all this they are opposed by
the Republican members and the pres
ent administration, who favor special
industries at the expense of the whole
people, and under the most extravagant
administration the country has ever
Il
been cursed with, more than one hun
dred and fifty millions Of the gold and
silver of the country, which is needed
by the people for the transaction of the
business affairs of life, has accumulated
in the treasury vaults. Jobbery and
peculation have beeA made easy and
practicable under system of business
which would not be. tolerated by the
most inexperienced merchant in the
management of his own affairs When
one of these dishonest officials are de
tected in robhing the public revenues
the loopholes for his escape have all
been planned in advance.
The question is plain one-will the
people have their government honestly
and economically administered. or will
they continue to pay for extravaganza,
peculation and frauds, that monepo.ies
1aay be built up and fostered and few
individuals made millionaires and the
great PASS of our people beggaredl