The semi-weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1882-1886, 1884-03-05
A.

The New York World, IN an able
article, thus sums up the political
changes within the last two years:
In the last Congress the Republi-
cans had 152 members Of the House
of Representatives and the Demo-
Gratis 100. In the present Congress
the Democrats have 1876 members
and the Republicans ll8.
In California the Democrats
secured a solid delegation IN the
election of 1882. Connecticut
changed that year from three Repub-
licans and one Democrat to three
Democrats and one Republican.
Illinois elected nine Democrats in
stead of six. IEdiana's delegation,
which had stood eight Republicans
and five Democrats, changed to nine
Democrats and tour Republicans.
Dyed-in-the-wool Iowa. which had
boosted a solid Republican delega-
ton in the previous Congress, re-
turned four Democrats. Michigan
changed from u solid Republican
representation to six Democrats and
five Republicans. New York elected
twenty-one Democrats and thirteen
Republicans, In place # twenty
Republicans and thirteen Democrats.
Ohio, which in the last Congress had
fifteen Republicans and five Demo-
cratic members, elected thirteen
Democrats and eight Republicans.
Pennsylvania elected twelve Demo-
Gratis in place of seven. Wisconsin
changed from six Republicans and
two Democrats to six Democrats and
three Republicans.
According to the Congressional
vote, If a Presidential election had
been held lin 1882, the Democratic
candidate would have received 27
electoral votes and the Republican
candidate 124. The Republicans In
that election retained only the States
of Colorado, illinois,, Iowa, Kansas,
Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota,
Nebraska, New Hampshire, Oregon.
Pennsylvania, Rhode Island and
Vermont.
What was the cause Of tho politi-
cal revolution In 1882?
The Democratic party fought
against the greedy spoils system
which had led to the assassination o
the President by a disappointed and
revengeful Republican office seeker.
Against official dishonesty prevail
ing uninterruptedly from the timef
Grants private Secretary was tr-
vols ed in the rascalities of the Wits
key Ring and his Secretary of War
in those of the POST Trader Ring
down to the Star Route robberies un-
der Hayes.
Against the protection extended by
the Administration to public thieves.
as shown by the predetermined fail
ure of the Star Route prosecution.
Against the destruction of free
government by the reversal and per
version of public opinionsin elections
as in the fraudulent election of Hayes
in 1876 and the purchase of the Pres
idenry for Garfield in 1880.
Against extravagant expenditure,
needless taxation, the rapid payment
of public debt and the accumulation
of an enormous corruption fund un-
der the name of ~''surplus revenue"
Against the political assessments
by the robber Barons of Republican
ism who hold the knife to every Fed
eral ofice-holder's throat until he
contributes to q fund to corrupt the
ballot box:
Against the bold bribery and cor
rupti IN practised In Indiana In 1880
and afterwards honored by public
banquet over which President Ar
thur, one of the benefclaries of the
crime, presided.
Against the sale of United States
judgeships and the pledge of cabinet
positions and foreign missions for
money.
Against legislation discriminating
in favor of capital against labor, fos-
tering monopolies and generally de-
signed to make the rich richer: and
the poor poorer.
The Democratic army entered the
field in 1882 to do battle against these
evils. Volunteers flocked to their
ranks and they won a great victory.
The vote all over the Union showed
a general desire to drive corrupt men
from power, to restore the Govern
ment to its former simplicity, hon
esty and constitutional landmarks
and to vindicate the right and the
power Of the people to elect their
own public officers.