The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1884-03-22
A Conspicuous Failure.

II conspicuous Failure.
The Democratic party was unques.
tionably in good spirits when Con.
greSs assembled. More titan six
months were to elapse before the
Presidential nominations would be
made, and by that time, with the aid
ofa large majority in the House of
Representatives,, the party hoped to
occupy Il commanding position in the
campaign. 1t was believed that such
ground would he taken ON the tariff
as would unite the party, and that
such revelations would he made Ivy
investigating committees as would
put the Republican party upon the
defensive in the campaign.
We are now well into the fourth
month of the session. and nothing has
been accomplished towards making
good these promises. Beginning the
session with the election of a free
trade Speaker. it has taken the Ways
and Means Committee more than
three months in which to frame bill
with which both elements of the party
are dissatisfied, and which, whether
defeated or not, will certainly he Op
posed by Il cot siderable number of
Democrats, leaving the party divided
and disconnected on the very eve of Il
great National canvass. In the dirpc-
ton of Investigation, the party has
accomplished almost nothing. 1t re.
members, and wisely no doubt, the
fearful and wonderful work its boom
erang did some years ago, and ii can
hardly muster up the rurage To he
gin. About all that has been discov-
cred now is that President Garfield
was earnestly in favor of pushing the
Star Route prosecutions forward, no
matter who might he hurt. The
American people hardly needed as
suranceS on this point, but they are
not unwilling at the same time to get
them through tie mediation of IA
Democratic House. The World keeps
on, in piteouS double-leads, demand
ing.that the party shall "investigate," "
but no heed is paid to the ADVICE.
The situation of the party is not
improved when the general condition
of legislative business is considered.
The delay in acting upon the Appro
priation bills has been remarkable.
They are practically untouched in the
House, except for some de5ultOry
work in the committee. A cOmpari.
son with the last long session, that oi
the spring of 1882, will show how far
behind its work the present III ,u$e is.
A little more than month later than
this time eight appropriation bills
had passed the House in 1882, and all
the Others were in Il forward state Oi
preparation. By this time in 1882 the
House had passed the Post Office, In.
dian, Consular and Diplomatic, and
Fortificatims Appropriation bills
and the Census, Urgent Deficiency
Agricultural Department and Mil
tary Academy were among the eight
which three weeks later could he
counted as passed. The Army bill
had also been reported. By contrast
with this, the present House ha'
passed only tl,e West Point ApprO
priation bill, which the Senate ha.
promptly disposed of, and with tha,
petty achievement the record ends
The number of measures of real pub
lie Importance which the House ha'
disposed of is exceedingly small. The
majority is distracted, without lead
ership, and incompetent. If party
is to he judged by its works, there il
nothing in the achievements OF tht
Democrats of the House to Undue
amy impartial citizen to vote to pu
them in control of the Government
Thus far, the Democratic House is ;
conspicuous failure.-N. Y. Tribune