Bridgeton pioneer., 1885-06-11
CHANGED THEIR MINDS.

CHANGED THEIR MINDS.
During nearly every Presidential
campaign for twenty years past, the
Democrats have declared through their
representative journals and upon the
stump, that the internal revenue sys-
tenn must go, and that the navy yards
should be closed up. At every session
of Congress when a Democratic ma
jority has been in power, strenuous
efforts were made to cut down the
number of internal revenue districts
and cripple the service in every posi-
BILE way. Efforts were also made to
abolish all further repairing or build
ing of vessels for the Navy. So far
was the latter carried that it became
almost impossible to secure sufficient
money in the appropriation bills to
pay the ordinary running expenses of
either the army or navy. AT one time
aDemocratic House of Representative
seriously advocated the entire repeal
of the tax on whiskey and tobacco, and
revenue collection act And, had it
not been for the prompt action of the
Republicans, aided by a few honest
Democrats, the law would have been
repealed so far as the House of Repre-
sentatives was concerned. Other
schemes which had tendency to de-
feat the further collection of taxes, and
the strengthening of the army and
navy passed the Democratic House,
and only failed of becoming laws be-
cause the United States Senate with a
Republican majority presented q solid
wall of objection.
When the Democracy We're guilty of
these reactionary tactics they were in
minority outside of one branch of
Congress, consequently were unable to
domuch damage. Things have changed
since then! Now the Democracy North
and South-especially the South-are
in the saddle. With power in their
hands what do they do? Continue to
ask for the repeal of the internal reve-
nue. act, the demolishment of the navy
and cutting down of the army? Not
much! On every hand we hear the cry
for office. At the Navy Department
the gates are besieged by hungry and
thirsty Democrats" clamoring for
places in the naval yards and arsenals.
In the Internal Revenue Department
the candidates for Collectorships are
legion, and among the number are
several Democratic Congressman, who
when in office voted to wipe out these
offices. Conspicuous in this company
of seekers after the spoils is our own
ex-Congressman Thomas NJ Ferrell,
of the First District, the man who when
canvassing for election announced from
the stump that he was in favor of the
abolition of the internal revenue tax
and should work to that end. Well,
he has got the Collectorship, and his
past statements go for naught. Secure
behind three thousand dollar salary
as Revenue Collector, he smiles and
smiles over the mastery manner in
which he hoodwinked the people who
voted for him. His case is only one in
a thousand. All over the country we
see the Democracy fighting for Col
lectorships of Revenue, Paymaster-
ships in the Army, and places in the
Navy yards, and will not be comforted
because there are not more offices to
give out. This change of front may
seem strangeto many citizens who have
placed confidence in the Democratic
party, but it isn't strange when once
the character of that ancient political
organization is understood. When
Democracy is out of power it is a great
stickler for economy-when it is in
power it is just the reverse. 1t has a
faculty of changing its mind to suit the
occasion. Like the chameleon which
the travellers saw, it is devoid of color
or complexion to the uninitiated, but
wolf in sleeps clothing all the time
to those who understand its true char
acter and history.