The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1885-03-05
Under Democratic Rule.

At noon Yesterday the National Government
passed from Republican control into the hands
of the Democracy. The party which saved the
Union is succeeded at " ashngton by the party
which sought to destroy it. What it was at
tempted to accomplish by the bullet has been
effected by the ballot The Confederacy is in
the saddle again; and if President Cleveland's
biographer is true prophet the rebel yell was
heard yesterday in the streets of the National
Capital. We should be glad to believe that the
change does not bode evil to the country; but
whenever and wherever the Dcmocrac, have
gained power since the war whether in Con-
gress or in State and municipal governments.
they have simply demonstrated their unfitness
to rule, and incOmpetency, robbery and jubbery
have been the order Of the day. The Democrat
ic party, as represented in Congress, is divided
into hostile rings, diamerically opposed to each
other on vital questions of public policy, and
with no possibility of agreement. These differ
ences will be manifested in the distribution of
the spoi>, and unless all signs fail, and there is
remarkable access of wisdom. the next four
wears will De filled with chickering's and scandals.
The selection of Dan Manning. notorious
Albany lobbyist, ipbber and wire-puer, for
Secretary of the Trea4ury-the most important
Cabinet POSITIONS enough TO set the seal of
condemnation upon the new administration al
the outset and fully justieS all that has been
said Of The incapaciy of the man who has been
placed in the highest office in the gift of the
people. Indeed look in what quarter we may,
there can be found no reason to hope that Pres
ident Cleyeland's administration will be either
wise or patriotic; and it is safe to predict that
in less than four years the people will be eager
to renstate the party that defeated by
treachery at the last election.
The Republican party may well be proud of
the record it made during The twenty-four years
It was in power. 1t found the Treasury empty
and the credit of the Government destroyed;
and before it fairly had the reins in hand the
controlling element of the Democratic party
rose in al Il rebellion against the Union. and
caused four years of terrible warfare. Through
the storm and ress of battle and the quick
sands OF financial disaster the Republican pilots
carried the old sh'D of State and brought her
safely into port at asst. Then followed recon
structon, until we had once more a united
probem-how to provide for the enormous
debt incurred in suppressing the Democratic
rebellion, and to maintain the public credit
How successfully this was done need not be re-
told here. In place Of an empty treasury, the
Republicans have turned over to their sue
cessors a full one. In 1860, under Democratic
rule, per cent. Government bonds went beg
ging at a discount of II per cent. Under the
last Republican administration 3 per cent
bonds commanded premium. Under the Re-
publican policy Of protection, which the Demo
Gratis are eager TO set aside for the benefit of
their free trade allies in England, great indus
tries have been built up. employing hundreds
upon hundreds of thousands. the continent
spanned with railways. and continuous flow
of emigration from across the Atlantic has
helped to develop the great West. This is IA
mere outline of what has been done in the past
twenty-four years by the Republican party;
and we repeat that it is record of which Re
pubhcans may well be proud But at every
step it has met with the opposition of the party
now in power.