The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1886-07-24
A GREAT CONTRAST.

Tho United states senate az tn" Old Man
of the Sea In Dragging Down Good Leg
isiation.
The record of the Forty-ninth Con-
gress is particularly interesting in
showing very important points of diff
ference between the Democratic House
and the Republican Senate. Whatever
may have been the sins of omission on
the part of the former, and the neglect
to- carry out certain measures of re-
form In fuliiImcnt of platform pledges
and in accordance with the earnest de-
sres of tho people. the House cv,nccd
spirit of economy, and lent in many
notable instances its hearty co-opcra-
ton with the reform work of the Ad-
ministration. 1t responded heartily to
the appeal of Secretary Lamar and
Land Commissioner Sparks for lcgisla-
ton to correct the widespread abuses
and swindling connected with the pub
lie lands. 1t displayed commendable
zeal in furthcring Secretary Whitneys
plans for the construction of navy
worthy of the Nation, and spoiled many
a seductive job brought before it, backed
ny ~ pOWtIlul itHl UIiScTupUlOUS iODUN.
On the other hand, the Republican
Senate exhibited wanton disregard
for the interests of the public and en-
deavored to thwart the economical and
conservative policy of the lower House.
The Republican Senators made II stout
fight for the steamship subsidy lobby,
and nothing short of the unbcnding,
determined opposition of the Demo
cratic House defeated this shameless
waste of the peoples money. The
Senate ncutralized the efforts of the
House to reform the land laws and
save what remains of the public do
main from the harpics who are after
it. The Anderson bill. requiring the
immediate adjustment of railroad land
grants was so altered by the Senate
that it became to all practical purposes
null and void.
The repeal of the Presumption. Tim
Der Culture and Desert Land laws was
also SO manipulated by the Republican
Senate that the situation now is worse
than before and more favorable to the
land grabbers. Secretary Lamar called
the attention of the country to the inn
portance of repeating those laws. In
regard to the Desert Land laws the Sec
retary said: Good government seeks
to secure to the citizen the undisturbed
enjoyment of his natural rights.
Among these is the enjoyment of his
lawful acquisitions. Land. lawfully ac-
quired, is among the most important of
his possessions. Its security depends
upon the certainty of its title. litiga-
ton and contention depreciate its
value, disturb the peace, waste the
means and mar the prosperity of
community or nation. Laws exist on
the statute books which violate these
principles and are Objectionable. The
Desert Land acts are subject to this
criticism. Fraudulent titles to good
lands, have been the result of these
acts. l would, therefore, suggest their
repeal"
The Democratic House acted in ac-
cordance with this suggestion, but the
Republican Senate blocked the desired
reform. Shameless extravaganza.
amounting to open robbery, has been
shown by the Senate in the pension
bills, in the vast increase to the River
and Harbor bill and in other unneces-
sary additions to other appropriation
measures. Not only is the Republican
Senate eager and willing to squander
the peoples money, but it rcsents,
with indecent spleen, any interference
on the part of the President to protect
the treasury. Mr. Charles Nordhoff,
an experienced and observant Wash
ington correspondent, who can not be
accused of partiality towards the DEM
ocratic party. thus a!ludes to the con.
duct of the Democrats and Republicans
in both Houses:
Tho cry of the Republicans In the canvass
of 1884 was that IL the Democrats were al.
lowed to come In they would do too much
they would carry the country to the dogs.
The complaint now 10 that they have not
done enough They have certainly omitted
to do some things which needed doing, and
which, no doubt, they would have done had
they controlled both Houses. But the skilful
and unscrupulOus obstruction of important
measures by the Republicans I'm the Senate
shows that. no matter how active, determined
and united the Democrats might have been
in the House. their measures would have
been defeated in the Senate. They have Ger.
tainiy not been harmonious party in the
House. but II they had been that would not
have helped them, as many instances prove.
What is to the credit of the Democrats is
that they have done no harm and have al
lowed the Republicans to do no harm. aud
they have shown In the Administration and
In Congress the disposition to deal honestly
with the peoples atfairs.-Aibdny Argus.