Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-10-16
Claiming the Next House.

The Republican leaders say that the
indications justify them in claiming the
next House. For their indications they
rely mainly upon the Secretary of the Re-
publican Congressional Committee. That
gentleman always regards the prospects
of his party as hopeful. aud hence no
great dependence is to be placed upon is
predictions.
But while 1t is not probable that the Re-
publlcans will have control of the next
House, the claim which they are making
should open the eyes of Democrats to toe
possibility of Republican success, ana in
spire them with determination not only
| to hold the majority they have in the pres
ent House, but also to Increase it in the
| next.
The only noticeable ground OF dissatis-
faction with the Democratic majority OF
the present House is its failure last ses-
sion to keep Its pledges with respect to
tariff reform. The country expected,
and reasonably 30, very material reduc-
ton IN the tariff. An effort was made TO
meet this expectation, which was de-
feated by Mr.. Randall ana the Democratic
Representatives, WAC follow him. A day
or two ago, Hon. Abram ). Hewitt, in
speech, criticised the Democratic party
severely for its failure at the last session
OF Congress to pass a tariff reform bill.
He said, and very truly, thatit is no bust
ness of the Democratic majority in the
House to inquire what a Republican
Senate will do with a tariff reform bill
sent to it by the House.
The Senate must pass it or take
the responsibility for its defeat. The
Democratic party is pledged to tariff re-
form, and it cannot reasonably expect to
retain the confidence of the people unle So
it redeems its pledges.
1t is difficult to see on what ground the
Republicans expect to secure majority
of the next House. They have done moth
ing to invite public confidence since they
have been in the minority. They claim
TO favor civil service reform but their
record with respect TO that is not such
as to inspire confidence. The country
knows what KIND of civil service REFORM
ers they are. Their hipocracy has been
displayed too often to deceive the people
easily again. In their national platform
In 1884 they declared that their party WAS
the only one to which the execution Of the
civil service law could be safely intrusted
aud then they nominated man for Presi-
dent who announced that If he we're elected
there would be no civil service nonsense.
For his canvass he insisted upon,
and received, the assistance of office
holders in all parts of the country. In
deed, his most effective canvassers were
men whose incomes were derived from
the government No. the people are not
going to trust the Republicans with the
execution of the civil service law. A
Democratic administration is giving SAT-
isfaction IN the matter OF civil service re.
form, and if.some of the rank and file of
the Democratic party are somewhat re-
calcitrant with regard to it now, they
will see the necessity for obeying the pop
ular will in the near future.
1t is part of the tactics of the Repub-
licsns to claim the next House on tie
eve Of a Congressional election when
they are in the minority, and to claim an
increased majority when in the majority.
Their claim, therefore, that they will
control the House n the Fiftieth Congress
should not occasion any uneasiness.