The Russellville Democrat., 1886-06-23
The Democratic Record.

complaint among some democrats to call forth an article showing to some extent, at least, that much of this grumbling is out of place and we shall proceed to show this to be true. it is well known that the democratic party went into power as party of reform. But iittle oyer year has elapsed siDce the executive function has been exercised by democrat. Abuses created in q aquarter of a cen tury, by party strongly entrenched, and exerting it's power in an era of prodiglous expenditure, reached enormous proportions, and many of them became so intertwined with le- gitimate enterprises as to be difficult to separate. With an enormous ex penditure. political offices, from be coming posts of honor and public trust, became valuable for the oppor- tunities they gave for the acquire ment of wealth, and from being the creation of the people, became the prize of the one who would use mon cy tHc uioSt iasiShiN. uhd oo "o : ually passed out of popular control. Public property, instead of being re- served for public use, was squan- dered, given away with the lavish hand of a gam bier who throws away the treasure he controls but did not acqnire. Syndicates of capital were allowed to take whatever public property that suited them. Valna- blc franchises were sold to corpora tons, and bribes secured that official indifference that won what could not be secured in open debate. Banks were given powers that belonged to the government. Corporations were l favored with enormous loans, and . political pollution scarcely equalled in the most dissolnte periods was rocking the social atmosphere of the nation.
 It was under sucb conditions that tue democracy went into power as the party of reform, and this power was so diluted by senatorial obstruc- tion that it's work xas unavoidably, hampered But that it has not been false to it's pledges the result in it. tie more than one year gives gratify ing evidence. That it has not done more is due to their prodigioas quan- tlty and the difficulties O. their re- movsi, and also to the opposition of the republican party that yet con trols the tronghoId Of monopoly
 tue senate. That there also lias been impatience was natural to peo
 pie who felt the effects 0t these pro- found abuses. without understanding the enormous difficulties involved in tueir removal.
 Mir. Cleveland has proven one thing, and that is hls honesty. Hc has stood like wall between the as sanlts of hls enemies, the mistakes of his friends, upon the pledges upon which he took his office. And the doubts that obscured fhim from the public vision are clearing away, as one after another of the abuses are attacked and destroyed, and great corporations and individuals are compelled to respect the law along with the humblest citizen.
 Nearly 50,000.000 acres of land have been reclaimed and suits are entered upon twice as much more The rottenest navy in the world IS being renovated, out of less money than formerly served to keep it Tn a state of decay. The public debt has been reduced by more than twen
 tieth of It's volume. Economy in the management of public money has enabled the administration to hasten new war ships, improve docks, pay it's expenses and interests, without halting a moment in the payment of it's debt, and without disturbing the great reserve that may be applied in public works, naval construction and debt paying. A healthier moral tone is noticeable in all official cir cles. Legislators and courts show a respect for public opinion they failed to do two years ago. Money does not so readily buy the honor of ollie tebiS, AVA 10 thS uAVA'Bc'l SPAiAo oR confident nor so oyerbearing. Gov ernment has asserted it's authority over the oligarchy of the Blaines, the Shermans, the Logans and the host who have come to regard them
 selves law within themselves and law glvers to the nation.
 But the party in some seetious has become impatient. It hoped to see the enormous load lifted immediate
 ly and because this was impossible became despundent. Many did net reflect that years would be required io effect the necessary changes. Yet how unreasonable this spirit is may be seen in the great change ss lccted in single year. IL may also be seen hoa great is the necessity ior harmony and unity of purpose and leadership ln order to complete the work 50 well began. That the enormous aggregation Of the party snogld, after long absence from pow CT, confronted by evils of long growth end great dimenssous, be absolutely iyre from esIcis uf luisuntlsrstand ing ana sA so 2euersEe htGa andl in,.e listi, aai'noNties, would be 3 .i...s4 .ss..t,,sY.. kn4tt .a+ s., srsss4 s,st