San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1886-10-12
FORCED TO CHANGE.

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faction of the democratic constituencies
with the course taken By their represen-
tatives in congress, upon the tariff ques-
ton. This is a very shOrt-sighted view
OF the case and totally inadequate to ac-
count for the very large number of dem
Ocratic congressman who have failed Of
a denomination. This fact of change is
indicative of Il very general feeling oil
democratic congress. So much Of good
had been promised TO the country as the
result Of a democratic possession OF the
government; 60 much Of evil had been
alleged concerning the methods of the
republican administrations, that the
people at large who accepted these
statements as true were really anxious
to make trial of a new order Of things
politically. The new order came,
The democrats found themselves
in possession of the government.
A democratic president was installed
and democratic congress took its seat.
The blunders of that congress have
passed into history. The failure Of the
government to answer the expectations
forth, fell with crushing effect upon the
masses who cared less for the traditions
of party than for the successful work Of
government. The pledges of the adj
ministratiOn were not redeemed. The
promises of civil service reform were
broken. The relief assured to the in
dustries of the country was not only de-
nied, but the very existence Of those in
dustries was perilled. The gross inoOm-
potency of some members OF the cabinet,
the questionable honesty of the acts Of
others could not be excused or palliated.
Inc imbeclity of the administration of
the department of state was openly
charged by leading democratic journals.
The name of American citizens was
made shame and the occasion OF for
eIgn insult, without any suitable rem
Onstrance by the government. The
safety Of American citizens abroad was
endangered and the government
seemed pOwerless to protect itself. The
dissatisfaction became general. The
call for adjOurnme nt of congress was
echoed even by the democratic
press. AS was TO be expected,
when 1t came to select represent
tatives for new congress, the old
members were largely passed by.
Whose fault was it? No ones particular
ly. Merely the result OF the situation.
The democracy We're not able to fill the
shoes of their republican predecessors
They had sat on the opposition benches
and cursed republicanism until they g-
nOrantly deemed themselves wise, and
fitted for the high office OF government.
SO soon, however. rs the responsibility
was laid upon them; SO soon as they
were compelled to formulate a policy for
the nation; SO soon as they were called
upon to take active direction of national
affairs and lead out for themselves they
were like a ship without u rudder They
had no policy and little practical abili-
ty. They soon discovered the difference
between the work OF obstructing meas
ures proposed by others and institsting
measures OF their own. Under the
white heat of opposition they lost CO.
herenCy, and in the confusion which en-
sued the country suffered. The work was
too weighty for them aud they sank I'M
der ii. 1t is grave question II the peO-
pie will repeat the experiment. The in
dicatiOns are favorable for republican
congress In 1857. No matter as to that
This much We see and seeing, note. The
democrats Of the country were too much
disappointed at the result of their own
experiment in national government to
desire its repetition by the same agents.
1t is safe to say no democratic congress
can do better. The republicans who
have made the nation what il is to-day
alone seem able to govern it, and this
truth is being accepted by the demOcra-
cy itself.