Herald and tribune. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1869-current, 1886-01-07
THE YEAR.
CIRCUIT OF THE NATIONS HIS
TORY IN 1885.
A Brief Record of Events-Political and
Otherwise of the Ysar just Past.


The most important event in American
annals has been the return of the Demo.
| cratic party to power. On March 4 was
brought to close period of twenty
four years Of Republican administration,
during which the Union had been pre-
served, the National debt reduced nearly
one'half, specie payments resumed,
National banking system established, the
industries Of the country diversified and
developed by protection, slavery abolish
ed, and Civil Service reform introduced.
The Democratic party, which had been
on the wrong side Of nearly every public
question during tha, period, resumed on
that day the responsibilities of Office,
which its last Presidential representative,
James Buchanan. had pusillanimously
shirked and which his colleagues had
reasonably renounced. The prominence
given to the South in the Cabinet APP
pointments, the selection of Confederate
generals and Northern Copperheads for
conspicuous posts at home aud abroad,
and the lowering of the National flag for
Jefferson Thompson, indicated the con
tinuity of Democratic administration in
1884 and 1860 The rejection by the
Democratic House of a provision in the
Sundry Civil Appropriation bill empow-
ering the President to suspend silver
coinage Febuary 26) proved that tie
party was as persistent in its opposition
to sound principles Of finance and as
ready to destroy National credit as it was
when it had advocated imitation, fought
against specie resumption and plotted
against the National banks. Ten months
of Democratic Administration have de.
monstrated hat it is the same old party
that has returned to power, that it has
forgotten as little as it has learned, and
that it is ill-prepared to sustain genuine
measures Of reform.
The closing session of the XLVIIIth
Congress sas barren Of important results.
The principal measures enacted were
bills providing for the admission Of
French spoliation claims to the Court of
Claims within two years; prohibiting the
prepayment Of transportation or the i'm
portation Of foreign contract labor; re-
storing General Grants rank in the army
on the retired list; returning the residue
of the Chinese Indemnity to the Chinese
Government appropriating 1895, 900 for
the construction Of cruisers, one heavily
armed gunboat and one light gunboat;
reducing rates Of postage; and regulating
settlements in tlt indian Territory and
The foLAsiture of certain railroad lands.
Legislgtion of the first, importance was
abandonSd. The bills for regulating the
Presidential succession and the counting
of the Electoral vote were not carried
through the lower house. Silver coinage
was not suspended, although the neces-
sity for it was apparent in FEBRUARY, when
the New York banks were forced to re-
ceive silver certificates in payment of
balance. due from the Government to
i.
lands letter to Mr.. Warner favoring the
immediate suspension of silver coinage
was without effect, and by the decisive
vote of 149 to 11S the House declined to
allow him to act upon his discretion
Measures for the promoting Of inter State
commerce, the reorganization of the Su-
preme Court the re-enactment of Ma
tional bankruptcy law, the strengthening
OF the National banks and the encourage:
ment Of the merchant marine were not
passed. With the good measures the bad
failed also-crude silver initiation bills
and the proposed scheme of tariff revi-
sion.
The important treaties negotiated by
President Arthur's Administration were
not confirmed by the Senate, although
exh2ustively discussed in executive ses-
sion. The Nicaragua Canal convention
was laboriously defended by Senator Ed
munds on the ground that it did not vio-
late the provisions Of the Clayton Bulwer
treaty and that in any event that treaty
was not binding upon the United States
Government. The opponents of the con-
vention controverted both of these pro.
positions and maintained that the United
States could not assume the whole cost of
the enterprise and all the responsibilities
of a protectorate, il Great Britain were
left in full possession of the right of Joint
control over the canal The commercial
treaties with Spain and Santo Domingo
were opposed on the ground that they
created revenue for Cuba and the West
Indies without Offering any advantages
to the United States commensurate with
the sacrifices entailed. Senator Morrill,
took issue with any and every reciprocity
treaty with an inferior State, contending
that such conventions were unconstitu-
tional, and were prohibited by the most
favored nation treatment accorded to
European States. All these treaties were
withdrawn by President Cleveland last
March for examination by the new Ad-
ministration. In his Message he con-
demned the canal convention on broad
grounds and indicated that any recipro-
city treaty concluded by the Admins
tration with Spain would be free from
the grave objections urged against the
recent treaty. The Mexican treaty still
awaits the stipulated legislation required
to render it operative. The commercial
policy which Secretary Frelinghuyson so
strenuously advocated has collapsed from
sheer inanition
President Cleveland's inaugural pro-
duced favorable impression in conse-
quence of its conservative tone and his
professions Of sincere interest in Civil
Service reform and his assurance that he
aimed to conduct a business-like admin
istration and to uphold the rights Of citi-
zenship in the South. Ten months have
interviewed, during which it has been pos
sible to compare his practice with his
professions. In the conduct of foreign
affairs he has maintained safe, if not
particularly brilliant policy. Some of
his diplomatic appointments have been
exceptionally good, but the consular
service which had been steadily improv-
cd under Republican administration, and
IL. IL.