The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1886-11-10
Tho House ImperIIled. !.

.#t Ahc hOuSe lHlpeSlllCU. .
The Democratic control of the
House is seriously imperilled, At
present the majority seems whitfield
down to six, and this includes sew.
cral members elected on Labor and
Fusion tickets. The question of the
reason and the responsibility for the
change is one that seriously con.
Germs the future Of the party.
Mr.. Blaine and his partisans will
of course claim that it is due to the
tariff scare. That this is not true is
proved by the fact that the -promi.
nent friends of tariff reform who
have now been defeated have for
several years past advocated the
same policy as q means of prevent.
ing tho surplus quite as earnestly as
they have done this year. 1t is like.
wise true that the Democrats have
made considerable gains, as in Mass.
achusetts and Minnesota, where thcy
pushed the fight openly and boldly
for reduction Of the war tariff. The
fact that "Free- Trader" was elected
Mayor Of New York, with tho Pro.
tectionist organ raising the issue
against him, shows that the people
are not frightened 1T the demand for
reduction Of taxation.
No doubt the disposition of the
Federal offices and quarrels and dis.
appointments over the offices have
contributed to the defeat of several
Democratic members. But the real
reason for the losses, in Il majority Of
CASES, lies deeper than this. There
IS no Disgusting tho fact that the
country has been greatly disappoint.
ed at tho comparative failure of. tue
last and the present Congress to do
what was expected of it. The taxes
have not been reduced. Needed re.
forms have not been advanced. Long.
delayed Legislation required for the
welfare Of the country has perished
on the files. The people hoped for
better things when Democratic Ad.
ministration reinforced Democratic
House. But instead of this the
paralysis and the inaction have con.
tinued. The President established
no helpful relations with the leaders
of his party in the House. Indeed,
he caused it to be known that he had
no concern in what was done by the
Legislative branch. What more nat.
ural than thatt the voters should rebuke
this inaction and initiate the non.
concern of the head Of their party
Another powerful contributory in.
luence-perhaps the strongest of all
is the example of independence of
and indifference to party obligations
set by the President. Mr.. Cleveland
has not recognized party ties. He
has listened to Mugwumps more
than to Democrats in several States
and has honored half Democrats
more than whole ones. Is it strange
That SO illustrious example of indie.
pendence of party fcalty should have
found followers Independent and
Labor candidates have found sup
port which they could not have Sc.
cured four years or even two years
ago. Democrats have been defeated
by Democratic voters. The indlfrer.
ence in high places has been copied
in low ones.
But as there are compensations for
all losses, if it shall turn out that the
Democrats have lost control Of the
House they will at least be in better
condition for the next Presidential
canvass through being relieved of
the responsibility Of legislation.
They would learn the necessity Of
union and harmony, and the Repub.
licans, from being critics and grum.
blers, would be compelled to show
their hand. They need only to do
that to be ousted again as they were
in 1882.-NeaU York World.