The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1888-07-07
A Few Memoranda.
From Puck.
Here are a few memoranda. worthy the a

IfUnt l. uCh.
Here are few memoranda. worthy the at
tention of thoughtful citizens:
In 1884, the Republican party had been at
the head of the government for twenty four
years. Twelve years before 1884, the last
Amnesty Act was passed, and, whatever the
dominant party may before then have held to
be its most important duties, it was surely
from that time on free to attend to the bust
ness of peaceful and united nation. Has it
done its duty in this regard? We may draw
our own conclusions from study of few
historical facts-always remembering that the
Republican party qcas the dominant party, and
that when there was Democratic majority op-
posed to it in either house, the Democrats
themselves were divided on the main issues of
the day, and were, many of them, in favor of
measures which the Republicans advocated
or pretended to advocate. During this space
of time, the attention of the Republican party
was repeatedly called to the necessity of leg
islative action in the following important
matters:
IAN unsettled question of currency and
coinage. So dubious, tentative and generally
unsatisfactory are our laws that the govern
ment has to meet unexpected emergencies by
temporary shifts. For part of the period
we speak of, the American has had to take
seventy-fve cents for dollar, while he pays
the foreigner dollar.
H.-An anomalous state of affairs in the
Territory of Utah, whereby the laws of the
country are Systematically and defantly vio
lated.
III-The unprotected condition of the
country. Since 1868 we have had neither the
Notifications nor the ships to defend ourselves
against the attack of even third rate Euro
pean power.
IV.-The utter ruin of our mercantile ma
rine. Under existing laws we can not build,
and may not buy the shipping necessary for
our business, and our commerce pays freight
to England, Germany and France.
V.-The prostitution of our civil service.
Public office has for years been bestowed as
a reward for party fealty, rather than in con.
sideration of the capability and honesty of the
candidate, the result having been an inefi.
cieut service and the setting upaof a scandal
GUS example to State and municipal govern
ments.
VI.-The injustice worked to the whole
country by system of duties on imports
which is unsuitable to the present time, and
which favors a single class at the expense of
the community. Whatever it may have done
in the past, to-day it levies tax on the con-
sumner which is handed over to the producer,
and for which the producer gives no adequate
return either to the people at large or to the
These are not all the instances in which the
Republican party was asked to serve the peo-
pie, during those twelve years; but they are
six good sample instances. Now what did
the leaders of the Republican party say to the
demand of the people for action What did
they say, over and over again? "Give us
time-give us time. We are with you in de-
string a better state ofthings; but we must act
deliberately and wisely, for the best interests
of the whole people. We must not move
recklessly. Time adjusts many things; what
time leaves to US we must do in such way
that nobody can criticise US. Wait little; be
patient, We will see to it ALL" Well, did
they see to it? Did they do anything? Had
they done anythingin 1884? Have they done
anything since then, or tried to do anything
You may Judge for yourselves, you who read
this. Something has been done in the matter
of the Mormon iniquty, and done at the in
stance of a Republican Senator. A good be-
ginning has been made in the work of stamp
ing out polygamy-made with the aid and
support of a Democratic president. But
what more has the Republican party done of
all that it was asked to do?
Not thing-except renew its promises.
"Time-time-g us time ~ said the lead
ers, year after year. sWe will adjust this
silver difficulty to the satisfaction of every
bOdy-Only let US not act raSnly. gu snail
have q fine navy and strong Notifications
only let us find cut Just what is the best and
newest thing in the art of warfare. We will
devise some means to stimulate the ship
building industry-but it can not be done in
hurry. And the Tariff ?-the Tariff should
certainly be revised; but that is a delicate
matter, and calls for deliberation. Such
was their talk, year in and year out, until, in
1884 they nominated for the Presidency man
who was dishonor able official, an energetic
upholder of the ''spoils SYSTEM" friend of
every protected monopolist and ''silver king"
and the ally of the men who had wrecked our
navy to enrich jobbers and contractors. Then
it became absurd to believe that the Republi-
can party leaders meant what they said, and
the conviction of this truth seized upon the
minds of so many voters that the Republican
party was voted out of Office, and Grover
Cleveland, a Democr at, elected President.
He has been in his place three years. How
does his account stand? More done for civil
service reform than ever was done by any two
Republican pr esidents put together. A be-
ginning made of such a navy as the country
may be proud of. The question of tariff re-
form put fairly before the people, and good,
practicable bill started on its way through
Congress. That is, more done in four years
than the people could get even the promise of
in those twelve years that ended with 1884.
Whom shall the voters of the country put in
Office for the next four years? Let them
study these memoranda, if they are in doubt.