The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1890-03-22
SATURDAY, MARCH %, 1890.


CONGRESSIONAL ELECTIONS.
To speculate on the issue Of an event that
Is 10 take place even at as early a date rs
the Congressional elections I'm the fan would
seem 10 be- rather premature, as no phase OF
general affairs is subject 10 as sudden
changes as the political. Nevertheless
thero are certain influences In active opera
lion AT the present time that must make
pcrmancnt impression upon the course oil
rn,ure political events and not improbably
deiormine the result Of these elections over
whelminely in favor Of TIE Democratic
party.
In the first place. even If the record N the
Republican party since their advent io'
power in every branch Of the National Gov
eminent had been distinguished for many
wise and conservative measures, il would
have toput itself more or less in position
Of defense. ms il has been ia absolute control
Of all national legislation. Have all. the
measures Of the party been wise and con-
sorvativcs Have any 1t is not going too
far TO saw that not since the close of the
war. including even the revolutionary pee
Rod Of reconstruction. has the Republican
majority shown 4 moro audacious and un-
scrupulous disregard Of law as they have
done in the interval since the assembling
of Congress.
The practical abolition Of established pre-
ccdents in the matter Of rules; the arbitrary
assumption by the speaker Of the right To-
force through every partisan scheme ana
proposition simply because he wishes 1t, as
the representative Of the Republican party;
the open violation Of the terms Of the civil
service law. in the face Of the most solemn
professions i'm the national platform of de-
votion 10 its principles, and the consequent
conversion of the government into vast
party machine; the proposed pension legis-
Iation, by which provision would have 10
be- made for the payment, either at once or
i'm instruments extending over a few years
only. of amounts in excess Of one billion OF
dollars; the wasteful appropriations for
unnecessary public buildings; the passage
Of election measures that would increase
the number Of national ofice-holders enor-
mously, and subject the wnole people pc
riodically 10 Federal supervision and inter
ference-all these different facts converging
in their general significance TO one point, in
illustration OF the dangerous and untwst-
worthy character Of the Republican party.
must have a powerful effect in alternating
the popular sentiment from all sympathy
with that party, which would signify it,
total overthrow in the fall election.
Even the recent course ofthe Republican
party had been in every other respect such
as to entitle il 20 the favorable consideration
of the country at large. the position which
II continues 20 hold ON the tariff would doom
it 10 inevitable defeat in these elections.
The general triumph of the Democratic
party at the Northern polls i'm November
last was due undoubtedly 20 the discomfort
of the agricultural classes. in consequence
of the depression in every branch Of their
special pursuit Has the Republican party
done one thing of Importance during the
present session TO allay that discomfort by
anordng the relief so earnestly demanded
Not one. This can bee said in spite of the
fact that the schedules Of the proposed Me
Kmley tarin bill profess 10 extend the prin-
ciple of protection TO the products Of the
farm.
But the evil lies too deep TO be reached by
such a superficial remedy as this. Let the /
Republican party extend the protective /
principle 10 farm products as far as they |
can do SO, and two stubborn difficulties /
will still remain TO thwart their intentions;
in the first place, the prices Of the home /
market are determined by the prices at
which the surplus products are sold IN the I
foreign market; and in the second place /
the farmer will still have 20 buy the various /
articles which he needs, at the same ertor- /
Tomato rates. In consequence of these /
facts. the discomfort Of the agricultural /
classes will continue until there is rad /
ical change in the economic policy Of the /
government, and this change can only De /
brought about by the triumph Of the Demo /
cratic party.
The reasons that led the farmers Of the /
West 10 support Democratic candidates in
the state elections of November. having in-
creased in force in the interval, will inc,i-
tably move them 10 cast their ballots i'm
favor of the Democratic candidates for
Congress in the elections % take place in
the autumn. There are few wiser and
shrcwder politicians In the United States
than senator Allison Of Iowa. and nc is now
actively engaged in warning his associates
against the inevitable effect upon the voters
Of the West of a continued adherence 20
The present tariff policy OF the party. But
this warning viii make no permanent inn
preston. Every sign therefore points 70 an
triumph for the Democrats
In the fall election; not one prcsagcs Re
publican success. unless national elec-
ion law can be passed that VIII virtually {
hr0ttle the voice OF the Southern
whites. which seems wholly improbable.