The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-03-04
CLOSE OF THE FIFTy-FIRsT CONGRESS.

To-day at noon the Fifty-irst Congress
comes TO a close, and will 90 down to history
with the most unenviable record ever made
by any legislative body in the world. As
sembling in December, 1889, it has been in
continuous session. with the exception Of one
month, since. making the longest sitting Of
any one Congress in the annals Of the coun-
try. But though it has consumed so much
time il has accomplished less than any other.
It's entire life has been taken up in the pass
ing or attempting 10 pass. the most infamous
measures, and its whole record has been but
one story Of oppression, fraud, tyranny and
revolution.
The most important law which it has enact
cd is the Mckinley tariff, which was construct
ed with the greatest care so as to Cypress and
burden the poorer and toiling masses for the
benefit of a few wealthy and favored monopo-
lists, raising the prices Of all the necessaries Of
life and placing the unprotected consumers Of
the country completely at the mercy Of the
protected producers The wishes and wants of
the people were ignored so that the interests
Of the manufacturer, who had submitted to
the frying process to furnish fiat" for the
compaign. might be subseryed. and. if the
exact language attributed to the late William
H. Vanderbilt was not uttered TO the public
the actions of Congress expressed the same
sentiments louder than words could have
done. Clearly the majority in both Houses
had made up their minds before Congress met
TO rely only upon the power Of Doodle for sue
cess. and so they devoted their energies more
towards making arrangements TO gain n
victory in 1892 through the medium Of
huge corruption fund, than to win success
by elciting the commentator of the voters.
This was. no doubt. the secret and motive
of the oppressive Mckinley tariff law. and
the remainder of the session has been character
lied by similar infamies. More than year was
fritered away in a desperate struggle to fasten
upon the country an odious and revolutionary
Force bill which was 10 take the elections Of
representatives to Congress out of the hands
of the people, and place them in charge Of
the Federal authorities, while the public bust
ness was wholly neglected and left 10 look
out for itself That this and kindred out
RACES might be perpetrated the minority was
luIOtlleu, anu lue HOUSE Oh Representatives
was converted into an autocracy. with Reed,
of Maine, as absolute ruler. whose dictum
was law, and from whose decision there was
no appeal. And at length when it was found
that the Force bill could not pass or if it did,
that the people would hold the party respon-
sible for it TO the strictest accountability, it
was abandoned, only that attention might be
more closely given to the connecting of
schemes for robbing the Treasury.
Tyranny, fraud, oppression and corruption
therefore are the main characteristics of the
Congress which departs this life to-day. The
people will be heartily glad that its power for
evil has passed, and that it was prevented from
doing more mischief thanitdid. They will take
good care. if they consult their own interests
and recent events show quite plainly that they
are determined TO do so-that no similar body
shall ever again have an opportunity to bring
lasting disgrace upon the American name.