Huntsville gazette., 1891-10-24
DEMOCRATIC HLuNDERs.
A Title of Honor Conferred by Then q
the F1fty-Ffrst Congress.

the Flfty-Ffrst Congress.
Few are the things that the demo-
cratic leaders have done since the au-
.umn of 1890 that they have not wished
undone as soon as they were out OF
their hands. Their foolish ingenuity
displayed itself last in the invention of
the phrase: 1.-The billion-dollar con-
gress," which they hoped to attach as
a term of opprobrium to the Fifty-first
congress. But now that Mr.. Henry
Cabot Lodge formally has accepted the
democratic nickname rs a title of
honor to the republican majority of
that congress, and has given reasons
for its being so worn, the democrats
NAV feel as uncomfortable in memory
of their invention as poor Shylock did
over his hasty laudation of "a Daniel
come to Judgment.
No penny of money appropriated by
the republican majority of the Fifty
first congress was applied to any pur-
pose which any democratic journal or
orator in the northern states will dare
to impugn, nor to any purpose which
the national platform of the demo-
cratic party for 1892 will dare to de-
nOunce.
Mr.. Lodge, in his speech to tie re-
publican convention of Massachusetts,
dropped some burning and defiant
words which the republican press and
the orators of republican clubs cannot
repeat too often prior to the opening OF
the next national campaign:
In hooks and by-ways and in irresponsible
newspapers the democrats have undertaken to
assail the pension legislation and the pension
appropriations Of the republican party If
they are opposed to them, let them have the
courage of their convictions, come out openly
and say so officially. i challenge them to do it.
II they have not the courage to utter with au-
thorty that which they are muttering under
their breath, then let them hold their peace.
Let them either specifically denounce us for
our pension appropriations or let them here
after say nothing more about the one hundred
and thirteen millions increase which We made.
If they are silent, they assent; if they speak
out against u.s. we will fight them on this theme
as on all others
This is the kind of talk that republic
ans like to hear. The southern press
openly speaks of republican legislation
for the benefit of the union soldiers, or
the widows and orphans of such, as the
pension steal" Let us see if the
democratic convention will speak of it
thus. Let US challenge and defy criti-
cism of the policy of appropriating one
hundred and thirteen millions for the
relief of those who have been wounded
or who have become eufeebled in de-
dense of the union, or for the aid of
those who have been made widows or
orphans by confederate-it has become
questionable to say rebel-bullets.
Let the republican party invite and
defy the democracy to open its cam
paign along this line.
What. really, was the amount appro-
priated for all purposes by the republic
ans in the Fifty-frst congress? 1t was
nine hundred and eighty-eigh mill
lions. What was the amount appropri-
ated for all purposes by the democratic
majority in the Fiftieth congress? 1t
was eight hundred and eighteen mil
lions.
To what purposes were the hundred
and seventy millions of increased ap-
preparations devoted? One hundred
and thirteen millions went to old and
feeble soldiers of the union, or to the
widows and orphans of dead soldiers.
VIII the next democratic convention
dare to denounce this expenditure?
Will it dare to pledge itself to repeal
of pension legislation or to reduction
of pensions? Next in magnitude of
amount is twenty-five million dollars
of increase for the postal service. In
all past time it has happened and in all
future time it is likely to happen that
every increase of postal expenditure
has brought an increase of postal in
come. But, as Mr.. Lodge said: Let
it stand as it is" If the democratic
party will dare to declare itself op-
posed to more efficieLt service for the
distribution of newspapers and letters
to the people OF the whole country, but
more especially the farmers and villag-
ers of the south and west, the repub-
licans will be glad TO join issue with
them. Next comes twelve million dol
lars for ships of war. With the Behring
sea question on our hands, with Canada
growing insolent, with European in
trigues for the recovery of monarchical
strength on the American continent
with the Nicaragua canal to defend a
few years hence, and with our travel
ing citizens to protect in all parts
of the world, let the demo-
Gratis pledge themselves against
moderate appropriations for a
war navy if they dare. Three millions
went for coast defenses Was it a
penny too much? Six millions was the
cost of the census. Eight and half
millions went to pay debts long owing
to Indian tribes, or due to them for the
magnificent lands of Oklahoma and
Sioux reservation, which republican
policy opened to white farmers Four
and half millions were added to the
river and harbor bill The remainder
went in small amounts, to any one of
which the democratic party is defied
by Mr. Lodge to offer formal objec-
tion
The acts of the Fifty-first congress,
the bil.ion-dollar congress, have passed
into history The attention of the peo-
pie is invited to it's appropriations
and expenditures, and the democratic
&c Hnfi iaA 20 alo1