The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1892-08-12

MITCHELL. s
utary laws. Wyoming and Idaho were
pressing to be admitted as states. "A
new congressional apportionment act
had to be passed. The land laws need
ed revising. The state agricultural
colleges needed to be placed on a better
basis. In the interest of our export
trade meat and cattle inspection requir-
ed immediate attention. The silver
question, owing to the neglect Of our
|financiers, and the strenuous exertions
of the friends of free coinage, had as
sumed such an importance in the ewes
of the people thatit was no longer in
the power of congress to refuse action.
The decision of the supreme court as to
the original package question had so
interfered with local self government
that the states had to be reclothed with
power to control their affairs. Indian
reservations needed to be opened. In
dian debts and French spoliation claims,
both shamefully neglected, needed to be
paid, and the action of maritime confer
ence demanded ratification. The great
questions OF service and disability pen
sions could no longer be neglected, and
had to be fully and satisfactorily dis
cussed and treated. Measures had also
to be taken to suppress the Louisiana
lottery-legislation which was called
for against an institution established
under the constitution OF a Democratic
state, but which spread its baleful influ-
ences over the whole union, and had to
be dealt with by Federallaw. =
Having thus assumed the reins of.
power the majority then became re-
sponsible for what was done. They be-
came responsible for the act of 1880 re-
ating to the purchase of silver.
Whether that act, isolated from all.
the circumstances of 1890, was abso-
lutely wise is more thanI know. That
it then and there saved this country
from the free coinage for which every
Democratic leader was then clamorins.
and on which they are now so silent. I
do know. If time shall show that it
ought to be repealed, that will in no
wise initiate against the wisdom Of
passing it in 1890. They became res
ponsible for the refunding of the direct
tax, lust measure. which. among
other things, saved from bankruptcy
the state of Kentucky. most. if not ali.
of whose representatives voted against
it.
They became responsible for the lat
est revision Of the tariff, which is lust
now rising so high above the SANDERS
which two years ago poured upon it as
if. the foundation Of the great deep had
been broken up. Free. sugar, larger
exports and larger Imports are fully
iustifying the bill, and increased manu-
featuring results will soon add their.
quota to the returning prosperity of the
country.
They became responsible also for the
meat and cattle inspection, which took
away from foreign nations their last ex-
cuse for refusing to receive our food
products, and enabled our able Secre-
tary of Agriculture and our foreign
ministers to restore to us in some meas
ure the markets of the world for such
products.
They became responsible for the des-
truction of the Louisiana lottery. They.
redeemed the honor OF the United
States by making provision to paw its
honest debts. They opened up to act
ual settlement many million acres of
productive lands, and gave a suitable
form Of government to vast areas Of the
territory of the United States.
They became responsible for pension
laws which the Democratic house has
not dared to assail, and which, however
much they may be covertly complained
Of were but the assurance of the nation
that the soldiers of the war and their
dependents might be forever sure that
the bounty of the nation, which it was
honorable for them to receive, should
stand between them and that taint Of
dishonor which, whether Justly or un-
justly, has always attached itself to
local and parochial charity.
But it is not necessary to again enum-
crate the acts passed by the Fifty-frst
congress. The catalogue already given
of the duties pressing upon the congress
at its commencement is also catalogue
of duties done. The house of rep
Iresentatives of the Fifty-frst congress
met every responsibility without excep-
ton, and gave the Judgment OF the
representatives of tho people upon all
the questions which the people put be-
fore them.
That all this work was ACCOMPLISHED