The Durham daily globe. (Durham, N.C.) 1889-1894, 1892-05-20
THE COUNTRY DOES CARE.

"The Hon. THOMAS BISMARCK REED
says the New York Sun, "is the largest
figure in the house of Representatives at
the present time. He is a BISMARCK out
Of power, but not the less a BISMARCK.
He sits among the smaller and uneasier
republicans of the minority like a bull
frog surrounded by scOOters Their di-
VACATIONS leave a ripple on the surface
of legislation but whenever Tom REED
moves there is a commotion and / splash.
"The leader of the opposition is now
engaged in promoting to the best of his
uncommon ability the endeavOr Of certain
democrats to beat the record of REEDS
own billion congress in the matter of ap-
prOpriatiOns. AS the ex. speaker of the
house has repeatedly declared that he is
proud of that record, you would natur-
ally suppose him reluctant to see it
equalled or surpassed by his political enc
mics. Such is not the case. He is doing
everything in his power to help along the
fool democrats who are bent on OvertOp-
ping the republican billion with a demo-
cratic billion-and-a-quarter. He is like
wise doing everything in his power to
make things uncomfortable for any demo-
crat brave and honest enough to stand
true TO the pledge with which the ma
jOrity began the session.
ITO this end the Hon. THOMAS Bis
MARCK REED is devoting from day to day
his ready wit, his eXasperating sarcasm,
his imperturbable self possession, his
parliamentary skill, and his we'll stocked
memory. He is the ally and the guide of
the democratic billion builders of the
ffty-second congress; but they don't
seem to suspect it.
Last week, in one of the biting little
speeches against economy which the
leader of the opposition is contributing
to the cause of democratic extravaganza,
he advanced a proposition which ought
not to pass unnOticed. 'Unfortunately,'
said he, in that curious f~alsetto drawl
which penetrates to every part of the
chamber, unfortunately, if there is any
thing that the country does not care
about, it is the house Of representatives
and the senate
"If the Hon. THOMAS BISMARCK REED
meant TO encourage the democratic aspi-
rants for a billion record by assuring
them that the people generally care moth
ing whether they succeed or fail, he was
putting forth a theory which is just now
very popular in Washington. 1t is the
latest fashion in congress to regard the
issue of honest and economical gov.
eminent as an ObsOlesCent thing in
which the country really takes very lit
tie interest. The idea that the taxpav
ers, on the whole, are not averse to a
large and liberal policy" in the matter
of appropriations is diligently ~inculra-
ted not only by avowed ~billionists on the
republican side, but also by democrats
who ought to be ashamed of themselves.
The belief is too prevalent in the atmos-
phere of " ashington that the country is
indifferent 10 performances like the pas
sage of the river and harbor bill Of this
session. 1t is a belief highly satisfactory
to the democratic mercenaries and fools
of the present generation.
"lf any democrat in Washington is
seriously inclined to accept the Hon.
Thomas BISMARCK REEDS opinion that
the country cares. little or nothing about
what goes on in the house of representa-
tives, we advise him 10 procure a politi-
cal almanac and study the returns of the
Congress elections of 1890. That was
the year of our Lord which witnessed
the overwhelming Of a certain billion
majority of which the Hon. THOMAS