The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1894-10-13
WHICH PARTY
Should the People Support in Novem.
ber.-An Able Article by
Josiah Quincy.

Josiah Quincy.
Within the limits of this brief
article, can only attempt to give
very general statement of the
claims of the Democratic party,
based upon it's legislative record,to
continued support at the coming
elections.
The Democratic majority in the
House of Representatives has made
a record upon which 1T may well
challenge the judgment of fair
minded men. Speaker Crisp has
shown himself possessed in q high
degree of the strong qualities re-
quired for the conduct of his i'm
portant Office. Under his leader
ship the majority of the house has
proved itself fully able to over
come obstruction and to transact
business expeditiously. 1t has ac-
complishcd all that was claimed
for Speaker Reeds house, in these
respects, and without resorting to
the arbitrary methods and the a
buses of the powers of the speakers
office which were SO justly object
ed to in that body.
The present congress will be
noted in our political history for
the great and far reaching import
ance of three Of it's acts, all passed
within period of about a year,
and constituting record Of legis-
lative accomplishment which the
republican party would have to
60 back long way in its history
to parallel.
The repeal of the Sherman silver
law was of vital Importance to the
finances of the country. Its con-
tinued operation meant financial
chaos. Its repeal, while it could
not prevent Inevitable industrial
depression, at once restored conf
dence in our currency, and since
then, legitimate commerce and in
dustry have not suffered from fin
ancial arrangement. Without the
firm resistance of President Cleve-
land this result could not have
been secured.
The repeal of the federal election
laws was an act of great signifi-
canoe and future consequence. The
radical difference between demo-
cratic and republican views of the
proper functions and limitations of
the federal government has no.
where been more clearly made
manifest than in the position of
the two parties on this subject.
Con troll of the machinery of elec-
tien is one of the mos. dangerous
and liable to abuse of any of the
powers that can be placed in the
hands of federal authorities
Nothing has happened for many
years so calculated to promote the
future security of our government
as the repeal of these laws.
In the passage of the new tariff
act, the democratic party has ac-
complished piece of constructive
legislation of the first Importance.
After nearly third of a century
of high tariff system, we have now
taken long step towards a return
to the low tariff policy. The re-
publican system of indiscriminate
protective duties on all domestic
products has been effectually bro
ken up. The economic and polit
ical Importance of free wool alone
can hardly be over-estimated.
The peculiarities of the present
political situation make it desir
able to include in any statement O.
the reasons why the democratic
party should be supported il
the coming elections brie
answer to the main argument
used by its opponents. 1t is note
worthy that these are nearly all o.
a negative character, consisting ol
criticisms of the democratic part.
for what it has,done or has failet
to do. There is almost a complete
absence of any programme Of wha
the republican party will do If re
stored to power. This is particu
larly noticeable In respect to th'
tariff question.
The argument that democratic
. ascendancy is responsible for tn
period of industrial depression
, through which the country ha
: been passing, may be very briefl.
dismissed. 1t may answer wei
. enough for the stump, and no doub
, the sentiment to which it appear
r will cost the democratic the loss @
. many votes. When people hav
been suffering, they are only to
raoIxy fo hold fbo ,,ovtxv T., v>o,yo