The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-03-10
AN INSTRUCTIVE CONTRAST.

as much as we ought to by the lessons of
experience. Events crowd upon one an
other so rapidly that they sometimes fail
to make upon the public mind the impress
sion their Importance deserves. The pres
ent political situation is a case in point
The people are SO absorbed in discussing
the incompetence of the Congress now in
session that they have almost forgotten
what very different record the last Re-
publican Congress made. The lesson af-
forded by the contrast is too valuable to be
lost. Let US study it a little
The last Republican Congress was the
Fffty-first, from 1889 to 1851 The Repub-
ncans had a majority of II in the House.
This was small majority, but it was solid
and united, and Speaker Reed was in the
chair. 1t was a business Congress from
the start The Democrats tried very hard
to break the Republican lines, but, thanks
to the notwithstanding rules, to Speaker
Reeds nerve and to the solid support which
the Republicans gave him, the obstruction
lists were not able TO accomplish much. The
Fifty-first Congress made splendid record
Among the measures it passed were the
Mckinley tariff, which gave the govern
ment all the revenue it needed from this
source and the country two years of unex-
ampled prosperity; the customs admins
trative bill. which enforced honest valua-
lions in the custom houses and added
largely to the revenues of the government;
the meat inspection law, which opened new
foreign markets to American meats; the
law to apply a portion of the proceeds OF
the sale Of public lands to the endowment
and support of agricultural colleges Other
measures enacted were the copyright bill,
the private land court bill, the postal sub
sidy bill, the Indian depredations claim bill,
the timber and presumption law repeal bill,
bill TO relieve the Supreme Court by the
establishment of intermediate courts of an
peal, the worlds fair bill, a bill admitting
Wyoming and Idaho as States, a reappor-
tionment bill, bill regulating foreign i'm
migration, bill to reduce the fees of pen
alton claims. bill to prevent the importa-
ton of adulterated food and drink, a bill
to refund the direct tax to the States, bill
for the relief of settlers on the Northern
Pacific railroad indemnity lands, a. bill to
extend the time of payment for public
lands in cases of failures of crops, a bill
for the inspection of cattle steamers in or
der to secure more humane treatment of
cattle, and many others of greater or less
Importance. These and many other meas
ures were passed by the Fifty-first Con-
gress over the determined opposition of
strong minority so malignant that they
even refused at the close of the session to
vote for the customary resolution thanking
the Speaker. In his speech at the adjourn
ment the Speaker said:
Confident as 1 am of the verdict of time
on what we have DONE L am still more
confident that the highest commentator
wen bsy passe Veu m3J i0r T tbey
are. but because We have taken so long a
stride in the direction Of responsible gov
eminent. Having demonstrated to the peo-
pie that those who have been elected to do
their will can do 1t. henceforth excuses
will not be taken for performance, and gov
eminent by the people will be stronger
In the land.
In the light of recent events these words
seem prophetic. The rules which enabled
the Republicans of the Fifty-first Congress
to accomplish so much in the face OF de-
termined opposition having been repealed,
the Democrats ere now principally engaged
ing excuses for nonperformance
In the Fifty-second Congress the Demo-
Gratis had 6S more than a majority in the
House. The House contained Sc Republic
ans. 235 Democrats and 8 Populsts, yet
both sessions of this Congress passed with
out the passage of single beneficial meas
ure. a large part of the time was wasted
In flibustering. and the Congress expired
without having done one useful thing.
Then came the present Congress-the
Fifty third. AS Daniel Webster said of
Massachusetts,, There she is. Behold her
and judge for yourselves The present
House consists of 127 Republicans, 219 Dem
ocrats and Populists, while the Senate
has 81 Republicans. 43 Democrats and
Populists. The Democrats have a clear
working majority in both branches, and
their majority in the House is larger than
either party has had for many years. Yet,
by universal consent, this is the most dis
appointing, incompetent and utterly worth
less Congress that has met within the
memory of any person now living. The
record of its extraordinary session was bad
enough, but its record thus far in the reg
ular session is still worse. 1t has been in
session four months. and has done abso-
lutely nothing except wrangle and waste
time. 1t is TO be hoped mat the people
will not fail to contrast the record OF the
last two Congresses with that OF the Fifty
first.
REPUBLICAN DEFENDERS ONLY.
While the bill apprOprfatinC Sl50,0QG00O for