The Bossier banner., 1894-09-06
The Late Congress.

throughout the country that Con-
gress has adjourned. Although the
matters that came up for considera-
! tion were few in number, it has been
many years since the people were so
intensely interested in Congressional
F, legislation. The time was mainly
consumed in a stubborn, protracted
and bitter contention over two i'm
portant issues-free silver and the
tariff. Silver came first, and con-
sumed many months of the session.
Later, the tariff question was taken
up, and it's disposition occupied a
still longer period, holding all the
business interests of the country in
costly suspense. Indeed, the tariff
bill practically occupied the entire
regular session of the Congress. The
important work of the session may
be briefly stated: The silver purchase
clause of the Sherman act was re-
pealed; the Federal election laws
were repealed; the seignorage bill
was passed by both houses, but
vetoed by the President; the tariff
bill became law.
Much of the popular dissatisfaction
with this Congress has undoubtedly
been engendered by the long delay
in dealing with the financial and the
tariff questions. The popular belief
was that the prompt disposition of
these questions would give the coun-
try a needed and immediate relief
from the financial and business de-
preston that pervaded and distressed
every section. Congress proceeded
with exasperating slowness, as if it
regarded with indifference this urgent
public demand for prompt action,
and as the months wore on the
patience of the people became ex-
hausted, and the dissatisfaction in.
creased.
As to the value of the results,
opinion will differ widely, but un.
doubtedly Congress is entitled to
considerable credit for what it did
accomplish. The repeal of the odious
Federal election laws was one vita,
question on which the Democrats
presented solid and united front
and their success brought rejoicing
to every liberty loving citizen in the
Republic. With similar harmony anc
common purpose, the Congress nigh
have as speedily and satisfactorily
disposed of the other great questions
The tariff law, while it does not
measure up to the pledge of the
Democratic platform, nor does it sat
isfy the demands or wants of The
people, yet it is acknowledged by al
friends of tariff reform as q vast i'm
provement over the Mckinley iniqui
ty, and may be used to mark the
starting point of the Democratic wal
on protedted monopolies and greedy
trusts.
The House Democrats may go tc
the people with the bill, and honestly
claim their purpose to carry out theil
pledges to the country. The Wilson
bill, if it could have prevailed in The
| SOuntOs NOulu nave COu0 SGIll nearer
the Democratic pledge, and the
House Democrats have a right tt
stand on the Wilson bill as theil
record. With this step gained in th,
direction of tariff reform, still NOR,
can be accomplished in the next Con
gress.
There is little that can be said O
the Senate to it's credit, but man,
Democrats in that body remained
true to the faith and should not b,
condemned. The few who aligned
themselves with the conservatives
should be held to strict account b,
their people, and each one of then
should meet the condemnation tina