The Athena press. [volume] (Athena, Umatilla County, Or.) 18??-1942, 1895-03-08
The WORK OF CONGRESS.
A Review of It's Achievements and Its
Failures.


Failures.
The history of the Fifty-third
congress has been made up. In all
that will be considered in measur-
ing its success or failure the chap.
ter is complete.
the two years of its life have
seen the democatic party, long in
the majority, in control not of the
legislative but the executive depart
ment of the government, confront
ed by problems Of state more NOM
entous than any other that have
developed since the war. Its ma
jority recorded the indigestion of
the people over the misuse of pow
er by the republicans; its repudia-
tion was a public expression Of dis
approval of its failure to heed the
moral of victor. The cost of the
failure has been borne by the DEM
ocratic party, but the case rests
with freebooters who have styled
themselves democrats.
Whatever may be said of the
third congress, it's accomplish
ments and its failures, it has de-
veloped an issue which neither par
| ty in the future can afford to ig-
more. 1t has shown the widespread
influence Of the trusts and brought
that fact 50 prominently before the
people that for any party Of men to
rspond their special cause will be
to invite inevitable defeat. The
death sentence of the trust has twice
been pronounced.
A most succint review OF the re-
suit of the Fifty-third congress is
contained in this statement.
The democratic party has taken
a long step in reforming the tariff.
The democratic party has added
the income tax to the statutes,
thereby compelling the rich to bear
their proportion Of the expense Of
the government.
The democratic party has repeal
ed the federal election laws enacted
during the reconstruction period
following the war; Lodge--he of
force bill fame-stands alone in
favor Of reviving this species OF OPP
preston. Tie republican victories
in Tennessee and West Virginia,
and the semi-republican victory in
North Carolina conf tetheargument
of Lodge in favor Of bayonet DOM
nation at the polls.
The democratic party took the
initiative in repeating the silver
purchasing clause of the Sherman
act.
One other great accomplishment
would have been added to this list
had not handful of democratic
senators proved susceptible to trust
influences Sugar would have been
placed on the free list and the
Hayemeyers deprived oftheir boun-
ty in the shape Of protection.
These results furnish the bright
spots in the history Of this con-
| gress.
/ What the democrat majority has
not accomplished is a longer story.
| The financial question, which was
forced under the democratic party
as a result Of the makeshift Sher-
man law, precipitated divisions and
factions which have led to the ir-
reconcilable estrangement Of the
president and the majority of the
party in this congress. The demo-
Gratis have split upon finance, but
| the break has occurred upon open
| lines. There has been no repub-
lican compromises, and the issue
that has been made by the conflict
ing opinions Of the president and a
majority Of his party associates in
congress 1t will doubtless prevent
q republican compromise in the
| future. The question Of money
standard is now we'll defined, and
the great issue will no longer be
evaded by temporizing or concilia-
tion How the problem will be
solved remains with the republic
ans. The democrats have compel
led them to meet it squaFely, This
much has been accomplished.