The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-03-05
CONGRESS HAS ADJOURNED.

While the Fifty-third Congress that
has just ended has gone the way OF all
flesh" there are but few 'mourners go
ing about the street." and the hope
of the country now is that 'the sound OF
the grinding" which has been low, VIII
soon be loud and long. Neither has "the
golden bowl been broken. nor the silver
cord been loosed." For, despite all the
blows 1t has received, the gold bowl is
still intact and hoius the credit of the ma
ton, while the silver cord is being dill
sently tuned TO-. it's highest pitch by
Messrs. Bland and Bryan, for grand
music at the next presidential canvass.
But with all its faults. the Fifty-third
Congress inherited-acquired by descent
from its predecessors-more faults than
it has itself been guilty of. No fair man
can impute to this Congress. or TO the
Democratic party. the panic which assail-
ed this country in the spring OF 1893.
That panic was The direct result of the
Sherman silver law 0or the evils of
which Democrats must bear share OF
the blame), and of the deliberate looting
of the Treasury by the Republican de-
pendent pension act, and of the Mckinley
bill, which cut off the revenue from
sugar with one hand. while II gave the
bounties to sugar growers with the other
and as nearly as possible realized the
boast OF its author that a tariff should
be for protection and not revenue.
The panic was more due to the lack of
revenue OF the Government than it was
10 the Sherman law-if there was any
choice between the two evils as TO which
was the worst Moreover. the last days
OF MIR. Harrison's Administered ton We're
devoted TO damning the credit of the
country and blazoning all its troubles.
for the purpose of embarrassing the Demo-
Gratis. regardless of the damage 20 the
people. The course of the Republicans
during Harrison's administration was as
unpatriotic and Injurious TO this country
as that of any administration that ever
sat, except always the Republican rule
from 1867 to 1S73-the period of recon-
struction-when humanity itself was set
at naught.
The Fifty-third Congress has disap-
pointed many ardent Democrats, but it
has also confirmed them all in the logic,
the soundness and the necessity of the
prevalence of Democratic principles. as
the only sure foundation for our system
OF Government. OF one merit this
period Of Democratic rule cannot be
ha
soundest of sound money men-that one
more trusted by all who believe in the
necessity of a money-standard of world
wide acceptability and uniformity than
any other man in the United States; that
csst-steei backboned Cleveland. has put
our finances on a basis which it will be
difficult for the free silver cranKs TO I'M
derrnine. The best financial administra-
been Cleveland's. He left 500. 09Q 900 sur
plus In the Treasury when he turned the
Government over 10 Harrison and on his
return he found the Treasury nearly bank
rupt and the country verging silver
basis. He has put IL back where II be-
ionged. alongside the civilized countries
OF the world. on firm gold basis. and
will now set about TO collect revenues
enough 10 pay the current expenses of the
Government. We cannot. however reasona-
bly, expect a return OF active prosperity UNI |
I'll the madness of the people for debased |
and semi-civilizcd money is thoroughly |
cured.