The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1895-01-04
REPUBLICANS. BE MEN.

Both houses of Congress met again
yesterday. So far, nothing has
been done this session for the relief OF
the business of the country, and at
the present time it is hard to see II
anything whatever can be accomplish
ed. While the delay is hard to bear,
Congress can not be much blamed for
moving carefully. The Democrats
have devised a plan-the only one that
has been offered or suggested in Con-
gress-that promises much in the way
of currency reform, and the Democratic
representatives working in the COM
mittees have labored assiduously to
perfect it as much as possible, and to
minimise the risk of shock to the fl
nancial institutions of the country.
If the Republican members could only
allow their patriotism to rise superior
to their scheming for party advan-
tage and unite with the Democrats
upon legislation for the whole country
something could be soon accom-
plished, but this it seems they cannot
do. They prefer to sit back with
folded hands, sneering at the endeav-
ors of the Democrats, who have man
fully met the issue. and saying wait
until we come into power and we will
show you how to run the govern
ment."
These partisan statesment forget
that they are entirely responsible for
the existing state of affairs. Presi
dent Harrison started in office with
surplus of over one hundred millions
of dollars in the treasury, a legacy
from a Democratic administration.
That amount was squandered before
the first half of the first session of
Republican Congress had passed, and
Mr.. Harrison retired from the Presi
Dental chair leaving deficit of thirty
four millions of dollars. This, too, in
spite of the fact that during his adj
ministration the revenues of the treas
ury had been largely increased by the
temporary but unhealthy prosperity
of the country.
1t is certainly hard to see how the
Republican leaders, in the face of the
facts that confront them, can en-
deavor to shirk responsibility. Their
position is about as puerile and re-
minds one of the case of a naughty
child that has broken its plaything
and throws the blame on a good ma
tured playfellow, sulking and scolding
while his more amiable companion
endeavors to remedy the mischief.
They apparently forget that while at
the time it was created our currency
system may have worked very well,
it has outlived its usefulness, and is
no longer adequate to our needs.
They ignore the fact that it, as well as
all other laws which go to make up
our badly managed financial system,
was passed by a Republican Congress.
They are silent as to the Sherman sill
ver-purchase bill, which the prompt
ness of Democratic President with
Democratic Congress at his back, pre-
vented from bankrupting the nation
a year ago. They also apparently fail
to see that the laws which caused ma
tural distrust of our securities abroad
and caused their sale in large quanti-
ties, draining the treasury of its gold,
were wholly of Republican creation.
They will not admit that our unfriend-
ly tariff laws, the bottom stone and
underlying rock of Republicanism,
have nearly destroyed our trade with
foreign countries and paralyzed our
business at home.
Fellow citizens, be men. You can
do this and still be good Republicans.
The currency question is not party
issue and men of all parties should
unite in working for the common good,
especially in times when the strain is
so severe. The Democrats are not re-
sponsible for the situation, but they
have faced it bravely, because, being
in power, it rests with them to remedy
as far as possible the evils from which
we suffer. For the very reason that
the issue is not partisan the Demo
Gratis can not unite all their forces
upon currency bill. This makes it
all themore reprehensible for the oppo-
sition to act thus in smothering their
political consciences, and act solidly
against all measures which are propos-
ed by Democrats. If they can i'm
prove on the Carlisle bill let them do
it.
They have proposed nothing what
ever. Ifthey have any better measure
to suggest let them do it now and not
keep the country in suspense. They
will find plenty of Democrats with
patriotism enough to help them
through. We are all citizens of the
same country, and must prosper or
suffer under the same laws, therefore,
fellow citizens, even if you are Repub-
licans, be men.
"A cablegram from Antwerp states
that the Belgian government has pro-