The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1895-03-08
THE FIFTY THIRD CONGRESS.

OUHtTW lSt intl VIII receive no ul tSHilOIl-
THE FIFTY THIRD CONGRESS.
With the stroke of noon last Monday
the Fifty Third Congress OF the Uni
ted States passed INTO history. Its
closing moments were much like those
of other Congresses, work being push
ed through in a hurry during con-
tinuous session lasting from noon Sat
urday The thirteen regular appro-
priation bills were passed and also II
number of other measures, some of
them important and many more I'M
important. Quite n number failed to
receive President Cleveland approval
among those being the bill in aid of
the Baltimore Centennial Exposition,
and large mass of legislation, some
good and much pernicious, died on
the files. The members of both
houses were weary and iaded with the
long strain, and appeared as glad
when the hour of adjournment came
as were their constituents.
The lot of tile Fifty-Third Congress
was far from being Il happy one. All
parties, all newspapers and all men
have united in condemnation of it
Verify, its last end has been worse
than its first and it would have been
better for it had a milestone been
hung round its neck and it cast into
the sea. The people awaited its disso-
luton with eagerness and the feeling
throughout the country is that of
great relief now it has passed away.
Few of its detractors have realized
or given heed to the causes of the fail
ure of the Congress just expired to
give relief to the country. 1t has
been roundly abused for what it did
do and cursed for what it did not do.
Men have CRASHED their teeth over
its impotency and walled when it
acted. The cry has gone up for states
men, for patriots to lead the people
out of the wilderness, until many per-
sons have formed the impression that
our national lawmakers were set of
knaves and towards.
The truth is that the Fifty-Third
Congress possessed as large, perhaps
a larger number of patriotic and
brainy members as any one that ever
convened under the dome of the Capt.
toll. The trouble was, that, with SO
many men of firm convictions, seeking
to honestly represent so many differ
ent constituencies, with interests SO
widely diverse, action on any matter
of national Importance was well-nigh
impossible. With President of in
flexible determination, holding views
widely differing from large proper
ton of the members of his own party,
who, much as they might have liked
to do So felt that they could not join
hands with him and honestly serve
the people who sent them, party har-
the stern necessity ahead of having to
raise half a billion dollars annually to
III let the expenses of the government,
increased largely by reckless Republi-
can extravaganza in pension laws, it
was found impracticable to reduce the
tariff sufficiently to meet the wishes
of the average Democratic voter
With the capitalists of Wall street
and New England arrayed solidly
against the farmers of the West and
South, the idea of settling the complex
and disturbed financial muddle was a
chimera and a dream.
Thus it will be seen that the failure
of Congress to bring about a return of
prosperity is not its fault but that of
the people whom its members endea-
vored, in the great majority of cases,
faithfully to represent. 1t would per
haps, be more correct to say that it is
nobody's fault at all, but is due to
the fact of having SO many conflict
ing interests represented in one com
mon government. The great ques-
tions which are agitating the country
must be settled outside of Congress
before Cney are settled In 1t.
Another fact that men lose sight of
is that the depression in bushes is
largely the result of causes which are
beyond the power of any Congress to
remedy. 1t is not confined to our own
country, but is worldwide. 1t would
be just rs consistent to villify the
British pa Ri q mani tho Garmar Ra;ob
stag, the Spanish Cortes, the Emperor
of Russia or any of the covering pow
ers of the nations of the earth for
failure to remove our troubles as the
American Congress. In fact, it would
be more to the point for if something
could be done to increase the prosper
ity of the people who dwell across the
water, they could buy more of our
products and trade would become
brisk.
The country will now have respite
from any and all legislation, which is
the best thing that could possibly
happen to it at this time With the
uncertainty incident to constant agi
tation removed business will undoubt-
eddy revive considerably and adjust
itself comfortably to the new condi-
tions. The international monetary
conference seems now al assured fact
and it may solve the much vexed silver
question in a manner satisfactory to
all. After a period of rest and recu-
peration the Republicans will have a
chance to try their hands. Woe be to
them if their lines fall in such IN
pleasant places as those of the Fifty
Third Congress.
STRUCK THE WRONG PARTY.
The action of President Cleveland
oil, to- Ill