The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1895-12-05
Congress Couvencs on Monday-w what
Not to Expect.

There is good deal to be hoped for from the
coming session Of Congress, and very
little to be cxpectcd,-so says
Haper's Weekly, a periodical purely indie
pendent as regards politics We are hopeful
2eople and experience, especially experience Of
sur politicians and their limitations, seems to
count but little with US. Contrary to all the
teachings of the past, many sanguine citizens
are wont as each first Monday in December
comes to pass, to regard the ceremonies at the
sptning of the legislative branch of the gov.
srnment as the first event of mOmCntous
Einter, only to be disappointed by the old
amiliar round of senseless struggle and vo-
ciferous failure that ought to have been con.
hdently anticipated.
The first Monday in December is now upon
is, and once more the newspapers are discuss.
Iug the problems that Congress ought to take
up and solve. The republicans are in control
Dfthe house of representatives by majority of
more than a hundred. They have made the
aountsy ring with the charge that the demo-
Gratis are incompetent law-givers, and they
have much proof of the soundness orthe postu-
ste. There was never a more incompetent
congress at Washington, except, perhaps, that
which sat before il, and tine which pre-
psded that Republican as well as democratic
msjorities are chargeable with the sins of COM
mission and omission that have brought about
the present condition Of our finances, the
blame for which rests very lightly, if at all
upon the executive department of the govern
ment. But the republicans believe or say they
believe, that they are at last back in power
because the democrats are responsible for
Gssened revenues, increased expenditures a
disodered currency and distressed treasury
Whether or not this is so does not matter
The republicans in asserting it recognize the
existence ofevils, and insist that they are in
Power in order to remedy them. OF course, if
shey do not remedy them, they can be truth
Sully charged with the grossest kind of in
competence; but it is hoped they will rise to
thsir oPPortunity.and that they will show that
n last majority in the American congress is
capable Of accomplishing something of value
They are right in saying that the country's
currency is disordered that the treasury is in
danger on account of its forced connection
with the banking business; that our monetary
system should be reformed; that the secretary
Of the treasury should be relieved at once of
the necessity of selling any more high-rate and
iong time bonds for the purpose Of protecting
. gold reserve that he ought not to be com.
PEELED TO maintain.
Will the republican leaders set about the
task which is before them? Will they set
about it intelligently, and with the single pur-
pose Of doing what is the best for the country?
We hope that they will but we frankly confess
that we have not much reason to expect that
they will. In the first place they have ap
parently no programme; and in the second
place they have a strong desire to make party
capital out Of the situation. Most of the busi-
ness men of the country are strongly opposed
to a reopening of the tariff question; but the
politicians, who are bent upon making what
they consider to be the points Oft the game, are
Insisting that the tariff shall be the issue
Of the coming presidential campaign, and,
presumably therefore the central subject of
discussion in congress during the coming
session. They say that the lack of revenue
demands more taxes, whereas as we have
stated elsewhere, we believe that the present
taxes will eventually produce more than
enough to meet the governments expenses
The constant reference to the importance of
the tariff question by the republican senators
and representatives, in interviews and speeches
is not sign that the coming session will be
carried on for the general welfare, On the
contrary it is clear indication that the re-
publican leaders are intending to play the
snF 60 oil hat tp 20
them and their organization. Not a word has
been heard that induces the belief that Mr..
Reed and his immediate friends have agreed
upon a plan for the relief of the treasury. Such
a plan should have have been agreed to, and
fit had beGn it might be put through the
house at least before the Christmas holidays.
The country is familiar with Mr. Reeds
methods, and has had taste Ofhis ability to
control absolutely the majority that makes
him speaker. 1t is not much more than five
years ago that he lsshed through the house a
tariff bill manufactured by its benefciaries,
and If he could then do that for a socialistic
measure why can he not now, when his ma
jOrity is so much larger and doubtless not less
subseryient, put through measure that will
benefit the whole country by giving to the
treasury the needed power to protect itself
We would like to believe that Mr.. Reed in.
tends TO use for the general welfare the
power he once exercised in the interests Of the
manufacturers, but we are afraid that he has nc
such patriotic disposition.
Indeed one Of the strongest reasons for moi
expecting much from the coming session o.
congress is the undisputed leadership of Mr.
Reed. We are not in the least disposed t
question the ex.speaker's ability. In som'
respects he is one of the strongest men who
ever served in congress. But after all that il
possible has been said in his favor, what haI
he accomplished forthe country, and why is i
that he has been raised TO the leadership o
the republican side of the house Of representa-
tiyesY Mr.. Reeds efforts have been almOs
entirely in behalf of his party. He has beer
and is passionate, bitter, and sometimes al
Il-regulated partisan. More than once he ha
sacrificed what he knew to be the interest
" the country in behalf of his partisan or per
sonal schemes A notable instance Of tina
occurred last winter, when Mr.. Reed en-