The Coconino weekly sun., 1895-03-14
THE EXPIRED CONGRESS.
Demise of a Kepudlated and Demoralized
 Organization.

| Organization.
 The Fifty-third congress has expired. Almost its only mourners are those senators and representatives, chiefly democrats, who have failed of re- election, and whose salaries come to an end, and those lobbyists, claim agents and treasury raiders of all classes who believe that if this con gress had lived few days or hours longer they might have got their meas ures through. The grief of few of these outgoing congressman islessened by the fact that the president has kindly consented to provide for them for the next two years. But the means at his disposal are limited, and most of the victims of the popular indigna- tion of 1894 will have to earn their own living.
 The Fifty-third congress will live long in the memories of the American people as horrible example" of dem- ocratic governmental incapacity. That party had an overwhelming majority in the house and small majority in the senate. It had president of its own. The day after the election of 1892 the democrats began bragging of the rec ord their congress was going to make. It had been elected on a platform wherein the party promised to pass tariff bill which should impose duties producing revenue, but not giving pro- lection. It promised to administer the affairs of the government honestly and economically. It promised "safeguards of legislation" to insure the main- tenance of the parity of gold and sil- yer. It also promised the repeal of the federal election laws.
 The democrats proclaimed that their congress would do all these and many other good things; that it would give the country degree of prosperity it never had enjoyed before, and that it would go down to history as the great and good congress. It has ended its career and will be known as one of the most discredited ones in the annals of the country.
 Its existence coincided with that of a panic and business depression such as the world had not known for twenty years The hard times of the last forty eight months were caused by the ap- prehension of the legislation of this congress and by the legislation itself. It is true that this congress broke the pledges of its party to pass tariff bill giving no protection, but it passed one
 which cut down protection so much
 that every interest was affected. Last | ,fu han 1i- ated with singular unanimity.
 Although appealed to by the presi,
 dent time and again for ''safeguards of
 legislation" to maintain the parity of
 the silver money of the country it did
 nothing except to stop the purchase of
 silver, and that would not have been
 done but for republican votes. To all
 entreaties for legislation relative to the
 sale of bonds the Fifty-third congress
 turned deaf ear. It would not pro vide the government with sufficient
 revenue to make it unnecessary to rrst
 the proceeds of bond sales to pay cur
 rent expenses. It acted in such way
 as to shake American credit at home
 and abroad. In spite of the promise that it would give the country ar honest and economic administration il became billion dollar congress, al
 though the sources of revenue had beer : dried up in part and rigid economy hac become as necessary for the nation q! for individuals.
 About the only one of the pledges O
 the national platform which this con gross has kept was in regard to the re
 peal of the federal election laws. It die wipe from the statutes every act whict
 had been passed to guarantee the rigb' of American citizens to vote at fedora
 elections and have their votes honestly counted. But the party which Wal pledged to the admission of New 5 Mexico and Arizona us states failed tC keep its promise.
 The deceased congress was pledged B to pass laws against trusts if needed 5 It passed none, but it came very neal l passing law permitting the railroads to form a gigantic trust for the pur r pose of plundering the peop-e by ex r acting higher freight rates. It wa' pledged to secure freer foreign mar f kets and enlarged exchanges. It legis l lated ip such a manner as to deprive , the country of the profitable market i
 had in the West Indies and as to giv, ! Germany and other European countries s an excuse for shutting out American <. meats and other products. The farm 1 CTS and the stock raisers have been the 3 victims of the Fifty-third congress a which they were told was going to d' ? so much for them.
 ( It is true that there were many bat
 things which that congress might ha-' 0 done, but which it did not do-partl! l for lack of time. It is true also that i I gave Chicago new government build l. ing, which ought, however, to hav'
 been attended to by its predecessor But taking all things into considera e tion it is difficult to find in American
 history congress which began witt 7 such high expectations on the part O f the political organization which con r trolled it and which, after disappoint ing those expectations as signally l. came to an inglorious end. It will b f known as the democratic calamity con | Chico Fr,;b,na