The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1895-03-04
MONDAY, MARCH 4. 1895.
The First Half of IL.

The first half of the Cleveland Sec
ond term is ended, the Fifty-third con-
gress ends its career to-day. Two
years ago the democrats equipped the
federal government. They as good as
had the senate, they had the house and
the executive branch-there were
forty-four democrats in the senate, but
there were three vacancies for repub-
lican states. This happened as the re-
suit of a popular uprising following
the revulsion of sentiment and the
widespread discomfort that marked the
close of the Harrison administration.
Mr.. Cleveland was popular man two
wears ago. Without question, the first
half of his second term has not proved
TO be a gratifying success. lie had
his party by the ears before the adj
ministration was three months old,
the democrats of the country to-day
are in separate camps. The praise be-
slowed upon Mr. Cleveland is chiefly
that which republican newspapers are
bringing because of the presidents
persistent opposition to silver. These
newspapers laud the man; their habit
is to say that he is better than his
party
COnfessedly, it has been an i'll
natured two years in the white house.
In congress it has been a period of
lamentably poor achievement. There
never was anything worse than it in
American history; there could hardly
be a weaker showing The Fifty-third
congress was a gloomy failure, and the
result is the more Disappointing be-
cause popular expectation was high
the anticipation of the public was that
restored democracy would give the
country a brilliant administration.
Many of the leaders in both houses
have proved to be snarling politicians
who have wearied the country and
dishonored their station with their
vituperative talk. 1t is only by the
merest chance that the routine work
involving the voting of appropriation
was disposed of; months spent in tar
III discussion resulted in measure of
which not a dozen members of the
majority are prepared to speak in
terms of praise.
The currency question was the one
great issue at the time when the adj
ministration started out. Not single
step has been taken during the two
years in the direction of bringing
that question to proper solution.
The proposition of silver's friends was
the repeal of the Sherman act through
the restoration OF old-time bimet-
allism. The administration plan was
repeal and nothing more now or here
after. The theory in congress was re-
peal now and something else by and
by; the debate went far enough to
leave the country under that impress
sion. Among those who operated with
the gold men in congress there was a
contingent that declared III favor of
ultimate bimetallism; there was moth
ing of that sort i'll the presidents
words when the extra session was
summoned.
The history of it all is that the
country got repeal and, after that, the
deluge. Things are, in general. little
worse than they were two years ago
The voters have pitched the demo-
Gratis out and put the republicans in.
There will be thirty-nine democrats in
the senate, the republicans will have
the house by a good deal more than
two to one. Silver continues to be the
issue. We shall see what the repub-
licans do with il; hitherto in congress
they have been the metals almost
unanimous enemy.