The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1896-06-24
DO-NOTHING RECORD.
Under Present Conditions a Do
Nothing Record the Worst
Record Possible.
WHY THE HOUSE FAILED TO VOTE ON THE
ANTI-BOND BILL.
PopuliSts Make Fine Record and Show Up
the Perf1dy and Treachery Of the
Two Old Parties.

Washington, June 1.-THE first session
of the 54th congress closed yesterday
afternoon at o'clock. The record of this
Republican congress, like it's predecess-
ors, as well as like the last Democratic
congress, has again illustrated the differ
ence between party promises and party
performance. Each time the Republican
party comes in power it does so by de-
nouncing the sins Of omission and COM
mission of the Democratic party, prom
Using to remedy the evils that exist and to
place remedial legislation upon the stat
ute books The Democratic party gained
control of the last congress by denouncing
the legislation placed upon the statute
books by the Republican party, and by
showing that the hard times and the stag
nation of business was brought about,
chiefly, by such legislation. They prom
Used not only to wipe out this evil legis-
lation, but to enact laws that would give
the people more money and restore pros
perity. They not only failed to do this
when they had full power, but they fully
endorsed the infamous Republican finan-
cial legislation and made it worse by re-
pealing the last law on the statute books
In favor of silver or that provided for an
increase of the currency of the country.
In short the party did not keep a single
promise that it made to the people. Aft
err denouncing protection as unconstitu-
tional and as robbery, it placed upon the
statute books a high protective tariff law
which is today still in force, and which is
higher than any Republican tariff ever
enacted save and except the Mckinley
law.
The Republicans gained control of this
congress by denouncing the treachery
and incompetency of the Democratic party
and by promising to take bold and vigor-
Gus steps to revive business and to stop
falling prices. The first session of this
congress is closed, and what has been
done? Absolutely nothing. Not single
law has been passed that will remove a
single evil that is now preying upon the
body polite; not single law that will
raise prices, make debts easier to paw.
give employment to labor, or remove
hard times and stagnation which today
hangs as threatening pail over the ma
ton, from ocean to ocean. In short, it
has been "do nothing congress-" The
record is almost blank, and under circum-
stances like the present, no record is the
most damaging record that a party can
have. That is, the gold combine and mo-
nopolists have succeeded in getting con-
ditions almost exactly as they desire
them. 1t is true that if the gold ring
could satisfy it's every wish the green
backs would be burned up and the whole
power of issuing paper money would be
given to the national banks. But they
are reasonably well satisfied with the
present condition of things. Therefore
the party that will serve them best is the
party that will do nothing, thereby pre-
serving conditions as they are; and, by
the same reasoning, the party that be-
trays the people most is the party that
does nothing and leaves the people to
suffer the poverty and distress which now
exists and must continue until there is a
change in the financial system and in the
administration Of our governmental af-
fairs.
During the past week there has been
very little of general interest before con-
gress Most of the time has been con-
eumed in considering appropriation bills.
Probably the bill Of the most Importance
and interest was one referred by Senator