The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1896-01-14
The Democrats Could Win on
Their Administrative Record.
A CLEAN ADMINISTRATION
"Reformers, Refuse to Cut OF
Own Perquisites.
RETRENCHMENT FOR OTHERS
North Carolinians in Office Stand Well
in Washington Official Circles--Mr.
Walter Faison Solicitor to the
State Department.

washing JOH, ~ ", Jan. IL F~uibo-
rial Correspondence failure of
the Democratic administration,
through disagreement and differences
to solve the financial puzzle and re-
lieve the country in three years from
the evil effects of thirty years of Re
publican rule, has had a disastrous eff
feet up to date upon the fortunes of the
party. The people have given it stern
rebuke for it's failure to come up to
the full measure of it's responsibility.
In vain have the leaders of the party
pointed to a clean administration in
all executive departments of govern
ment: in vain have Democratic papers
shown the legislation directed at re-
lieving the people of the burdens of
taxation, and transferring a portion of
it to those more able to bear it; in vain
has the proof been adduced that the
administration has been hampered by
the lack Of revenue under the Mckinley
as we'll as the Wilson tariff; and in
vain have the chief evils been traced
to Republican parentage.
The people rose up in 1890 and 1892
and repudiated and defeated the Re-
publican party for what it had done
for it's it's elimination of robberies in
the Mckinley bill and its financial
legislation.
They defeated the Republicans for
gross maladministration.
In 1894 and again in 1895, the Demo-
Gratis met with quite as severe chas-
tisement because it had failed to REM
edy all the evils it had pointed out,
because it did not dig up the roots of
legislation that was in the interest of
the few. and put the country on new
tack
In the language Of the prayer-book,
the Republican party was punished for
chose things which it ought not
to have DONE" and the Democratic
party for 'leaying undone the things
it ought to have done"
Eighteen ninety-six Will tell whether
the people prefer to punish wrong-do-
ing, or to punish those who left un-
done those things they ought to have
DONE"
The defeat of the Democrats had
caused many to lose hope, and to be
utterly cast down until the open
ing of this Congress. Even then there
was only feeling of hoping against
hope. But day by day, as the House
has shown it was not only ineompe-
tent to meet the demands of the peo-
pie, but that it was controlled by men
who would permit the Treasury to get
a dollar only by giving the manufac-
turers five dollars, the faint hopes OF
the Democracy have revived, and the
idea that Republicans have a '.cinch"
on the Presidency has gone, even in
Republican circles, into ''innocuous
desuetude." The people are thunder
ing their disapproval of Reeds
Czarism and Dingley's sugar-coated
McKinlyeism, and while not exeusing
the Democratic delay and dissension,
look upon it as less hurtful than Re-
publican subsidies, bounties, and 'fat"
10 favorites. The Senate, now that the
Republicans and Populists have COM
bined and control it, is doing nothing
but talking, as usual. 1t will do moth
ing that the House will concur in that
will help the people. 1t is dominated
by selfish interests. but in some re-
spects. with all its slowness, is better
than the House. 1t will pass some sort
D "a y
Idea that the only way to make the
people prosperous and to relieve their
burdens is to increase their taxes.
When man learns how to lift himself
up to the church-steeple by his boot
straps. this method of bringing pros
peerity and fair chance to all may
prevail. But not until then.
If the Democrats could go to the
country on the administrative record
they have made, success would be GER
tain. There has not been a scandal IN
any executive department of the Gov
eminent
1t has been the cleanest administra-
ton in this decade. Public land steals,
pension frauds, robbery of the Indians,
the delay Of patents in the interest OF
rich monopolies, as the great TELEPHONE
.companies have come to an end under
wise and honest management, and Wig
orous prosecution of all the great in
terests committed to it have charac-
terized the administration of the lnte-
rior Department. The saving of taxes
TO the taxpayers in cutting off fraud
ulent pensions has been very great.
!
dals. the wanton violation of civil ser
vice regulations for partisan ends. and
the ''bargain counter" methods OF the
Postoffiee Department remain only as
recolleetions of days when Republican
rule obtained.
Secretary Morton Is AT present en-
gagged in an almost hand-to-hand con-
fiict with the members of Congress IN
regard TO the wholesale distribution
of seed. AS soon as he went into Of
fee. Mr. Morton unceremoniously cut
off the heads of a number of scientific
gentry. who were drawing big sala-
ries to boost protection and other Re
publican doctrines in farm journals,
and began a campaign against the seed
distribution evil. The law directs that
Secretary Of Agriculture 10 purchase
such seed as are rare and uncommon
to the country or such as can be made
more profitable by frequent changes
from one part of our country to an
other" Under this law custom has
grown up for the distribution by mem
beers of Congress of "A general assort-
ment Of the commonest seed known.