The Houma courier. (Houma, La.) 1878-1939, 1897-06-12
TuRN IT DOWN.
Electors Are DisRuated with the Rec
publican Party


Eleeters Are DlsEusted with fhe Rec
publican Party
Defeatof the republican party. visited
Fehemently and almost universally at re-
cent local elections, was not caused
solely by feeling on the partof electors
that promises of prosperity had not
been realized. The revulsion, signal
and general as Is was, sprang from more
reasonable motives. It is true that the
republican party made loud promises
Of prosperity. With the mere election
Of Mckinley confidence would be re-
stored, capital would seek investment
in business activities, ohimneys would
smoke and labor would be remunera-
lively employed. Nothing Of the kind
has come, but as intelligent electors
knew that it did not lie within the power
OF any president OF party to make good
times, no great weight has been at
tached to the failure of republican
prophecy. There is substantial and
reasonable ground for the electors dis
content. He did not look to the repub-
lean party for performance of the i'm
possible, but he did imagine that it
might reduce the burdens OF govern
ment and that in congress and in the
state legislatures it could at least be
cleanly and honest
What is found2
Instead of reduction of taxation tits
found that the republican party brings
congress- together in special session for
the purpose of increasing taxation, and
win allow no other business to be done
while it discusses ways and means to
help manufacturers at the expense of
consumers. The importers is threatened
with retroactive legislation, the bust
ness of the country is thrown into dis
order, doubt and harrassment are Wis
tied upon merchants in the effort of the
republican party, which promised to
restore prosperity, to get at the pockets
of the people with the most drastic
tariff enactment ever attempted by an
American congress.
What is the performance of the re-
stored republican party in such legisla-
lures as are in session. We may take
Illinois, for example. Where the par
TVS work is not merely partisan, as in
the attempt, despite the plain mandate
of the constitution, to perfect reappor-
tionment bills, it is downright brazen,
shamefaced dishonesty. Both houses
at Springfield + overwhelmingly re-
publican. They entertain Humphrey
bills, designed to diminish home rule
in the commercial metropolis of the
state, and to sell to greedy street car
companies, not for the benefit of the
state but for the beaefit of themselves
and the ~ravenous, bribe-giving tram
companies, grants of inestimable value
When not engaged in such rascality,
republican legislators are celebrat
ing their return to power by fur,
thering such a reprehensible, socialistiC
measure as the requirement that schoo
books shall be furnished at the common
cost. And they refuse assent to a meas
ure whereby can be raised the funds
necessary for the completion of th,
drainage ditch, which is t give pury
water supply to Chicago, because the,
cannot have the spending of the money
Disguised with the dishonesty anC
greed and incapacity Of the republican
party, winch s1gnally triumphe0 las
November, electors all over the land ar
taking the first opportunity to asserta
the ballot boxes their discomfort anc
want of confidence. Return to democ
racy, now well under way, will continue
There is nothing more certain in tn,
future than that democracy will tri
umph in Ohio next November, as it ha
triumphed in the spning elections il
Chicago and Cincinnati, and as in 1s9
it will triumph in the congressiona
elections.
OF course the same old dishonest CT,
for democratic aid to a tariff-makin,
party will come from the republican
camp. But the country knows, to it
cost, that there is more evil in republi
can a~scendancy than in any possibE
outcome of the currency question.-Chi
caro- Chronicle.