The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1921-06-28
DEMOCRATIC ACTIVITIES
IN CONGRESS CON
ST RUCTIVE

capital city IN the world. Not only /
IS the future security and stability o.
America dependent on what is being
said and done here. but the future OF
every nation IN the world is involved
in large or lesser degree.
It may perhaps aid IN giving =
clearer perspective 10 and a better u1-
derstan(ing of the significance Of
news events here, current and recens,
to make a brief survey of the respee-
tive attitudes and policies Of the TWO
|contending parties.
The Democratic policy III dealing
with the activities, the errors and the
failures of the present Republican a0.I
ministration has been, so far. one ~.
sense. There have been no partisan
attacks upon nor offensive criticism
Of the administration by the national
organization or party spokesmen ana
leaders or by the Democratic press
The Democrats have not resorted to
sneers, abuse, vituperotion and mcn-
dacitv, recklessly exhibited by
their opponents III the late campaign
and in the last Congress and not al
together abandoned in the preseu,
Congress. They have shown the hIga-
est respect for the office of Presi-
prieties with regard to the present oc
cupant. They have placed no obtacles
in the way of the administration as 4,
whole or of any department of the
Government in efforts to find a way
TO solve the problems of econtruction
that might have made economic and
industrial conditions worse than they
are In no instance have they sought
togain party advantage at the c<-
pense Of the welfare Of the country
or the people.
Democratic activities in Congress
have been dignified, intelligent AND
constructive Leaders of that party
} in the Senate and the House have
: shown willingness to aid in any hon
est and effective programme that
| would tend to revive business, reduce
/ Federal taxation, resurrect interna-
tonal trade, provide markets for the
American producer and to declare q
constitutional peace. The Democrats
| Of course. have been unable to put
, through any constructive plan of their
: own, being in a hopeless minority but
, thev have displayed the desire ana
? ability to do so in their efforts to
| change reactionary Republican legis-
: lation.
The Republicans attitude toward
their opponents has been donineerfne
, and more or less truculent. They
have used the power of their large
ma jority ruthlesslv, needless Of the
the Democrats and the progressive
members Of their own party.
n The Republicans 50 far are without
n any distinct or definite policy excepi
k that of the high protective tariff
Il which thew insist shall be applied rt
4 Ieverv industry whether the particulal
e industry favors or opposes it. Nelth
: er is there any programme of plan FOL
s the solution Of any of the great prob
y sems of reconstruction, domestic OF
foreipn. The nearest thing to it is tt
!" declare a state Of peace by joint reso
\ luton of Congress, alleged to involve
contractual relations with foreign
government, thus amounting to a US
urpation 6f purely executive func
ton, and imperilling our rights am
interests growing out Of the late war
Republican legislation so far ha
been characterized by extravagan
appropriations and consequent n
creased taxation Aside from this it
? record is one Of negation or drifting