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Show WHAT WILLIiTHE DEMOCRATIC HOUSE DO! Whether it will or no, the general government is rapidly being driven into a position where it will be obliged either to affirm and g i b:ick to the old statu rights principles of the pre-rebeliion pre-rebeliion days, reiterating democratic hostility to internal improvements carri'jdon under national auapicea, or it must prepare to accept the imperial im-perial position towards which late events have been sweeping it. Upon the next congress will devolve de-volve the responsibility of making this choice of systems, and the lower house being largely democratic and southern in its composition, the greater great-er Bhare of this responsibility will fall upon it. If the theory which subordinates subor-dinates the general government to the state governments has sufficient vitality, the coming house of representatives repre-sentatives must establish it us a democratic dem-ocratic principle. But at the outset we find the old democracy handicapped by the universal uni-versal southern demand for the building, build-ing, by government aid and guarantee, guaran-tee, of the Texas Pacific railroad, which is enforced by the most practical prac-tical arguments and pressing demands de-mands of tlie great producing region of (be south. This is a test case, and if successful, will show- th.it every remnant of the old opposition to internal in-ternal improvements by the national government has vanished. The Union Pacific railroad enterprise was a war measure, not to be regarded as a settled policy; to build the Texas Pacific will establish ani confirm this policy, with the sanction of the surviving elements and representatives representa-tives of the old democracy. But it is aUo proposed to bring to a head in the approaching congress the long pending topic of the isthmus of Diritn canal, the speedy inauguration inaugura-tion of which work will probably be suggested by the president. It will doubtless be objected to this enterprise enter-prise that there are too many languishing lan-guishing national interests requiring government aid whicli should be considered before the government takes upon itself this gigantic outside enterprise. There are a variety of other schemes of internal improvement that will be urged upon the legislature, legisla-ture, including the Northern Pacific railway; but in the present state of the national treasury it will doubtles3 be held that there ia no pressing public pub-lic necessity for another northern continental railway line, the government govern-ment having fully performed its duty in building the Union Pacific road. There is another important subject pressing upon congress the regulation regula-tion of the transportation question. Our railroads are practically a vast combined monopoly. Every year brings additional proof that established estab-lished railroad competition is an impossibility, im-possibility, and that the time is not far distant when this groat motor of internal commerce muat come under the direct management or supervision of congress the only power which has the requisite controlling territorial jurisdiction. The telegraph system: has also grown into an immense mo nopoly, andjf the interests of the public pub-lic are consulted, will shortly becomo a useful adjunct to our postal system. When the cost of telegraphing is reduced re-duced to i lb minimum, our mail service will be revolutionized, and a great part of thj active busino-H correspondence cor-respondence will bo dispatched by lightning. The financial question is clearly within the control of congress, and the politic party which Bhal! provo itself to bo in accord with tho intermits of industry and opposixl to the monopoly of money and tho fniitj of labor, will win the public confi- .deuco and secure tho support of the people. Evidently the old states rights theory is dead. It is beyond the 'powur of any party to rovivn it. Whatever may be the ultimate stato 'of tho country, tho national government govern-ment has roachod tho point when, in order to carry out tho best inlcrcslH of tho republic, it must asuino powers pow-ers and responsibilities which Washington Wash-ington and Jell'-Tson never dreamed of. Our financial and commercial interests cannot be managed by speculators and cent, per cent, extor- 1 tinners. The intricato machinery of a great country like this cannot be run either by ignorance or selfishness. selfish-ness. The democratic party is about to have another opportunity to test its wisdom and statesmanship. There are nine chances to ten that it will make a signal failure. It certainly will if it shall exhaust all its energies in the investigation of the frauds and delinquencies of its opponents, accepting accept-ing a negative position in regard to important pending questions. If it would revive ita oncu great name and vastly increase its lormor brilliancy and power, it must initiate such practical legislation as will rescue the country from its commercial servitude servi-tude and tho industrial interests from their dependence on great monopolies and speculative influenced. The parly of the future will be aggressive to tho verge of audacity. The world j is on the eve of a revolution which must be grappled with and controlled by tho statesman who would guide public opinion. |