Abstract

The Democrats and The Government

The Democrats in the U.S. Congress are affording an excellent illustration of the inconvenience of that feature of U.S. system which makes a change in the House of Representatives the only mode of giving even early expression to popular dissatisfaction with the party in power. The House did not meet until a year had elapsed after its election, and when it did meet, the feeling which had given the Democrats a majority in it had largely subsided, and this subsidence was due to the mere fact that the Republicans had been defeated. That is to say, the election was intended to be a rebuke to the Republican managers and not an indication of confidence in the Democrats or of willingness to try them with power; and as soon as the rebuke was given, the voters were satisfied, and wished the matter might not go any further. The consequence was that when the session opened, the majority of the House found itself substantially without constituencies, and without that close connection with present public opinion which is necessary to vigorous and useful legislation.