The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-10-22
A warning 20 Congress and 60 Party
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An Ohio correspondent vi 'ho OhiV"6V ~
L,1s. discussing the lesson of the late elections,
adduces the shortcomings Of Congress, as well
a, ,hs blupders Of local managers, as the causes
Of disaster.
T., ohio "a in California, and now again in |
al. e,ste the local organizations appear to |
49, displayed a remarkable Indifference to |
,be moral sense Of the Republican party. The |
correspondent OF our radical contemporary |
charges that in Ohio in many instances the |
worst men we're nominated for Oftice-"Gov- |
erument pluuderers and political Outcasts"- - |
from whose support the best elements of the |
party naturally recoiled. In the writer's own |
county a quartermaster who had been con- |
Victed and dismissed the service by court |
martial was awarded a conspicuous position on |
the ticket, and in other counties the character |
OF the nominees is alleged to have been vile.
Another cause of alienation has been the
prescription of the soldiers in the organiza-
ton Of the county tickets; while the Demo
orats adrotly acceded them honorable posi-
tions. TO these local circumstances the Tri-
Junes correspondent attributes the detection
of thousands of Republicans, who refused to
be partcipators in the degradation of their
party. viii not our New York managers
profit by the lesson while time remains to cor
rect the blunders which in some districts have
been committed They may rest assured
can voters will refuse to support the nomina-
ton of candidates whose antecedents render
them unworthy of confidence. Party alle-
glance is not strong enough in these days to
carry through corrupt and dishonest nomi-
nees; and any attempt to test the question
will enure to the benefit Of the Democrats.
But the correspondence Of our Chicago con-
temporary does not limit the moral Of the
Ohio election to local considerations. These
were sufficient, no doubt to render Ineligible
many of the changes in the composition OF the
State Legislature and the filling Of local oiices
but they represent only imperiectly the inAu-
ences that have operated to the prejudice Of
the Republican party. Any lesson upon the
subject would be incomplete that failed to
touch the discomfort which has been occa-
stoned by the refusal Of Congress TO satisfy
the demands of the country on other questions
than reconstruction. Here is the first count
IN the indictment to which the leading radical
journal Of the Northwest gives circulation
"a groundwork for serious dissatisfaction
among the most sincere adherents OF the Re.
publican party, has been the rapacity OF its
tlonal Legislature to the immediate Ills from
which the nation suffered. II has been a sub.
jeot OF universal complaint that while the trade
of the country is we'll nigh at a stand stlll, the
laborer abroad in search OF employment, taxes
the profits OF labor ana merchandising u pre-.
cedentedly small, that body has been possessed
with mania Tor disp6sing OF the .public
moneys by continued appropriation; that IL
has arbitrarily Increased Its salaries aud per.
quisites; that In the course OF three sessions
since the cessation OF hostilities it mas provided
no method OF retrench mont, no Topping of of
useless and devOuring offices, no economizing
in the collection of the revenues, no check ug
the defalcntiols and whisky frauds, and the
thousand instances OF official pertdy by which
the Federal Treasury is being drained"
These are complaints to which the popular
heart of the country most earnestly responds.
Outside of the circle of party managers and
offioe-holders, the feeling is universal that
Congress has addressed itself too exclusively
to the strictly political aspect Of reconstruc-
tion and has consequently overlooked the
urgent practical wants which have followed
the suppression of the Rebellion. The neces-
sity of retrenchment has not been recognized.
The evils and injustice OF a crude and veXa-
tious system of taxation have received very
limited attention. The dangers incident to an
inflated and inconvertible currency have been
met with nothing like adequate precautiOn.
On each of these points Congress is chargeable
with more than negative faults. Its sins had
been fewer were they only sins Of omission.
In truth, however, it has been lavish instead
of thrifty in its expenditures. Although 1t
has effected some reduction of internal taxa
ton, it has doctored the tariff for the benefit
of special interests, aud almost always for the
worse. And though it sustained the very
moderate scheme of contraction which Mr..
McCulloch has partially carried out it pro-
duced an impression which the spectators
and gold gamblers have turned 10 account,
Judged according to any intelligent standard
of statesmanship, it must be admitted that
the last Congress signally failed to realize the
wants of the country, and the opportunities
for affording relief which existed side by side
with the question of Southern reconstruction
A similar consciousness OF the weakness
which the inefioiency Of Congress has entailed
upon the Republican party may be traced, we
think. in the speech of Senator Morgan, as
Chairman of the ratification meeting held last
week in this city. He does not, indeed arraigr
Congress after the manner OF the writer ",
have quoted, nor does he rebuke the wretchC1
taste and worse judgment which are visible il
certain of the local nominations, But ht
clearly indicates the necessity Of legislatinl
more earnestly for the relief Of the struggling
industry of the country, and the peril Of longe
neglecting its material requirements. Thu
revision of our system of taxation and th,
reduction of its burdens-the Inauguration o
an era Of retrenohment-and the judicou
management of the currency, are matter
which Senator Morgan points out as tests by
which the capacity of Congress will properly
be In large degree determined.
Ihese demands are in noWise inimical to thu
pohcy OF Congress on the reconstruction cues
non' or the measures which the difference
WIN the PRESIDENT may yet necessitate But
Lney are protest against the further neglec
OF material concerns, and the continued saeri
flee OF great practical questions on the altar n
an insensate partisanship. Let the reoonstrrc
tion OF the South be completed. bv All voaans
and with the least possible DELAY. Rnt Iat no
the performance of this task be pleaded "a a,