The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1868-08-10


which the bill finally passed was mere frag-
ment, was discreditable enough. The passage
of such a measure, remodelling the entire in
ternal revenue system, was the most impor-
tant dntv of the whole session. Almost every
thing else might better have been sacrificed
than this. The whole financial system of the
pation-invOlvipg, as has long been visible TO
men who understand political economy, and Is
fast becoming plain to others, the whole pros
perity and honor of the country-depends
upon the administration of the Int)rnal
Revenue Department., Yet the bill was
flung aside, VIXEN a few days would have
suficed TO finish 1T, because honorable members
wanted to go home and make stump speeches.
General Buffers well known personal dsvo-
tion to and enthusiasm for General Grant may
plead his excuse for such course; but the
House cannot expect us TO believe that they
all feel the same extraordinary zeal in the
cause. At all avents If they did, they might
have made General Butler their deputy to the
people, and have sent him to stump the ooun-
try for his favorite, while they contributed to
the success of the campaign by proving the
capacity of the Republican party to reform
abuses in the Government.
While referring to this subject, we must call
attention to the significant fact that every
Democratic Representative except the two or
three members who were on the committee
which framed the bill, voted to kill it; thus
illustrating the truth of the charge which we
made against them last week, that they con-
tribute no aid whatever to administrative re-
70 m or to the puriication of the Government,
but are simply a factious, bitter, and selfish
minority, who would rather that the country
should suffer from the evils of a corrupt and
oppressive fiscal system thau that their oppo-
nents should have the credit of its reform.
Let any fair minded man compare this record
with that of the Republican minority in the
~, &c = TlYAa fha loo 1ar n nj
John Sherman in the House and of Lyman
Trumbull in the Senate, and he will be apt to
forgive the Republican party many OF its
faults rather than entrust the nation
to the keeping of a combination of
Northern corruptionists and Southern ma
| lignants.
Many other topics suggest themselves in re-
viewing the work of the session, but space
fails us. The reconstruction acts of previous
sessions have been improved. The admission
! of the Southern States which have complied
| with the law has proved the good faith of the
| Republicans i'll proposing the terms OF restora-
tion. Except Mr.. Christy, of Georgia, who
has not claimed his seat and who will very
likely claim it in vain and except the Georgia
Senators, every Southern representative in
either House is admitted. The removal o
political disabilities from many Southern men
has been one of the good fruits of the Chicago
| platform. The ratification OF the Fourteenth
| Amendment is of itself sufficient theme for
column. But we must leave these subjects
untouched. We rejoice that so much ha;
been accomplished. We believe that very few
schemes of public plunder have succeeded II
this Congress, and that several have beer
stopped by it. Its faults have been mostly
negative. Let US hope that it may yet repair
its omissions, and earn for itself name o
permanent honor, as it has now earned tn,
credit of having done better than most of its
| predecessors. ~