Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1869-01-13

lions will be scanned by q more critical eye
Ii is no new lesson that the public men of
this country must learn. 1t is q lesson which
has been taught in other countries, and oft
times even when there was little to boast of
IN the way of public virtue. 1t is recorded
IN history that during the most terrible days
OF the French Revolution (for it was on the
l4th OF May, 1898, nineteen days before the
passage OF the celebrated decree Of the Ma
tlonaI Convention on the ID of June, placing
IN accusation the GirondIsts,) that Buzot,
one of the purest and most eminent of those
gifted and brilliant men pronounced the me
morable words which should be engraved in
letters of gold over the entrance of each pub
lie Office and every hall of legislation" No
public man can be justified in profting from
the Information and advantages of his posi-
ton. 1t is his duty to consecrate exclusively
to the public interest the knowledge which
such position furnished him." Much is ex-
pected of the new administration, and public
expectation will not be disappointed. but as
much as Gen. Grant can do, and as much as
he will do in his own sphere of action it is
idle to suppos that he can do anything that
the country requires to be done to secure
those reforms in the public service which are
so imperatively demanded. As President,
Gen. Grant must have the earnest and cor
dial support of the other branches of the gov
ernment-particularly of the legisla tive
yranch. The responsibility of this Congress,
SO far as the next administration is complete.
We can water-log the ship of State before the
President-elect takes command. We can
make appropriations under liabilities which
will 60 over TO the next administration which
cannot be met by imposing an additional tax
ntiOn on the people. We can destroy the con-
hdence of the people in the wisdom integrity
,.l -,-ss-1 &c 81 ---lIsa- - -.,ll
ing TO the insatiate demands of cOrmOrants,
who have gathered about us, and who make
acquisitions upon us which, if yielded to, Will
destroy, and ought to destroy, any party
By our recklessness and extravaganza, I'VE can
make appropriations of Ian and money which
will destroy the national credit and make our
country an object of scorn to the world. With
neither money or credit, unable to command
respect at home or abroad, we will be held in
contempt by the weakest and most pusillani-
nous nations. Never has the country in
the time of peace looked to Congress with
more interest than now. The demand of the
masses of our constituents men, who have 10
schems Of plumber, and who desire ouly an
honest administration Of the Government, the
men who fought the battles Of the Republic
and poured out their blood in its defence
they require of US a decrease of our expendi-
lures and a reduction of taxes. Regardless of
the mysteries of finance they see that our
credit can be improved, the public faith vim
Dictated, a return to specie payments made
certain. a reduction of interest on the public
deb secured by keeping down the expendi-
lures Of the government to the lowest possible
point, and by the honest collection of the rev
enue. 1t is for Congress to keep down ex-
~penditures and it is for the President to see
that the laws are faithfully executed, and
that the revenues are collected but Sit is for
Congress to see also that they do not keep fet-
ters upon the limbs of the President so as to
render it impossible for him to faithfully exc
cue lie laws.