The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-02-06
Is the United States Bound to Protect
ThieYes!
From the ". Y. Herald.

From the ". Y. Herald.
There is no denial of the truth that to-day
the United States Senate is the focus of all the
great rings which have combined for the
wholesale plunder of the national wealth. We
recognize this, however, as the very natural
result of the gigantic struggle through which
1t has been our destiny to pass. Before the
war was sprung upon US, we were the repre-
sentatives of single magnificent impulse of
civilization working in thoroughly legitimate
direction. We scarcely had a government
and hardly needed one. Our people looked
for position, for profits, for honors in the
development of the country. If there existed
a few government contractors, they were so
few that they were lost upon the Indian from
tier or in the din of commerce and mauufac-
lures. The war came; our progress was turned
back upon ITSELF or was, by the force of
events, shaped into warlike channels. Many
of the keen brains that had aided in conduct
ing us to civilization became demoralized, and,
losing sight of their former efforts trained their
powers upon the United States Treasury;
for it was in this Treasury that the whole
wealth, the whole strength and sinew of
the people was poured as the most potent
force for the preservation of an intact nation
atty. The Treasury, therefore, represented a
vast contribution of the profits of civilization
from those who had been laboring to produce
it in the Northern States. From this almost
inexhaustible storehouse vast sums were to
be expended for national preservation. Those
who have but one principle in business life,
and that "to go as near Sing Sing as possible
and miss it," Immediately grasped at the
splendid prize, and grasped it, too, through
the United States Congress. Contracts for
arms, munitions of war, ships and supplies
were generously dealt out in true political
style to the constituents of those members of
Congress who depended for position more
upon financial influence or personal corrup-
tion than upon native genius: And so the
| war continued. Every day the corruption
increased, until ring after ring was formed,
each circling about hundred minor rings, and
all enclosed within the one great circle, the
United States Congress, and especially its
Senatorial branch.
At length the war closed, but it left behind
it the most gigantic fabric of swindling that
the world has seen. It pervaded every de-
! partment of our Government, and threw its
shadow over every Congressional act. Under
the glittering plea of reconstruction the peo-
pie were entertained four years, while the
leeches upon the public purse clung not only
to the Treasury, but to the Congress through
which they thrived.
The power has now changed. Formerly the
Congress controlled the rings; but these have
grown to magnificent proportions, and now in
turn show their power over those who gave
them being. How far this ring influence ex-
tends is now clearly marked. Under the lash
of the Hon. Ben Butler the line has been
drawn, and the Tenure of Office bill marks the
division. The House of Representatives has
placed itself in opposition TO the existing ring
system, and by its vote has shown to the peo.
pie who is and who is not in favor of support
ing the cerruptions of war. ..
We have now to deal with the Senate--the
great ring which is described about all the
others; the ring which has conferred all ap-
pointments and keeps them confrmed the
ring that has almost ruined the country by
trying to absorb the whole power of the Gov.
eminent, and the ring which now shows an
unbroken front, and apparently stands
pledged to sustain with all its resistive force
the attack which IL foresees the coming ad
ministration will make upon it. Here, then
the issue is boldly drawn, and we may al
once prepare for an encounter between the
public plunderers through the United States
Senate and the Executive branch of the Gov
eminent The Senate in the contest will
represent the amount of plunder which has
been gathered in the last seven years. while
General Grant will represent the wish OF the
people for return to economical and careful
administration of the public property, trea
sure, and civil positions. The former viii
doubtless make very desperate struggle bu
the people, suffering to the last extreme Il
maintain the host of thieves who now fatteI
upon the national misery, will support Grant
There is but one way for the Senate to SO
itself right before the country, and that is by
following the lead of the House of Represen
tatives in the revocation of the Tenure-of
Office law. The United States Senate Is no
bound to protect thieves, no matter how un
fortunate 1t has been in falling into thei
hands. Better break loose from them a
once, or the people, under the coming admin
istration, win tumble the whole Ssnatoria