The New York herald., 1869-12-18
Reputation Rcpudinfed by the Democratic
Leaders In Congrcss-Grnnt Victorious.

Reputation Rcpudinfed by the Dem ocratic
Leaders In Congress- Victorious.
General Grant, as the head of the govern
ment, has just achieved victory hardly
second in importance to the rebel surrender at
Appomattox Court House. This victory has
been gained in the formal capitulation of the
democratic party to the financial policy of the
administration. 1t came upon the House Of
Representatives on Thursday last as pleasant
surprise, and as pleasant surprise it has gone
forth to the country.
Mr.. Mungen, of Ohio. one of those old line
Bourbon democrats of the ultra copperhead
school, brought the democratic members of
the House to the direct question in the reading
from the manuscript Of a deliberately prepared
argument in favor of the reputation of the
national debt. He took this stand upon his
own responsibility and in his own behalf; but
it is probable that had he apprehended the
reputation of his pronunciamento which fol-
lowed from the leaders of his party, one after
another, to the number Of half dozen, he
would have indefinitely postponed the ventila-
ton Of his obnoxious heresies.
Having his eyes opened as representative
of the enlightened financial centre of New
York, Mr.. Brooks opened fire upon the unpro-
gressive gentleman from the backwoods of
Ohio. Mr.. Brooks was equal to the emer-
gency He fatty and emphatcally repudiated
reputation. He said that the democrats of
New York s'never have been, never can be,
ho - 1
democratic members from that State he repu-
dated all that the gentleman from Ohio had
urged in support of reputation; that we expect
to pay every cent of the debt, according to
the contract and that it will be as easily paid
as the war debt Of 1912. Mr.. Kerr, of Indi-
ana, disclaimed this false notion Of reputation
Of the debt in the name Of the whole demo-
cratic party Of the country. General Slocum,
of New York, true soldier, said that ''no
party tie, no hope Of political advancement,
will ever induce me to favor any measure tend
ing towards reputation, directly or indi-
rectly," and in behalf of the democracy he
represented he repudiated all regulations
Mr. Randall, of Pennsylvania, could see repu-
diation in no other light than the light of dis
honesty. Messrs Potter and Cox, Of New
York, wished it to be understood that as
democrats they could not endorse or permit to
pass unanswered the intolerable views of the
gentleman from Ohio. Mr.. Woodward, of
Pennsylvania, said this seemed to be day Of
general confession, and trained his batteries
and let fly a broadside at certain republican
repudiators in his own State aud in Congress-
the greenback philosophers.
After these refreshing declarations of the
faith from these admitted leaders and expound-
ers Of the gospel of the democratic party we are
not surprised at the success Of the resolution of
Mr.. Garfield (republican), of Ohio, ''that the
proposition, direct or indirect, to repudiate
any portion of the debt Of the United States
is unworthy the honor and good name of the
nation, and that the House, without distinction
Of party, hereby sets its seal of condemnation
on any and all such propositions" Mr. Jones
| (democrat), of Kentucky, had some misgivngs
about paying in gold that part of the debt not
| specified to be paid in gold, and SO he voted
| against the resolution; but he stood alone-for
/ VIC sotc was dnnounceu, aitcT iuii can VI tnt
roll, yeas l23, nay J..
We say that this is great and glorious VIC
tory of General Grants financial policy, as the
administrative head of the government. II is
bis work, and to him belongs the honor, in
cutting down expenditures, in saving the reve-
ntIes, and increasing the receipts Of the
Treasury, in unearthing frauds, in suppressing
abuses in heading off and smashing up the
gold gambling bull rings Of Wall street, in
applying the surplus Treasury funds on hand
to the reduction Of the national debt; and in
the financial facts, figures and policy laid down
in his annual message, General Grant has
shown that at the rate at which the debt il
being paid 1t can be absolutely wiped out
during the present generation, interest and
principal, to the last fartbing, and with o
tightening of our general burden of taxes as
we go on. All this too, within the first nine
months of his administration, and amidst the
noise and confusion of house cleaning, paint.
ing and scrubbing and putting in new lot Of
servants, &c. "If such things come in the
green tree, what shall we have in the dry?"
Whata we may well ask, when since las
March, we may say, We have had revolution