Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1872-02-08

TIE SYNDICATE following facetious
and trenchant remarks Of Mr.. ;. 5. Cox were
made in the conclusion of his able and brilliant
speech in the House Of Representatives,, last
Wednesday week:
There are, Mr. Speaker, various ideas in the
public mind as to what 81 Syndicate Is Most OF
these ideas as a scientist and regent of the
Smithsonian, repudiate. The vulgar idea is
not one of which this refined House ought to
embrace. A colored citizen Of South Carolina
writes to know If it is connected with the ku-
klux. Nv friends from Vermont and Ohio (Mr.
Poland and Mr. S:eveDson) can best answer
that question. True, AS my friend from Ten
nessee MIR. Maynard) has shown here, that the
learned words of Pythagorcan meaning; but the
Syndicate is not 81 political term. 1t has no ku-
klux secrecy or disguise. 1t Is purely mercena-
ry Some have supposed it was Il great land an
imal of the prehistoric Time, when our planet
WIS filled with monsters, mcgathorca &c.i but
think it is the cunning device OF Il later epoch,
since man arrived; and there are no intermaX-
Hilary bones Of the delunct monsters that Illus
tratc the wonderful voruclty OF the Synilcate-
A gay and festive friend writes me TO intimate
that It Is one of the genus gi,senticus whose adj
ventures are handed down from the twilight ri
| time. | reject this definition.
4 friend learned in phi!ology, says it comes
from the original Chinese, and is pronounced
| SEln1e-cAt, from inc way inc tHlHeSe nave ca
| skinrng their domestic animals before they are
| made into pies. A Clergyman from Salem
! Mass suggests that it comes from sin and cat
from the feloniouS and feline way, iii which a
certain class creep Oh their furry feet with claws
! hid to their prey. This is absurd and like
many other Theological dog,nas, inadmissible-
| While in the island of Corsica l saw the devil
| fish of Victor Hugo, Il horrible marine monster.
with most remarkable tcntacu!;e. which woutc
| clasp human form IN It's claws. Inns monster
| WAS called by the natives. Ill their mixed lam
guagc, sundv cato; but the real Syndicate
think is of the land, though ii may cross he sea
at times. A revenue reormcr writes me that 1t
is IN animal peculiar to Pa-with head of iron,
eyes OF nickel, legs of copper and heart Of stone
| 1t consumes every green thing outsideof lis own
State These are indeed but the cruditieS Of the
vulgar. But. SIT, after all my researches into
| science and books | was not entirely satisfied
until summoned before the Ways and Means
| Commlttce to put questions To my honorable
| friend the Secretary of the Treasury. | received
his answer. l find in the report this colloquy:
mir. Cox-What do you mean by the Syhdl-
cate ~
MIR. Boutwell, mean JAY Cooke e Co.,
| and others connected with them IN this country
! and in Europe. don't know who they are?
The Atlantic Monthly says it means tine Eu-
| ropean equivalent OF the American word ring
ard it confessc> that bv is operations fortunes
are made ana laws broken. But no one knows
who the Syndicate are or Is or we know only
! ''in part
Now, l submit Mr., Speaker, did you ever
hear Of an officer making bargains involving
hundreds of millions with unknown parties
Some are in this country and some are in Eu-
rope Who are the mysterious parties III Eu-
rope? Whoever they are and whatever they do,
the Secretary is responsible, and this Congress is
responsible for their acts for they are irrespon-
sibie agents forbidden by law and paid in de-
tiancc of its provisions In this time of Execu,
tive usurpation, when even the supreme Judicial
tribunal Is recognized and appointed to reverse
decision in the interests Of spectators and ia
vorteS, 1t is high time that the lawmakers of the
land did their duty by just Legislation and fear
| less criticism l have done mine.