Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1873-12-03
THE REPUBLICAN rRrss OK RE
EnRyf

they represent In demanding radical
reform in every department Of the
Government, a reputation Of bad
leaders and recognition of popular
needs and demands, we quote from
several Of the most prominent ex-
ponents Of Republican principles and
mirrors Of Republican sentiment In
the Eastern States. The St. Louis
Democrat says:
Something IL the matter. The "off
year In politics" argument does not
meet all the conditions of the prob
lem. The Republican party has. In
the estimation Of many who have
hitherto voted to sustain It and keep
It In power, come short OF Its duty to
the people. IL has done no good In the
wayofbreakins the force Of public opin-
ion to show, IA has been shown, that
Democrats as well as Republicans were
mixed up IN the disgraceiul salary
grab and Credit Mobllier business.
The country very naturally aud very
properly holds the Republican ma.
jority In Congress responsible for all
the legislation 1t permits, and this re-
sponsibility cannot be evaded. Con-
fidenee in the party Is weakened. 1t
may be destroyed by q repetition OF
past blunders. Its leaders must have
learned by this time that public opin.
ion cannot safely be deiled. Will
they profit by the lesson? The Dem
ocratic party IL bad ; bogus reformers
are not the best sort Of people but II
| the Republican party would retain It's
vitality aud power it must not depend
too much OH the popular disgust for
| Democracy and It's allies. 1t must do
something. The people have a raven-
Gus appetite for some beneficent legis-
lation, and are not content to subsi't
upon past recollections.
And In this same strain the Indian
apolis Journal says:
Making all due allowances for the
"otf year Ia politics" the activity Of
the Changers, the financial panic, and
| other local or transient causes, 1t 10
| still apparent that the vote Of Tuesday
| indicates an unusual degree OF disaf-
fection In the Republican party. That
feeling l. undoubtedly owing to GER
tain acts Of the Republican Congress
and Administration, aud In II opin-
lon the recent defeats Of the Repub-
| lican party are directly traceable to
the e%xtravagant and dishonest legis-
| latIon OF last Winter. The last SEES
| sion OF Congress not only disappointed
| the people BY the extravaganza OF Its
appropriations, but 1t perpetrated that
| political monstrosity aud legislative
outrage known as tho salary-grab,
which, for the universal condemnation
1t has received. stands without a par
allel IN our history. Before the Re-
publican party can place Itself right
with the people. It must repeal that
act, and show an earnest detcrmiu.
alton to reduce expenses, reform
abuses. abolish s~inecures. cut down APP
propriations, and conform the admin
istration Of the Government to the
popular will and the necessities OF
the times. 1t is idle to make any more
promises OF retreuchment, the people
want real retrenchment. There have
been speeches enough about REFORM
ing abuses, let Congress 60 to work
now aud reform them.
The Detroit Tribune, referring to
the salary grab in particular, says:
One thing Is demanded by the unan-
imouI choice Of the people, and the
popular demand will doubtless meet
with prompt acquiescence. We refer
to the universal demand for the repeal
OF the Ubiquitous bill by which the sal
aries Of members of Congress were In
creased 80 per cent, by the last Con-
gress during the a hours previous to
its adjournment. The voice Of the peo-
pie Is emphatic In the demand for this
repeal, and Congress cannot act too
quickly or toe decidedly In obedieEce
to the popular demand. Upon other
subjects. also. the sentiment Of the peo-
pie has made itself known too emphat-
ically for any possibility Of mistake on
the part OF the peoples representa-
tives. The Republican majority iu
both Houses Of Congress must under
stand that the people are watching
them. that party ties are growing
/ "cahCE duu "uahCit ~ sbNs
malus with them to determine whether
by n wise, s~tatesmsnlike and prudent
administration OF the national finances
they will retain control Of its affairs,
or whether by carelessness and extrav-
agance they will commit political sui
eide and make easy the triumph Of the
opposing party.
And on this point the Cleveland
Leader has also a word to say, as fol-
lows.
The appropriation bills for next year
need close watching. Congressional
salaries must be set back to the old
figures. In this way, aud not by In
creasing taxation, must the Govern
ment meet its expenses. 1t Is not es-
sential that there should be a large
s~urplusage Of revenue over expendi-
lures. as In former years. as a standing
temptation to extravaganza. The
smaller the balance remaining after
meeting current expenses, the better.
There Is considerable talk about. and
perhaps quite a tendency la some quar-
tiers to concede the ranking privilege
to Congressman when their salaries
are reduced to the old figure. This
ought not to be entertained for a mo.
ment.
II the extracts above do not indicate
that the Republican party realizes the
situation, IL reform Is not therein de-
manded as loudly as by any Dolly
Warden journal. and II there are any
more earnest warnings and protests
than these to be found In Dolly Warden
We would like to sec them. 1t Is a
hopeful sign, and proves conclusively
that the Republican masses Of this
country have determined to reform the
party In power. And In this effort.
united and sincere, there Is little doubt
of their success.
TIE Now York Sun having given
rise to an absurd story that 1t was cur
rently reported in Havana that the
| Spanish Government was regularly
paying $4,000 a year to a son.in-law
Of Secretary Fish. the Cincinnati Com
mercidi remarks that 1t has heard Of
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