The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1873-10-13
PARTY RESPONSIBILITY EOR
HACK PAY

1t has generally been claimed that a con-
vention or organization with small num-
Der of members will act with more deibera-
ton, care. caution and wisdom than will
similar bodies composed Of larger num-
Der. This argument has been applied with
great force to all representative bodies,
such as legislatures, conventions, com
mittces, etc, and is, as a general rule,
sound. The less the number of individuals,
the greater the sense of personal response
| bility, because the greater is the possibility
OF fiXingtbe esponsbility''whercit belongs.
The New York democrats seem to have re-
versed this rule and to have acted with
more elaboration and wisdom, when they
announced their position through a large
convention, than when their executive
committee endeavor to do the same thing.
The democratic state convention placed
the responsibility for the salary increase
where it properly belongs, and condemned
both democrats and republicans alike. The
only attempt to make party capital out of
the matter was by 'condemning and de-
nouncing the signature of the President. "
| whereby the ''iniquity" of tho congressman
was ''clinched As this is purely a state
campaign and has no reference whatever
to national affairs, they struck a still
harder blow at home, by refusing to
place Kinsela, member of Congress
from the Brooklyn district and edi-
tor of the ablest democratic paper in
the state, upon the state central
committee, of which he had been men,
Der for years, for the reason that he re-
ceived his back pay. Their action, so far,
was just and proper. The republican state
convention adopted a similar course, in
some respects, and while, perhaps, their
action was not quite as pointed and they
remained silent where they should have
spoken and condemned, yet they did not
endeayor to shirk the proper share of re-
sponsihility which attached to the party
We think that it would be difficult to find
similar instances in our political history of
two great parties, each assuming their due
share of responsibility, and condcmning
friend and foe alike
There was an excellent reason, too, why
both of these conventions should take this
course, as will appear from the back pay
record. Twelve democrats, eleven repub-
licans, and one-the only member thus
classed-libcral republican of the New
York delegation, in the house of represen-
tatves, received and appropriated to their
own use this back pay, while the number
OF democrats voting for, against, or being
conveniently absent, lie about the same as
that OF republicans taking similar course.
Yet with this record and the action of the
two conventions before them, the ''execu-
tive committee" of New York democrats,
consisting of five members, have issued an
address-which we published in full, Sat
urday morning, to ''the citizens of New
York" wherein they declare that vote
for the republican state ticket is vote to
''endorsc the congressional salary-grab
bill. We read, many years ago, that
''whom the gods wish to destroy they first
make mad" and this might have some ap-
plication in this case, il the party was not
already destroyed The committee, how
ever, can console themselves with the
thought that if they can't deceive anybody,
it will do for buncombe. If both parties
instead of endeay oring to shirk the respon-
sibility from one to the other, would follow
the lead of the New York conventions,
and agitate for repeal some GOOD might
possibly, be accomplished. If the repeal
OF the increase of salary bill is honestly
desired by the leaders of either party, if
their resolutions and declarations are any
thing more than buncombe some other
course must be pursued than the endeavor
to make political or party question of it.
The increased salary of the President can
not, by an express constitutional provision,
be changed for four years, and, probably
never will be altered by lessenng the pres
ent annual salary but the pay of our Sena-
tors and Representatives can be changed.
and will be changed if the people make
themselves felt, instead of fritting away
their strength by trying to convince voters
who will not be conyinced-that "our
party" had nothing to do with 1t. It is
personal question and only personal
question, because the vast majority of all
parties think alike on the subject. General
Butler said in the course of the debate In
congress, that ''both sides of the house
are voting for It," Let US, the people,