New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-11-12
PUT 1T BACK!

IUI III DdCh
There may DO differences of opinion as to
what is the precise lesson to be learned from
the November elections by the party of the
Administration. We judge from the comments
of the organs that there are, and very VIDE
ones Some Of the organs which dlscoursed
sereney upon the prospects before the elec-
tions, denOuncing as ISLANDERS and calumnies
whatever limitations were abroad that the
Administration and the party had not acted
with perfect wisdom and honesty in all Things,
are quite free now TO say that the November
results are a warning to the Republican party
against future Salary Grabs and Credit
Mobller speculatiOns some OF them which
were disposed to close the doors Of the party
against all who voted against Grant last year,
have learned short lesson in the matter Of
closing doors before the house is full; and
some others, notably one at Washington-who
believe the Administration has fee simple of
the party-tall about 1t as though the disaster
was occasioned by the forgetfulness and neglect
of voters whom the Administration owned and
the only lesson they see in it all is to luke
warm Republicans who have deserved this
defeat, and will probably take warning from it
to come ont and vote next time.
Out of all the comments, however, one thing
Is made reasonably clear; that is, that the
Administration and the party behind it have
had their large ears cuifed; cuffed with dis
tnctness and emphasis in the face and eyes
of the world. OF the fact there is no doubt,
however much the organs may differ as to
causes and reasons; and we venture to add
that the results of these elections have one
meaning not difficult of interpretatiOn-One
cause which will be admitted on all sides to
have operated upon the popular mind. The
cause is the Salary Grab; the meaning is that
the people understand it and have signiiied
their disgust. More than enough Repub-
licans who voted for Grant last No
vember stayed sullenly away from the
polls last week to change the whole result.
Call it apathy, or forgetfulness, or neglect, or
what you will, they stayed away with pur-
pose. They had been deceived by a false Ad-
ministration and . lying Congress. They had
voted for President Grant and Republican
Congress upon the promise that both were in
favor of honest administration, of retrench-
ment and reform. In less time than was de-
cent after the votes were counted, they found
the President urging that his own salary be
il under a compromise which increased their own
pay and stole for them million and half
from the Treasury. The people saw it, under
stood it. knew they had been lied to. They
waited almost year. Last week they simply
stood around and did not vote. The hundred
thousand and more of Republican votes that
turned up missing" when the ballots were
counted were plainly written notice and
warning to the party in power. saying, " Gen
"tlemen, you lied 70 US and cheated us last
"year We have found you out. We are not
"voting this year. But we are sitting right
"here on the fence, waiting to see what you
care going to do about it,"
And now the very safest thing for the gen.
tlemen to do who passed the Salary Grab is
IN Weld gracefully TO the demands of the sit
uatlOn, say it was mistake, and repeal It,
IL would be q wise thing ia the President to
recommend its repeal, but that is hardly to be
hoped for For Congress it is so wise thing
TO do that there is no alternative. The Re-
publican party is already overloaded. Carry
ing the odium of this disgrace it staggers to
defeat and certain ruin. There is no use now
in wasting 81 told you so'sn over it, or
lamenting the mistake. There will be no wis
dom in spending time over any modification
of it, or in trying to qualify it
and save portion of it. The Sal
airy Grab is stencil. The men
who profted by it, and the party under whose
administration it was passed, are already 80
tainted with it that the only safe course is to
bundle the whole thing overheard without
reservatOn-repeal it promptly and without
question. Put back the law and put back, so
far as possible, tho money. That is the les
son of the elections. More than hundred
thousand Republicans have said and as many
more are waiting an opportunity to say,
"Put it back" Has the Administration any
we were about to say-earSP Rather, can it
hear and understands
1'ba beef-eaters of England are not 80 fortunate