Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1873-12-24

past few weeks, talking to the press OF the
country about unseemly violence of language
Butler talks of being pursued with " forty
jackass-mud-p power Shall the newspapers
sit at his feet and be instructed in chaste
and elegant expression? Hale of New York
and Wilson of Indiana, handy words about
g dirty dogs with school boy fefvor and a
lack of wit peculiarly their own. We wish
to hear no more !clap-trap about the dignity
of Congress or the bad taste in which the
newspapers have discussed the grab. j..
In all seriousness, the majority of the
present Congress seem to mistake the tenn
per of the country. Instead Of repeating
the bad measure of last spring, they have
used billingsgate profusely upon each other.
made a personal matter of what was
square question of doing right by undoing
compromise and subterfuge by which they
intend to save confessing themselves wrong,
while they pretend to fulfill the wishes of the
people they represent.
So far as republican members Of congress
had part in this shameful exhibition they
have added to the load which is fast becom-
ing greater than the honest folks of that
party will bear without revolt. The Boston
.4drertiser has words of warning which con-
gressmen would do we'll to heed and on which
all may well reflect.
The people asked for vindication of the
honorable name of the American Congress.
1t is not satisfactory to be told they have
" compromised " the matter by determining
to reduce the amour SO dishonorably OBJ
tanned. 1t is as if pain had proposed as a
compromise that we should say no more
about the propriety of the capture of the
Virginius, while she surrendered whatever
old Junk might be found in the ships bilge.
What the nation regards, and will hencetOrth
regard more seriously than ever before, is not
the loss of few hundred thousand dollars
more or less, but the loss Of dignity, not the
extravaganza, but the debasement of public
morals No tax could be so oppressive or
discouraging as these repeated evidences of
Generalization in high places. They poison
| the fountains of virtue all over the land.
| And in this direction Gen. Butler, twice re-
Gentlemen representatives, republicans or
democrats, who follow such leading, you may
well believe the people are not blind. The
representative who, one day urges new taxes
or new debt before an attempt is made tO
reduce expenses, the next day presents and
advocates bill prepared by the counsel of a
bankrupt house to overturn the national
bankrupt law, and the next day rises to show
representatives how they may compromise
with duty at handsome profit, is not tbs
leader the coming era demands. Do what
you may, the principles involved in this
salary business will be among the issues OF
which the country will pass judgment. Your
attempts to whistle them down the wind will
not avail. That part Of the republican pdrt5
lUhich assists or countenances such attempts
lCiH be defeated. Neither presidents nor cdJi
nets, nor prestige nor patronage, nor the can
IF demqgogues, can sdue 1t.
The moment it is clear that corrupt anC
lcorruptlng influences have procured contro
of the republican party aud cannot be shaker
off, there will be new birth in politics
The forwardness of preparation among the
jpeople for such contingency is much great
er than is commonly supposed. The event
in Washington since Congress assembled
have not tended to quiet apprehenslons tina
the republican organization is drifting to the
bad. No department Of the public service IS IL
a satisfactory condition, AMI, 'corst of all
there seems TO be an indispOsitiOn TO l0ork
reformation There is eUef ychere indsferenc
TO the suggestions Of lgisdOm and common sense
When an administration ceases to trust tn
men lohom the people trust, resercing its hon
0rabLe reIOards TOR subserDtem incapacity, tn
country lON prepare for change, and there :
no help for IL.