, 1873-12-13

1herD IL IN oVlucnt purpose On lho paFL OF the
members Of Congress who took and doaira to
keep tho $4,000 buck-pay voted Themselves at
tho last session, to laugh down the proposition
to repeal tho act Slr. Negiey, of Pittsburgh,
leads iu tho effort to ridoule tho popular iudig-
nation, md styles the proposition to repeal tho
Grab law low domagogery. A gentleman namcd
Grassland, who lives somewhere In kentucky,
las also made himself conspicuous as d bu1oon
on TINT subject. A paducah paper recently OK
pressed the opinion that Grassland ought not to
be asked to givo back the money, because ho had
serted Lis country in the Confederate army four
years without any pay. and thia littlo itom Of
$4,000 extra salary would in part sottlo tho un-
roauitod service. The mob OF Democrats and
Republicans in the House who have pnckoted
this stolen money. and who rofuse to pay it back,
laugh conRunodly ut every word that Negley Or
Crossland utters And go the low comedy goes
On. Every man who spoaks for tho repeal Of tho
Grab law is to be laughed down and pronounced
demagogue. THO trouble IS that the Repub-
lean party finds itsolf in d quaudary. II took
advantage Of the close OF the scssion, nnd aftnr
of ncariy every executive, judicial, aud legis-
lativo officer connected with tho Government at
Washington. 1n order to avoid responsibility,
it bargained for tho votoa of large portion Of
the Democratic mombors. especially thoHo who
hive been rocogpized for yoara ae willing to sell
out anything for pay. With tho aid OF thoHo,
| the Republican party voted 5000 extra to each
| member Of the Inst Congress-, aud aa much moro
10 all tho members of tho new Congress-; it
doubled tic salary Of tho President,
nnd increased that Of tho Vico-prosideus
and Cabinet officers, making tho increase
begin on March 4, 1879. Each member
of the proHont Congress- haa already boon paid
$35G25 in advance. trle universal popular pro-
tost against this proceeding has tahcn sucl form
that the party must do something. but exactly
what 1t cannot we'll determine. The President
has nccopted the double pay voted to him, and
tho party has not the courage to yoto that ho
shall return it. Unfortunately, the question Of
this repeal haH to be decided by tho mon who
have participated In tho increased pay. Those
who did not got the $4,000 extra back-pay hayo
duwn tho s5,o25 forward-pay, aud lurge num-
bor have drawn both. 10 these mcn this voto
implies the necessity OF returning either ono or
tAs other, aud to muny it implies tho return al
both. Tho average patriotism that provails in
Congress does not seom equal to tho taak.
In the lnidst OF this controversy thero rises in
the louuo the ghost Of Alexander stephcnB.
Thirty years ago, Ao was q member Of tho Wing
| o1,u %1,okn
that favored q patosnal Government, in which
tho ruling clasa should take patrInrcl,al euro oi
tho ruled. That party was elninently aretocrat.
io. It wanted d magnificent Government, II
which Congress was to be composed Of grea
mon a1ld the Government waB to bo prncel,
r ouo and all supported by taxes upon tho people
J who were 30 fortunate az to ba governed &C
t handsomely. In timo, the oxigencles Of slaver,
: forced Mr. Stephens aud Mr. Too,nba into th'
, Democratic purity, and thence In time into th'
: Confederate Government; aud Tho first tim,
, TINT hia voice WAS heard after hia long absonos
! was In tolling oougreaa that in ysars goue by III
0 | lad advocated tho most sublime gaiarloB con
colyAble, and that Ae was now in favor Of til.
I; sn1ne thing. Around thia relic Of tho past thor
0 gathered every man who had pockoted baok-anl
: forward-pay aud did not wish to surrender It
0 They locked upon tho Confederate VIcc-ProBl
: Gont ~ an advocate from sonle other worl
J., como to defend md justify great aud scandal
u ous spolation OF tho Treasury.
? Congress- will haye to neot this question OIL
tue direct isauo of tho repeal Of that act nnd til
= surroudsr OF tho mouey; nor can Tho u party
avoid the issue that this repeal must include til
r. double nay Of the President. Tho President la