Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1873-03-07

The New \ rk Times, now recognized as
the leading organ of the administration,
asked the majority in the house few days
ago: DIN order to save few Republicans,
is it worth while to run the risk of running
the whole Republican party?" Next day
the house majority, by its vote on the ex-
pulsion of the Credit Mobilier members, an
swered, yes. The Times also said:
"There is no mob spirit abroad. But
there is quiet feeling in the public mind
that the Credit Mobilier is bad business,
aud that house that viii not treat it as
such is certainly cowardly, and possibly
corrupt. We should be sorry to see this
feeling disTegarded. 1t is an honest feeling
and it is strongest where the Republican
party is strongest. 1t is the feeling of that
portion of the public which has supported
our party in its best work. II the house
deals with it dishonesty or evasively, the
party will surely be crippled. 1t will be in
danger OF being not only crippled, but de-
stroyed."
The Indianapolis Journal, the Repubh-
can organ at the capital of Indiana, uttered
this note Of warning:
"The knife must be applied promptly
and fearlessly. The time has come for
bold surgery and political publication. Our
institutions and our liberties are in danger
If this hydra-headed monster of corruption
is not met and strangled, and it is the first
duty of the Republican press TO assist in
attacking and killing it,"
The Philadelphia Ledger, a firm sup
porter of the Grant administration alludes
to the action of the House of Representa-
tves on the Credit Mobiier report as falling
'sshori even of the disappointing report of
the Committee. Even the Escape goats
were not sacrificed. Weak, partial and in
operative resolutions of censure were
passed, and this was the lame and impo.
tent conclusion of a long inquiry, which
disclosed every day how the Government
had been plundered of scores of millions of
dollars, through the direct active agency of
some members of Congress and the guilty
eonnivance and participation of Others"
The Ledger concludes as follows:
"Then came their mean, tricky, false de-
mails, shifts, evasions and fast following ex-
plantations of their explanations, every
change in which showed more aud more
their own sense of theh own culpability.
There never was an instance in which men
holding public trust were more thorough
ly covered with proof of malfeasance in
Office. The guilty knowledge Of all these
men was as visible as the plumber of the
Government moneys was stupeDdous. And
Congress Furnishes all this by passing its
partial resolutions of censure, letting the
guilty go free upon the false pretence of
having no jurisdiction. This is so trans
parent a sham that it will command the
belief of no one possessing the eommonest
intelligence. The majority of the Houss
of Representatives, evading their plain du-
~ in trying to wipe away the stain from
their dishonored fellow-members, have fix
ed that stain upon the House itself, with
out removing it from the guilty they have
tried TO shield"
If the Republican press will meet the
question in the spirit that these journals
have, there will be some hope for the safety
of the country yet. But if the corruption
lists are 10 60 on in their high-handed
course unrebuked, the worst results await
this country and its institutions.