Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1873-12-10
The Eoysv.sht,.d Comrress.

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Tho New York Sun of December
I'd says: The new Congress which
met yesterday at Washington under
exceptional circumstances must con.
front at the outset questions of the
greatest magnitude, both as affects
our foreign relations and internal pol.
icy. 1t was chosen more than q year
ago under an entirely different condi.
tion Of affairs and Of public opinion
from that which now exists.
A state Of fictitious prosperity ma.
tcrially promoted by partisan manage
ment Of tho Treasury, flush money
market, inflated stock, enormous i'm.
ports, overlooking revenues and un-
bounded credit, contributed largely to
tho result of the Presidential contest,
and to the two.thirds majority of Re-
publicans in the present House of
Representatives returned ut tho same
time. a isf
If tho Congressional elections had
to bc repeated now, no one doubts that
the political complexion of tho popu-
lar branch would bo seriously il not
radically changed Therefore it can.
not be strictly said to reflect or to
represent tho actual sentiment Of tho
country. How far it mny bo willing
to conform to and accept tho altered
situation is not easy to prefgure.--
There is q great opportunity offered, If
there be wisdom enough to improve it.
More than third OF the members
Of tho new House were in the last dis
credited Congress, participated in Il
the obnoxious legislation, and &c, EN-
Of the most conspicuous leaders wsSs
personally disgraccd by their venal
connection with Credit Mobiier and
other corruption. From long expert.
encc and familiarity with parliamen.
tary usages, they will necessarily ex.
erciso much influence over the new
elements, and not for good
The first subject 10 claim attention
will be tho Spanish outragos, and the
duty Of Congress concerning them
Our passive attitude TO the revolution
in Cuba can no longer be maintained
in view of recent developments. The
peace of the country is constantly en-
dangcred by the violence or malice or
folly of reckless officials. This must
cease. y
As the Currency act was flagrantly
violated by many Of the banks during
the panic, and dcpositors left entirely
at the mercy of plundering presidents,
deiaulting cashiers, and speculative
directors by abuse of the reserve in
tended for their protection, il is plain
that the whole system must be re.
formed. Besides this imperative me-
cessty, Congress will DO obliged to
face tho financial problem at once and
decide whether the recent bitter OK. |
perienco is to be repeated by wild ex. |
pansion, with even worse consequences
in the near future, or TO be improved |
by q return to sound basis, which |
must come sooner or later.
The question Of positive retrcnch
ment in the public expenditures must
be considered practically. Postpone
ment is no longer possible. And to
do this, effcctually, the frs. step is to
stop on tho spot the false and prodi-
gal system of anticipating the pay.
ment of the public debt, which involves
extravaganza and corruption at every
turn. The prudent and homcly policy
Of "pay as you CO." is the wisdom re-
quired now. Whenever the false pre-.
tcnco OF raising enormous revenue to
redeem the public debt years before
shall be exploded, the whole
system of venalily, waste, jobbcry and
fraud, which depends upon excessive
appropriations, will tumble to pieces,
and integrity aud economy become
again possible.
So far as the repeal of the salary.
steal Legislation is concerned, there is
no hopo of it, With few exceptions
who have honorably taken the old
pay, tho great bulk of the members of
both Houses have already received
about $4,000 each, without having
rendered an hour of service. That i'll |
gotten money is sponl and gone. The
re elected members who voted for that
niquty are doomed, and know it,
They of course will not mid any form
Of repeal which looks to restitution.
The now members will plead freedom
rom responsibility, and claim that
hey are only drawing n salary allowed