National Republican., 1873-12-20
CONGRESS-.

OohHrcss hgreeu yesterday 10 take Tvs
usual holiday recess. II was hoped that
that body, In the present disastrous and un.
scttlsd condition Of the country, with mills
suspended, thousands Of workmen out of
employment merchants upon the verge Of
bankruptcy, the revenues Of the Govern.
nent itself falling short, general scene of
commercial and financial desolation in every
dlrcction-it was hoped that under these cir.
cpmstapces the gentlemen who have been
intrusicd with the making of our laws
would have sacrificed their personal pleas
ure to the public good and remained where
the country expected them to remain, nt
their business But the hope has been dis
appointed and our Congressional school
boys are off Cor their holiday.
During the nineteen days Of the session
practically nothing has been accomplished.
The bankrupt bill has been passed by the
House. but is still before the Senate, and
the prospect Is that the new year will be
Ear advanced before the question as to how
the law will ultimately stand is decided.
Nothing whatever has been done upon the
subject Of the finances. The comparison
Of views which the Finance Committee
announced 1t was waiting for before pre-.
scntiay Its plan has been postponed by the
adjournment. To be SURE. the House has
settled the salary business after debate
which reflects no credit upon that body;
which. indeed, has brought II lower than
il was before in public estimation. 1t is
sickeDing to he compelled 10 speak in this
way; to think that all the lessons Of the
summer and the fall AMI the winter have
been lus, upon those who should have been
the first TO learn them; and that the old
blundcr. arc being committed over and
over sg,in.
The first month Of Congress will he A
disappointment to the country. 1t hus
failed 10 appreciate the magnitude of tho
emergencies that met II. and devoted itself
for the most part 10 mere personal and pri-
vate matters, instead Of the larger questions
which occupy the attention OF the whole
people. Nineteen days Of labor, Of immense
promise. have brought 6rth one or tive
ridiculous mice. Nineteen days have
covered one branch with disgrace
und proven the inability or the un
willingness Of the other branch TO gel
itself down soberly and seriously to
work. II is difficult to see exactly where
the trouble lies, but since Congress Assem-
bled there has been an indirectiQp. an alb
sence Of proper discipline and Leadership
both In the Senate and in the House. Tn,
Republican majority is strong enough II
control everything, hut there does not seem
10 bc any cohesive power in it. We dOno
wish to be understood Us criticising any on,
member iu particular, bu, 1t is very eviden
that 10 use vulgar phrase, screw is loos,
somewhere, and the sooner II is iastcne,
the better. The country Is in no mood Il
lie iriliel with, and we have had nothing
bul triiing since the second of December
We have had wholesale denunciations o
the newspaper press, personal alteration
and wr,ngling over the smallest and mos
insignificant matters. Instead of abusing
Congress should teach the newspapers l.
respect II. should respect itself When
does that the newspapers will not be slo>
to treat /; as il SHOULD be treated. But II
idle 10 expect that the Journals of the coun
try who sympRthize with the Republica
party viii stultiiy themselves merely becaus
the genilcmen whom they helped elect {
represent them see fit Ia make themsclye
ridiculous. The time has gone by whe
they can be led bya mere mob in Congress
when they will follow that mob from absurd
lily to ahsurdiIy; will approve everything
right OF wrong, and have only hOncye
words mdphrases for thosc in power an
position. The journals Of the party hav
duty to perform as well as tle represent
atives in Congress or out OF II, and II POI
ton Of that duty is IN honest criticism :
the biundcrs that may im made, II condcn
nation Of any mistaken policy that may Il