The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1874-07-17
4 suAar, As usuAs..

A few weeks ago one of our Oregon
Radical exchanges threw up itshat and
triumphantly choered the "grand old
Republican party" because some Rad
ical Congressman, under the lash and
spur of an outraged public opinion,
and in view Of the nearness of the
autnmnal elections, had introduced
in the House o measure looking to
the reduction of some of the most fla
grant extravagances and reform of
some Of the most barefaced abuses of
the present Administration. Oh, yes,
(howls our Radical coteinporary,) see
what the great Republican party can
do in the way of reform! Away with
all your other reform parties-weh have
no need Of them all can be accom-
plished through the medium of our
own invincble and incorruptible 10y
al party
Well, what is the sequel? True,
the House, whose members had to be
reelected this fall, passed some half
way reform measures and corrected
some of the evils which have been a
standing disgrace to our country for
the past ten years, but even this
slight modification was not allowed to
stand. There had doubtless been a
tacit understanding that this reform
farce should be acted out in the
House, so that the members could go
home and ask their constituency to
return them on the reform" platform;
and that the Radical majority in the
Senate should smother out the 80.
called reform bills when they came
before that body. Well, the com
pact was kept in good faith. Not
single bill, having for its object the re-
duction Of expenses and looping off
Of extravagances, was allowed to go
through that august body. Nearly all
the salaries were put back TO the en-
ormous figures allowed by the in.
creased bill of March 3, 1878. Even
the House, which had so suddenly or
ganized itself into reform body, af-
ter fixing the salaries Of its officers
and reporters at a high rate in March,
gave them another hoist to still
higher figure just before adjournment.
Indeed, if that eminently reiormatory
Congress had not adjourned as soon
as it did there is no telling at what
enormous rate they would have bal
looned salaries of public officials up
to.
The fact is, there never was any re-
aity in this reform farce, played by
the Radical majority in Congress. 1t
was sham from first to last. II there
had been any real desire for correc.
tion of the abuses which grew up un-
der the'exlgencies, waste, and reck-
lessness Of the late war, this Congress
could have abolished the whole sys-
tenn, root and branch, Tho people
had demanded it, the press had clam
pred for it, and Congressman had
it. But as has ever been in
keeping with the promises OF the Rad
cal party since its advent into power,
nothing was done, Nine years have
Elapsed since the rebellion was crush
d and "treason made odious," and
'et our national debt is absolutely in
reasing and our Government expend-
lures continued on almost as large q ,
Gale as when our country was on a ,
var footing. And yet Radical journals !
'ould make the people believe that =
heir party is in favor Of retrenchment
nd reform The fact is, every inch i
t the road to economy has had to be !,
'ught against an organized resistance
Congress. and an army Of mercena-
es in public employment. Money q,
lat should have been appropriated d
II the improvement Of our rivers and =,
lrbors has been distributed among !,
ustom House rings and corrupt tools :,
the Administration party, TO fur a
er election schemes and bolster up
g sinking cause Of Radicalism, The :;
'ople can have no hope of reform i;
ON that party, The correction of =,
listing and growing evils must be 4;
ught for in some other quarter, The =,
" for hope of reform from the Re. 4,
iblican party is passed, if such a
'pe ever existed, That party is cor m
pit and rotten to the core aud must ~
I to decay as soon as the people de- fo
i've it OF its means Of plumber and A,
bbery Of the public treasury, :,
AN English mechanic advertised III
49, 90