Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1874-12-25
THE DgCs 0F THE NEXT con

: The following views in regard to the
duty of the next Congress to expose
thoroughly the corruptions Of the
teGerai Government are SO sensible
that We ,'anefcr thon to our columns
with cor.;.;,i endorsement They are
taken f'ol :'iH: sterling sheet the
New 1ol.z .IrHrnM Of ConDscrcc. Tt
says:
Upon I5e next Congress Will de-
volve the l:gE moral duty of making
a thorough investigation of public
affairs. IL j. the ,iuty of every man
entering upon = public trust to exam
me searchingIy into The conduct of his
predecessors in Off &c, in order to
avoid their errors and profit by their
mistakes. This &c owes to himself
and to tie people who have clothed
him with authority. In cases where
frauds have been conn,itted, it is OBJ
Lgatorr upon those who come after the
thieves or swin,i!ers to expose their
wrong doings and. if possible, bring |
the n to justice. Investigation is one of |
the incidental objects of political rev.
olution; and if It is neglected il by the |
parry about to come into power, an
important lesson of the late elections
Will be lost to the people. The Re
publican party have held the national
Offices now for fourteen years, and
their arrears of misdeeds must, in the
nature of things, be very large. No
party having such an unchecked
license can keep possession for that
length of time without making no for
Itself long record of c1trayaccEce
and frand, to be disci 1std upon da8
examination Of is affairs. The Con
for years past being i'll poll
teal sympathy with tie Admin i,
lstration and ita appointccs have, {
with few except."ns, satisfied in t
1u:lies into the transaction of /
public business: or if those in /
1uiIies have been ordered have adopt
ed WLltu-"aHhinC reports. 4 majority i
1f the recent Congresses have const;- Il
| =,
ind protection, ard it las been jmpog- \
'ib!c for &c opposition 10 fatilom the 0
secrets vi their ways. 1t remained for 6
he Last ard present Congresses to take y
he alarm from the public disguict, aud &
o investigate two IF tho mOst noto- "
lOu5 ablats Of the times-the Credit r,
IoDiiier operations AMI the moiety II
Fiadies. The reports rendered upon :,
hese subjects were far from satisfacto- a,
y, but they did have the effect of bring fc
1g political railroad rings into dispute
nd Of causing the passage Of a law =,
ess outrageous and oppressive upon
Importers. These are good deeds, the
redit OF which should not by denied -
} Epnnhlican CONGRESS. Dut while u
ley were SO bold and open in search n,
lg cut two classes of frauds, they al ii
'wed plenty OF others to pass IN
oticed. There are frauds connected IN
18th la-3 sales, with army contracts, ht
18th subsidies, from the taint of which ~ ~
is believed that 10 depal tment is q,
zee. Some of these are notorious; th
thers are but imperfectiy understood; az
ith regard to others, suspicious may Sc
e wholly unfounded; b,.t there is un- "
material enough among 81
4em al to keep number Of i'll lt'
committees busy for two Ca Ca
three years. We hope that the g.
opniar branch of the next Congress II
Ill address itself to this work without til
ar or f.vor. If it shrinks from the tr' tr'
sk, it will belle one Of the most SOL os
Nh pledges upon which tie political an
aiority was chosen. There can be no tic
lorougb going economy and reform ol ot
the administration of affairs unless -,
ere is also the disposition to bring to th
5ht and punish those who have been as
lilty of Official wrong. ti'