The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1874-01-03
Political Note..

A DEMoRALIzED CoNGREss.-Under
this caption, the Boston Adrcrtiscr, Re.
publican, thus warns its party What the
nation regards and will henceforth regard
more seriously than ever before, is not the
loss of few hundred thousand dollars,
more or less, but the loss of dignity, not
the extravaganza, but the debasement Of
public morals No tax could be so oppres-
siye or discounging as these repeated evil
dences of Generalization in high places,
They poison the fountains Of virtue all over
the land. And in this direction General
Butler, twice repudiated by Massachusetts,,
Is fit leader. Gentlemen Representa-
tives, Republicans or Democrats, who fol-
low such leading, you may well believe the
people are not blind Do what you may,
the principles involved in this salary bust
ness will be among the issues on which the
country will pass judgment. ourattempts
to whistle them down the wind will not
avail. That part of the Republican party
which assists or countenances such attempts
will be defeated Neither presidents nor
cabinets, nor prestige nor patriotism, nor
the cant of demogogues can save it, The
moment it is clear that corrupt aud
corrupting influences have procured con
troll Of the Republican party and cannot be
shaken of, there will be a new birth in
politics. The forwardness of preparation
among the people for such contingency
Is much greater than is commonly sup
posed. The events in Washington since
Congress assembled have not tended to
quiet apprehensions that the Republican
organization is drifting to the bad. No
department of the public service is in
satisfactory condition, and, worst of all,
there seems to be an indisposition to work
a reformation, There is everywhere in
difference to the suggestions of wisdom
and common sense. When an admins
tration ceases to trust the men whom the
people trust, reserying its honorable re-
wards for subseryient incapacity, the coun-
try will prepare for change, and there is
no help for it.
The New York Sun is still keeping
sharp eye on Washington. 1t is doing
what none of the local papers, either
through fear or favor, will do, The city
Of Washington is in the hands of perhaps
as INSCRIPTIONS band of men as can be
found to-day in the United States. But
the Sun goes farther than municipal al
fairs, and latterly has given some facts
worthy Of attention concerning the enor-
nous waste in the public printing. From
cost of about $3.50, 900 the outlay for
printing has increased to s2,OOO,OOO.
Masses of the veriest trash, published by
order Of the different departments, 90 into
the waste basket. Nor has the abolition
Of the franking privilege abated this vast
quantity Of material, as it was expected it
would. The printing proceeds as wildly
as ever. The result is that there is no
outlet for these documents. Members
cannot frank them, and will not pay their
postage. Many are economical, and sell
them. The finest illustrated works issued
by the Government are on sale in New
York at absurd prices Booksellers at
Washington also drive a heavy trade in
the best Of these publications They keep
store-rooms filled with them, bought from
members Of Congress at merely nominal
prices. The grocers and butter dealers at
the Capital are supplied with unlimited
stocks Of the fine and costly writing paper
used for bills and resolutions, purchased
on their own terms. Much of the waste
matter is sold by weight and made over
iuto paper. Upon the whole, about two
thirds of the Government printing is dis
posed Of in the above fashion. baltimore
Gazette.
The adoption of the new constitution
makes it necessary for Philadelphia to
hold an election on the third. Tuesday in
February, for Mayor, Members of Council
and other officers.
In the Illinois Farmers Association two
resolutions were introduced looking to the
formation of new political party.