Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1874-11-18
Future Policy


Under the above heading we find in
a leading New England Democratic
paper, most excellent article, of
which, we are only able to give the
three concluding paragraphs, as fol-
lows -
The Democratic majority in Con-
gress is not to be, in poor partisan
phrase, on its trial for the next two
years, bat at hard and honest service
for the country. fit cannot perfect
benefcent Legislation by reason of Ad-
ministration obstruction in the Senate
or the Executive Office, it can at least
inaugurate it and place the RESPONSE
bility of its illustration where it justly
belongs. On that issue it can well
afford to make 4 second appeal to the
country IN 1876. Associated with
measures looking to relief must be in
vestigations into abuses which are
and long have been fatal hindrances
to that relief. II will be far from
necessary to pursue such inquisitions
in spirit party resentment, and it
assuredly wonld overreach the intent
of those ordering them if they dis
closed a prosecuting temper, more
than one which simply meant to lay
the past open to the view of the
people.
A clear and concise comprehension
of the causes which brought down
this avalanche of defeat on the heads
Of an offending political party is quite
sufficient to indicate the course which
is to be pursued by those to whose
hands the transfer of power has been
made. 1t was a thoroughly bad sys-
tenn that has been rebuked, and it is
of course to be supplanted with a
thoroughly good and acceptable one.
And it will be worse for the Senate
and President if they separately or
jointly presume to thwart what is too
obviously the expressed will Of the
people. TO cooperate in reform leg
isla.ion may not prevent their ultimate
party defeat, but to resist it will de-
servedly bring permanent public dis
grace. The policy of the future is to
take its inspiration from the meaning
of the elections and that lies on the
surface The people certainly intend
to get rid of the profigacy and licenti-
BUSINESS which for years have been
identified with the administration Of
public affairs, and to save and restore
in all their purity free republican in
situations. They became convinced
that these were in jeopardy, and they
sprang to their rescue again, as they
did in 1861. They found that legis
lation was habitually prostituted to
plundering and robbery, and was
wholly in the hands of venal, rapa-
cious and base men who skulked be-
hind a once honorable party name
and they resolved to tear away the
mask, to send home faithless and
fraudulent servants, to stop this pri-
vate enrichment from money wrung
by heavy taxation, and to bring back
honesty, dignity and elevated senti-
ment to the discharge of public duty.
Here is quite enough material out of
which to frame and compact policy
such ..as the people demand in this
emergency. 1t is useless to recount
delinquencies when so much is to be
done in order to recover from their
effects. In the popular verdict Of con-
demnation a guilty party will find all
the punishment it can suffer, in free
government, which need not be pursu-
ed to the extent of visiting it upon
public servants individually. The
new responsibility that is already free
ly acknowledged as the lot of the
House majority is ample evidence Of
a thorough change in the character
of that body.