The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1874-02-06
More Executive Responsibility.

From the New York Graphic.
There is growing want of conf
dence in Congress on the part of
the country. 1t shows itself in
a variety of ways. The papers
of all sections and of all parties
are full of criticisms upon that
body. They complain that it wastes
so much time in mere talk; that it
shows so little comprehension of or
regard for the real wants of the ma
ton at large; that it is devoted to
private interests and petty local
schemes; that its debates are un-
worthy the dignity of the National
Legislature. The Credit Mobilier
scandals, the jobbery, the white
washing Investigations, and the sal
ary grab of the last Congress have
had the effect of throwing discredit
upon the body itself, and of making
the people everywhere suspicious of
its proceedings. Its recent protract-
ed debate over the unimportant sal
ary question and its incompetent and
shuffling treatment of the great fl
nancial problem show such total
insensibllity to the real sentiments
and expressed demands of the coun-
try that people look with manifest
anxiety upon its acts.
Of late years people have come to
look upon Congress as the Govern
ment itself, rather than one of the
coordinate branches of the Govern
ment. The protracted contest be-
tween that body and Andrew John
son gave it preponderating infu
ence, evidently not intended by the
founders of the Republic. 1t has
practically assumed to be the Gov
ernment of the country, and has
shown manifest disregard for the
other branches but an equal inabili-
ty to discharge its great functions.
When the Secretary of the Treasu-
ry makes his report and urges i'm
mediate action to meet present
wants, it pushes the paper aside as
though it were of no sort Of conse-
quence, and debates a hundred and
one questions which, from national
point of view, seem utterly puerile.
Two thousand bills have already
been introduced into Congress at the
present session, and most of them
are of an unimportant character
Private interests and claims are up
permost, and a majority of members
who were elected to promote local
and special interests are engaged in
the interesting occupation of log
rolling. There are scarcely dozen
frst-class statesmen in either House
men who have a national reputa-
ton and character for broad views
of national policy and devotion to
the interest and welfare of the
whole country. The majority are
shrewed lawyers, crafty and ambi-
tious political managers, facile and
ready talkers-men devoted to spe-
cial interests and versed in the arts
of the caucus and the courtroom
But it is not so much the intellectual
deterioration as the the lowered
morale of Congress that is at the
bottom of its loss of prestige and in
f1uence. Many of its members are
openly charged with scandals and
peculations and briberies, which
they have found it inconvenient to
disprove, while the general temper
and tone of the body are unworthy.
1t is not want of intelligence and
knowledge, but the moral principle
that uses ability and information
for great public ends, that has drop
ped the National Legislature in the
public estimation-the utter selfish
ness, the partisanship, the petty
trading propensities which degrade
intellect into an instrument of base
ness. There is mind enough in the
Capital, but it is mind saturated
with. selfshness, and devoted to pri-
vate interest and personal aggran-
ment, and on the make. The pres
ent member is no longer respected
because of his Office. 1t gives him
no honor. 1t rather subjects him