National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1874-01-09


party with spirit Of bitterness and aspesisy
worthy of . better cause. tNotwithstanding
the wonderful achievements Of this party OF
progress, including the suppression Of gigan-
tic rebellion, the construction Of Pacific rail-
road, the maintenance Of the public crecit, the
reduction Of customs duties and Of direct taxa
ton as well AZ Of the public debt, and gene
raj stateof prosperity unexamplsd inthe former
history ofthe country, with sound national cur
rency equally available in all sections OF the
country, there are still many old Democrats
who affect to believe that the country u Just
upon the verge. of bankruptcy and ruin. From
inent among these stands Senator Bayard, OF
tho gallant little State of Delaware, whom that
staunch Republican journal, the Wilmington
Commercial, graphically limns in the following
sketch. The portrait will stand equally wen
for many Of his fellows, and 1t Il commended
to their consideration. The Baltimore Su"
may sec in 1t . fair likeness to some OF the
Senatorial aspirants in the State Of Maryland
il IL will examine it without prejudice:
"There are enough worse men than Mr.. Bay
ard, and We neither need nor deeirs to detract
from characteristics which no may posses snti-
Ting him to respect, but he u the Incarnation OF
reactionary theories and arstocratic belieb when
We nave ever opposed and will ever continue 10
oppose. He Is the precise antipodes Of the party
name which ho bears, and few arc by birth, edu-
cation, association, or political career more
strongly antagonissd to real Democraey-squai
rights and equal citisenship-than no ID. Mr..
Bayard comes from the State rights, pro-slavery
school, and he saw with regret the Adjustment
OF the slave system, the complete overthrow Of
the political power Of the South, and the eniran-
chisement Of the colorsd citizens. All these were
steps toward truly Democratic republic,
but they were steps In . direction con-
trary to tie theories and feelings Of Senator Bay
ard. He would prefer, II It were feasible, to re-
trace them, and though he no doubt regards such
. course Is having now become impossible, he
would still administer the Government, and shape
its Legislation. in such manner - to approach as
nearly as possible the condition Of affairs that ex
listed under Buchanan, Davis, Toombs and James
A. Bayard We say We have no sympathy WIKI
such political ideas and plans. We cannot agree
with public man who holds to them. We prefer
Democratic doctrines, and . real Democrat to
represent them. Mr.. Bayard ID . At Senator Of
his party in Delaware, but We believe In . reform
which shall Improve on both."i
HON. ALEX. II. STEPHENS, who has been
severely criticised by some Southern papers for
his speech and vote on the salary bill, has
written letter, in which he says:
$50 far as I am individually concerned, I
care very little about the figure at which the
pay may he lxed. While I am here can live
upon as little As any other member or Senator.
All that received as . member of Congress
during my sixteen years. service was spent in
Washington or in the discharge Of my public
duties at home, so far as related to procuring
and sending useful Information to the people
generally, As well as responding to special de-
mands on my attention by individuals from all
parts of the country. My private estate was
not increased dime during that whole period
from Government pay, nor did I ever make or
receive, directly or indirectly, . dime for any
services rendered my constituents or others in
securing pensions, bounty lands, or the pay
ment of claims of any sort from any of the
public Departments, or for any other thing
said or done by me in Washington during that
sixteen years of service.
"While am here, in the future as In the past,
consider myself the public servant of the peo-
pie, and shall be contented with whatever pay
may be legally allowed me, and shall not cou-
slider It either dishonorable or dishonest to re-
cetve whatever amount, high or low, that may
be 30 allowed.
SIN the money view, however, on the figures
fixed by the last Congress, after expenses
here, could not possibly realize from tho
Government pay half what made annually in
the last four years from the use of my pen
alone, diseased and crippled, and confined as
was at my home. So all will, doubtless, readily
perceive that I have not been governed by any
mercenary motives in accepting my present
position, even on the idea of my having a.
sumed It's duties for stipulated consideration"
The New York Tribune Is Mortified to think
the Government should pay the employees Of
importing merchants for exposing the frauds
which their employers perpetrate upon the
public revenues. It characterizes such con-
duct as very dirty work on the part of the
Government engaged in It. What is the Gov
eminent, pray, but the collective industry of
the nationi What Is fraud upon the revenue
but theft from the hard earnings of the
peoplea II the Tribxns could learn from one
of its employees that another one was steal
ing from its funds, would It not reward the
honest one for his fidelity! The importers
clerk is one Of the people and q taxpayer.
In defraudiny the Government his employers
defraud him in common with all other tax
payers. This money withheld from the Treas
ury enriches the felonious importer at the
expense OF the honest merchant by way of in
creased profits upon his goods. Just in the