Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1874-01-30
Communications.
The New Gag Law---PiIfercrs Gcttln,
frightened.


For a good and benign purpose, in rav.,
OF principle against the hcadlong tram a.
majorities. our Congress has hitherto bee.
governed by a certain rule since the iona.
datiou Of the government. This rule Or,
abled weak and ovcrborne minority
compel needless men, or designing rogDs.
to record their names on some qne,to,.
where they might wish 10 have them en-,
cealed and never revealed.
But this rule has now been changed anil
as might be suspected, the leading adv.
cate Of the back pay grab, and attorneys
the Credit Mobiier swindle, General Bp.
Ter, has been among the foremost in cham,
ing it. Tue vote TO upset this time.hyn.,.
ed institution, which is as sacred, aln,.,
as the constitution ITSELF lying at the yory
foundation Of justice, stood l2i for Il. I5
against II. And thus, in the crowd Of,
majority, the sly Congressman NAV ple.
and hope to escape for a long time will
impunity, until he may have secured far.
tune. The House has thus intrencbedf
SELF against reform, and is better preparsI
lUtDUAgUlpuf D.
vestigations into Credit MobiIier and all
other kinds of swndles. The voice of ,l..
minority is hushed the good and tru.
man Of Congress is gagged and ofic5
accountability for wrong-doing in Ii.
House may be Frustrated by the spirit t.a
abimates mob.
And this measure, 50 Tepugnant to ia
spirit of careful regard for individual ri,.,
aud opinions which has formerly govern
the politics of Vermont, has been pa,s'
by that party which calls itself republic
All the democrats, together with - rep
licans only, voted against it, Thus. .
democracy itself, has been out-dem1c5
tised by the republican party. That PAM
which has Frustrated slavery in flyo.
| human liberty, made drunk with powa
is now insanely outraging the moral ser.
of tue community, throwing down O..
safeguards Of our rights and priyile..
Morals, and manners, and a decent resra
for humanity itself, all must become plr
| trated if this spirit of innovation is ag-.
ed to proceed. If ever a reform was nee
| y .
American society now.
Is the republican party worth sayi1.
Can it be reformed Shall the old ui
chinery hy which it was formerly run
restored TO II These are pertinent que,
tons; aaI they will require some,h.-.
more than crank turning and ax-grinii-.
tor an answer. 1t is a wearisome thing
a people to turn back from the please,
cheerful faces of their happy Leaders,
trace their Steps, and endeavor to rec3y
the good old path the fathers trod" al9.
| by themselves, especially when new lel
els may prove TO be az false guides as
old. II is easier TO continue in a WI.
course than TO correct it. So the demo-
cy thought, when it had slavery upon
hands, fault which has been found &c.
difficult TO amend; and republicans h.
long since got deep enough into an en;a
clement Of unrepublican laxities and
ficulties TO tax all the powers of the peor
to set right. 1t is time 10 inquire who ~
this State, the people, or irresponsible. g.
cret organizations For whom is the .
| eminent made-for the people, or for The
| organizations?
Even the President himself, begins
think that the party is overloaded,
/ that it is time 10 UNLOAD itself Of So
of lis superfluites. One would supp,
that the time TO have discovered tina,
was some years ago. Indeed, it is o.
ton of very great importance to the coz
try TO know why ii ever became overl1
ed, and what Congressional deega.
have done 10 prevent it. This loose praa
/ nf nj n Nv ~
one in office is held TO any responsibi
from the chief rebel down 10 the last D.
grdbber and railway swindler, but ever
body in office is praised for abolshing $.
cry, is something quite unknown to
theory Of our republican ms titutions.