American citizen., 1874-01-31
Facing q Funeral.

1t is evident that the majority in both
Houses of Congress Ftel that the life ten
ure of the party IS short, and that its dis
solution may be FASTENED by a single mis-
take They are terribly afraid of
funeral, and will do nothing 10 hasten the
event until quite sure of what is to be-
come of its effects. This state of mind is
peculiarly embarrassing. 1t Micawber-
lies everyb body. The members look six
ways for Sunday, and devoutly wish that
something would turn up. They are a
thousand times more interested in seeing
what the papers say of them than III what
they are saying, and listen TO the echoes
from the country with a thousand times
more interest than the speeches made by
each other. In fact, they have resolved
themselves into a party of observation to
watch the doings of the people, who are
just now deliberating in Committee OF
the Whole on the State of the Union.
Paralysis is a premonitory symptom.
When public body chosen To act on
matters of the utmost importance is smit-
ten with do-nothingism, and afraid Of
noises, and unwilling to move its hand
lest chaos shall come, it is pretty certain
that something is in the air.
Congress is in just this plight. 1t has
been in session more than a month, and
has done nothing 1t shows no intention
OI QOlug IL lOuuu UuslutSS
of the country depressed in consequence
Of panic, which was largely the result
of its own unwisdom in creating ficti
tious currency and voting Government
aid to speculative railroad enterprises,
but has not looked fairly at the problem
yet 1t found the Treasury nearly empty,
with the expenses of the Government
largely In excess OF its income; and
though the Secretary urgently entreated
1t to make some provision to keep the ma
tons paper from going to protest, it
much less commit itself to any line of
action. 1t is in quandary, like the man
holding on to the lamp-post, who is afraid
to let go lest he should fall, and certain to
freeze if he stays where he is. 1t is afraid
to tax and afraid to borrow. II dares not
resume lest it offend the West, and dares
not initiate lest it make the East mad. 1t
meets the public demand for economy by
trying To stop public works and interdict
the use of sealing-wax in public offices,
and wastes three weeks in trying to
reduce the salaries of Members, who
have none too much pay if they
will only earn their money. The great
question of transportation which agitates
the whole country and is organizing the
people of all sections into parties, fills
them with apprehension, and they know
not whether to fOrsake the corporations
which have money or the people who
have the votes. The great works of pub
lie improvement they shrink from con-
sidering, as they dare not make an appro-
priation in the present temper of the
public mind, and it is unsafe to investi-
gate scandals and abuses lest another
Credit Mobilier shall be brought to light
The appointments made by the President
have broken the unity of the party and
threaten its dissolution, and they dare not
break with the country by supporting the
Administration or break with The Admin
istration by demanding thorough reform
and system of civil service that shall
secure honesty and efficiency and cut off
official patronage. These things all point
TO one conclusion-the party is approach
ing its end. Its days are numbered, and
the members of its househol bite their
lips and hold their breath, not exactly
knowing what to do, and afraid to hasten
the exit until it is certain who will come
into possession. And this is why they
pare their ffnger-nails and let things
drift.-Daily Graphic, January 10.