Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1874-03-16
laiIu Aennebst yournal
AUG u 3 It A.
MONDAY MORNING. March 10. 1874.
THE EFFICIENCY AND THE DUTY or
THE HOUR.


THE HOUR.
A erea. moral and political duty, an
overmastering national necessity, caused
the creation and ultimate success OF the
Republican party in gaining possession OF
the government, rescuing it from the con-
troll of those who had long administered it
with principles and purposes totally hos
tile to the views and objects Of the fathers
and early statesmen of the Republic. Hav-
ing carried the country triumphantly
through civil war of gigantic proper
tons, the patriotic men of the nation
rightly decided that the political organlza-
ton which had been chiefly instrumental
in saving the government in the terrible
wears of trial and of blood should be con-
continued in authority. as the surest
agency to secure the results which had
been achieved by the war. The great
work of reconstruction and constitutional
reform which have been wrought since the
surrender of Lees army at Appamattox
prove the correctness of the popular de-
cision.
Other duties now press on the earnest
consideration of the true Republicans OF
the Union. All wars of principles and ne
cessties, great as may be the benefits
which they achieve, have always resulted
in certain forms and manifestations of civil
decentralization, requiring the sternest pat
riotism and the sharpest pruning knife OF
the statesmen in all the avenues and de-
partments of administration. 1t needs no
argument or elaborate statement to show
the work now necessary to be performed
at once by all true friends of the county,
by all sagacious supporters Of the Republic
can organization. Administrative reform
must be granted at once, fearlessly and
without reluctance and without stint. The
indications of this popular demand and
patriotic necessity are obvious, manifold,
and cannot be mistaken nor stifled. The
awakened conscience of the nation cannot
be trifled with. The startling revelations
of the Sanborn contracts and of the over
whelming testimony before the Committee
of Ways and Means indicate the line of
action to be promptly taken by Congress,
so plainly that there can be no excuse for
the neglect to cut up the poisonous vege-
tation at the roots. Let the whole system
of notifies to the informers and officers of
the government be extinguished forever.
Better the national treasury should receive
million or two dollars less per annum than
that the civil service of the country should
be prostituted by agencies and methods
which are a stencil in the nostrils of all re-
spectacle persons. Let the officers of the
government be paid sufficient salaries, and
this should be beyond contingencies, and
should be as plainly stated as mathematics
and the English language can express it.
Outside of this all fines, fees, and forfeit
ures should be promptly paid into the
treasury of the nation.
The Republican statesmen are certainly
equal to the work which an outraged pub
lie demands at their hands. The Repub-
lican party can trample down admins
trative corruption as fearlessly as it has
exterminated treason and performed the
great work of constitutional reconstruc-
ton. 1t can expose and punish the sins
of its household as fsarlessly and success
fully as it has exposed and punished the
crimes of The Democratic party and con-
fronted and overwhelmed the armed hosts
of the slave power, of which the Dem
ocratic party was supple tool, and whose
memories and revenges the Democratic
party still keeps alive. Nothing can bet
ter vindicate the right of the Republican
party to continued supremacy than the
earnestness and vigor with which it ex
poses and filings from its association those
who have betrayed its confidence, in that
they have sacrificed the public interests and
polluted the sanctities of popular govern
ment. We believe our true men at Washing
ton understand the exigencies OF the hour
and will promptly and effectually accomp-
lish wha. the patriotic citizens of the entire
regard necessity and a duty.
Never truer than o.day-Forewarned is
10 be Forearnaed.