The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1874-11-28

Tbs Approaching Session Of Congress,
The Nsu York Tribune looks loEward
% Re approaching session Of Congress
With no pleasing antieipatiops as 10 the
kind Of legislation We are likely to get at
The hands Of that body Il says uthe fact
may as wen be plainly and simply stated
that Tho present danger IS that Congress
which assemblies next month, win give US,
gpr the three months which remain of
their lease Of power, such reckless and ex-
trasagsnt legislation as even the records Of
the past twenty years can show no parallel
for The keynote for grand raid upon
the treasury has already been sounded.
We give the full text Of the 7Ilbme's arti-
Gle, that our readers may form their own
opinions Of ~ force Of its reasoning and
the logic Of its conclusions
g The Congress whied yess ,embles next
month viii Be watched with unusual interest
Under the ofsrntion Of the statutes which
provide for the sessions Of Congress, and Of
the State laws which regulate the elections Of
Representatives, i so happens that we have
in the approaching session one branch Of the
Legislature which may be said in some sense
to survive its responsibility. The successors
Of the present. Congress are, with few excep-
tons, already chosen. It is known that a
large number Of the present Representatives.
have not been returned. Not having to look
TO the people for the approval Of their acts
which is gwen or withheld in the popular
election, but having already had Judgment
pronounced upon their conduct, they are to
certain extent relieved Of responsibility
Whatever they may please to do, or to leave
undone, there IS not now any such check
upon them a. the sense Of accountability
backed By the prospect Of pending election
necessarily gives II the Representative be
honest but timid, he win be in this state Of
affairs more independent and less disposed 10
trackle to party or bend to popular caprice.
II he be demagogue and selfseeker-and
unfortunately they are not unknown in this
Congress-his temptation will be to make the
most Of his opportunities, and in the rush Of
EVERY man for himself, to lot s'ihe devil
take the hindmost." Besides the individual
politicians who are to sit the remainder Of
this Congress legislating without hope of
reward in reelection, or, as the old saw has
it, paying for dead horse It is well
enough to remember that great party which
for fourteen years has held the purse and
carried the sword, and had its own sweet viii
and way almost uncontradicted, is holding its
last session preparatory TO turning over 10 the
Opposition the power to overhaul the books,
audit the accounts, and inquire, examine
and investigate into the administration OF
these years.
From the individual members and the party
organization there is lifted off the sense OF
responsibility which attaches TO the assured
continuance of public confidence aud Of
power. or TO the doubt which attends on pend.
ing elections. The old party has had public
Judgment passed upon its acts and has been
condemned, but for three months longer it
holds the purse strings and makes the laws.
The new party with the favorable verdict Of
the people has yet not arrived at power, and
cannot be held responsible as yet for legisla-
ton. The situation is one that points out its
own dangers. A party that has been weighed
in the balance and found wanting, has to sit
out three mouths lease Of power under
notice to quit You may count up score or
two Of leading persons in the House who,
when they step down and out this time, have
little expectation Of returning ever. To them
it matters little what the people shall think or
say hereafter Of themselves or the Republican
party. The party is n squeezed orange, and
so perhaps is the country, so far as they are
concerned. Having no further use for ii, it
will be but politicians instinct to make the
most they can out Of it for the next three
months. On the other hand, the Democrats
in the present Congress have not shown great
wisdom or craftsmanship, or even patriotism.
In all the schemes Of plumber they have been
US eager and as fierce for spoils as the fore.
most Of the Administration spectators. Some
of fheDa have had notice to quit also, and so
are stripped Of care for personal consequen-
ees, while Others will reason hereafter, as
they have before, that it makes no difference
with the Democratic party what wild and
reckless legislation Congress is guilty Of, SO
long as the Republicans have the majority
and are responsible for the whole off
Possibly It may seem uncharitable to take
such view Of the situation. II may be said
that the intimation we here convey, that men
who have been trusted by the people in these
importantly positions would prostitute and abuse
their privileges, is UNJUST We do not mean
to be either uncharitable or unjust, but only
20 look over the field and discoverif we can
the relations Of the parties to each other and
20 the country, the Inducements to each TO be
WISE, and the temptations 10 be sharp and
eager and dishonest, with the probabilities as
TO their conduct which are offered by their
records. Are we doing wrong to the char
acter of the American Congressman Read
Mr.. Buffers record Are we m;srepresent-
ing the tendencies Of the party in power?
Read the story Of the last and the present
Congress, as told, or half told, in the reports
Of investigating committees. Do we do in
justice TO the high character Of Congress
jiself1 How long ago was the Salary Grab ?
10, the fact may as well be plainly and sim
ply stated that the present danger is that the
Congress which assemblies next month will
give us, for the three months which remain Of
their lease Of power, such reckless and ex-
travagant legislation as even the records Of
the past twenty years can show no parallel
for. The keynote for grand raid upon the
Treasury has already been sounded by the
personal organ Of the President at Washing
ton, in the statement that one ofthe causes Of
the late disaster was that Congress occupied
lis tune in foolish investigations instead OF
indoraing the Presidents great schemes Of
internal Improvements, and so furnishing labor
for the unemployed. A half dozen railroad
corporations are waiting for the doors Of
Congress to open to rush III for subsidies and
grants there's hungry lobby and an ire
sponsibie party in power, with the opportnni-
" 10 divide what plumber is left before turning
over to lis successors the empty chests The
indications al are that the next three months
Of the present Congress will be marked by
recklessness and exfrasaeance. The business
Of the Opposition viii be 70 enforce discipline
il. their own nlnks and keep watch Of their
ndversaries. The people will hold this party
responsible as well for their action in this
Congress in which they are ID minority as
in the next in which they have control.
The sse Oranges Of Kent county, Nd