The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1875-01-07
The Duty of the Next Congress.

The following views in regard to the duty of
the next Congress to expose thoroughly the
corruptions of the Federal Government are so
sensible that we transfer them to our columns
with cordial endorsement. They are taken
from that sterling sheet, the New York Jour-
nal of Commerce. 1t says:
Upon the next Congress will devolve the
high moral duty of making thorough inves-
tieation of public affairs. 1t is the duty of
every man entering upon public trust to e3-
anime searchingly into the conduct of his
predecessors in Office, in order to avoid their
errors and profit by their mistakes. This he
owes to himself and to the people who have
clothed him with authority. In cases where
frauds have been committed, it is obligatory
I'upon those who come after the thieves or swim
diers to expose their wrong doings and, if pos
sible, bring them to justice Investigation IS
one Of the incidental objects of political rev.
olution; and if it is neglected by the party
about to come into power, an important lesson
of the late elections will be lost to the people:
The Republican party have held the national
offices now for fourteen years, and their arrears
of msdeeds must, in the nature OF things. pc
very large No party having such an uncheck-
ed license can keep possession tor that length
of time without making up for itself long
record of extravaganza and fraud, to be dis
closed upon due examination of its affairs
The Congresses for years past being in sympa-
thy with the administration and its appointees
/ have, with few exceptions, satisfied inquiries
into the transaction of public business; or if
those inquiries have been ordered, have adopt
ed white washing reports A majority OF the
recent Congresses have constituted ring TOR
mutual concealment and protection, and 1T has
been impossible for the opposition to fathom
the secrets of their waves.
It remained for the last and present Con-
crosses to take the alarm from the public dis
Quiet and to investigate two of the most noto-
rious abuses of the times-the Credit Mobilier
operations and the moiety swindes. The re-
ports rendered upon these subjects were tar
from satisfactory, but they did have the effect
of bringing political railroad rings into disre-
pute, and Of causing the passage OF a law less
outrageous and oppressive upon importers.
! These are good deeds, the credit of which
should not be denied to Republican Congress
But while they were so bold and open in search
ing out two classes of frauds, they allowed
plenty of others to pass unnotced. There arc
frauds connected with land sales, with army
contracts, with subsidies, from tho taint of
| which it is believed that no department is free
Some of these are notorious; others are but
imperfectly understood with regard to others,
suspicious may be wholly unfounded; but there
is uinquestionably material enough among them
all to keep a number of investigating co commit
tees busy for two or three years. We hope
that the popular branch of the next Congress
will address itself to this work without fear or
favor. If it shrinks from the task, it will belle
one of the most solemn pledges upon which
the political majority was chosen. There can
be no thoroughgoing economy and reform in
the administration of affairs unless there is
also the disposition to bring to light and pun.
ish those who have been guilty of official
wrong.