National Republican., 1876-08-30
Is 1T WISE ECONOMYf

The action of the late House of Repre-
sentatives in its wholesale reduction Of the
clerical force in the different executive de-
partments in this city, against the earnest
protests of the officials in charge, cannot be
too severely condemned. The business of
nearly every division and every bureau is
many months in arrears, and every desk is
crowded with work. Thousands upon
thousands of claimants in every section of
the country have been waiting year after
year the slow process of settlement; bonds
men are still held accountable for the acts
of public servants during the late war who
should have long since been discharged of
their obligations, and soldiers are yet urg
ing the adjustment of their claims for pen
sions and bountIes which q grateful people
had promised them. 1t is useless to carry
the illustration further. Persons of com
mon reasoning cannot fail to see the un-
fortunate effects which must attend this
last attempt of the ex-Confederates to ham
per and impair the machinery of the Gov
eminent
Either legislation of this character was
accomplished through ignorance Of the
wants of the clerical service on the part of
members or from willful design. The as
tuteness and cunning of the gentleman,
the chairman of the Committee of Appro-
priations having the measure in charge
precludes him from making any such ex-
cuse. He had every opportunity Of becom-
ing thoroughly informed of the true con-
dition of affairs, and the presumption is
that he did, and that the course he pursued
in the interests of false economy was taken
with the full knowledge of the facts. He,
as the representative of the Democratic
party, must be held strictly accountable
for the hardship which will be forced upon
the people, and the irreparable injury
which will result to the Government.
But, however serious the character Of this
partisan demagoguery, it only partially
shows what will surely follow the triumph
of the Democratic party under the leader
ship of Tilden, and of their assuming con-
troll of our national affairs. 1t points, as
certainly as the magnetic needle to its pole,
to as narrow and perverted reign ofstates-
manship as ever characterized the feudal
history of England. Party purposes will
be served to the utmost, fsvoritism will
run rampant and Republicans of whatever
shade or degree will be ostracised from
every station of trust or emolument.
Claims OF Union men will be evaded or
disallowed, and the Government will be
turned over to the mercies of the traitors
of the South and their allies of the North.
Such picture is not a welcome one to the
gallant men who have just returned from
the victorious field of battle, nor to the
ehildless father, widow or orphan, who
gave up their dear ones to preserve the
Union and make treason odious forever
There is another phase of this subject it is
well to refer to. The original purpose of
the Confederate House was to effect q re-
duction gilmore than fifteen hundred in the
clerical force, but through the persistent
opposition ofthe Senate this worst calamity
was averted, and q compromise was ef-
fected on seven hundred and sixty five,
which is about the number to be dropped
from the rolls. When the Democrats OBJ
tanned control of the Lower House of Con-
gress they indicated very plainly the course
they intended to pursue wherever they
gained a foothold. Then Republicans
were removed without mercy, and rebe
Democrats were selected for their places.
Most Of the victims were soldiers who had
served with distinction in the Union army
But to the Confederate brigadiers the
wounds that they bore were brand of in
fanny and stencil in their delicate nostrils.
So they were sent sdrift, and but for our
soldier President they would to-day be
suffering for bread.
In every Democratic State or city where
they have control it is their inexorable
motto, "to the victor belongs the spoils,"
and it is as singularly adhered to as their
faith in 'Old Hickory" himself. Now that
they have compelled a reduction of the
clerical force on Republican administra-
ton, there is not even 8 plausible reason,
other things being equal, why Republicans
should be dismissed or compelled TO resign
and Democrats allowed to remain. 1t is
not the policy to pursue to strengthen the
party hold upon the affections of the peo-
pie, and it cannot win. The time for recon
ciliation has passed. The ranks should
close up, and we must fight the enemy
with his own tactics.