The Rutland weekly globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1876-02-11

be much versedin constitutional or legal
lore, we fail to see the difference In princi-
pie and until it is shown that, for the
past eighty-six years, congress has been
continually violating the constitution in
these respects, without Anyone being wise
enough to find it out, we shall hesitate to
pin our faith to these latter day commenta-
tors on the constitution.
But II is objected that this centennial ex-
hbition is private enterprise, gotten up
by private corporation, and is not, in any
sense, national affair save In name and
because "the government has, at tie request
"Qf these corpordtions"-that is of the cen
tennial commission ond the centennial
board of finance -"given out the invitation
"to this entertainment How is this ?
Turn back to the act creating the centen-
NAL commission and read as follows "As
I'tle exhibition should be a national cele6ra-
ton, m mhich the people Of the ohoIe
" country should participate, il should haze
"he sanction Of the congress Of the United
States therefore, BE it enacted" ETC., etc.
Relative to invitation business, and as
showing the propriety of an appropriation,
we will let Colonel Joyce at West Rutland,
June 20, 1875, answer Colonel Joyce in the
national house of representatives January
25, 1876, as follows:
"Another appeal was made to congress
at the session of 1878 and 1874, and an
effort made to obtain an appropriation of
three millions of dollars, which failed.
What is passing strange is that, alter all
this, congress passed an act requesting the
president to extend in the name of the
United States respectful and cordial in
vltatiOn to the governments of other ma
tons to be represented and take part in the
international exhibition. 1t is
slightly paradoxical, to say the least, to in
vite all nationas Of the earth to come to the
exhibition, and then sit down and refuse
t. assume any share in the responsibility
or to bear any portion of the expense, as
the fame and glory of the exhibition are to
inure to our own benefit. Its benefits and
advantages cannot be overestmated."
Comment would be superfluous.
We have already said more than we in
tended to, but must be pardoned for one
more reference to the argument. We
agree with Colonel Joyce, in the main, in
what he says relative to the hypocritical
pretenses of retrenchment and reform on
the part of the democracy, but we must be
permitted to say that his reference, in part
at least. was particularly unfortunate.
Without referring to the palpable fact that
this onprnnriati of opH a half mil
lions of dollars will not add one cent to the
load of taxes, state, town and village
and we may add, naional-"which is
grinding the people down to the very
earth, about which he speaks, or TO the
fact that we fail to find the name of
Colonel Joyce or any other republican, re-
corded as opposing, either by voice or
vote, an adjournment over the holidays {;
we have only to say that he, or the country,
cannot hold the democracy responsible for
this centennial appropriation. Unfortu-
nately, there was not patriotism enough in
the party for this purpose. Nearly two
thirds of the democracy in the house re-
corded themselves in favor of "such re-
trenchment and against this appropria-
tion"-and only nineteen republicans
could be found to vote with them, among
whom, we regret to say it, were Charles II.
Joyce and George w. Hendee of Vermont
Blame not the democratic majority for the
success of the measure, but, the rather,
give the credit of it to the eighty-six re-
publicans-all save nineteen-and small
democratic minority.