Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1876-10-04

Country. Let us show to those now IN
power, our firm convictions OF the ne
cessity of a return to an honest and
constitutional administration Of the |
government by our independent exer-
else of suffrage. For this we fought
in the battles of the Union. The
preservation of that Union was a duty
paramount to all others, but the un-
trammeled exercise of the citizens
right of suffrage is not secondary to
ii. We should not permit any con
sideration Of political advantage or
pa tisan associations to mislead us
from the duty which We owe to the
present exigcncy as we'll as to the tu-
ture welfare of the whole country. Let
us show by our voices and votes that
we are still 100000 strong, after all
our losses, in support of the Constit"-
ton we defend, and for a return to
honest government in the interests OF
the whole people.
The most encouraging sign OF Re-
| form is to be found in the recent
change and overthrow of portion OF
that combination of ofliceholders, a'
Washington, whose hold upon power
has seemed to defy all attempts at re-
sistance or opposition. AT least four
departments have bsen uplurned, the
most serious irregularities brought
to light by the public demand for re-
form. and their derelict secretaries
driven forth.
The successful Investigations by the
Democratic Committees of Congress,
to which the Administration was
forced at last to succumb, indicates
with certainty the commencement OF
moral revolution in politics that Is
TO be confined to no section and to nc
State.
Will you not join heartily in that
imperative demand for honest govern
ment that is being re.echoed from al
the land =!
Each soldier must have observed
with what flourish and parade ha:
been advertised from year to year, by
the Radical Congress, an avowed de
termination to pass an act to equalIz'
, the bounties of the government 20 The
, Union soldiers and sailors of the late
war. Such bills were presented ii
plentiful numbers, but not to b'
passed. 1t remained for the Demo
cratic majority of the Military Com
mittee of the present House OF Repre-
spnta,ives to report and pass a just
equitable and efficient bill to accomp
lish that end. The committee de-
clared that "the government in respec
of these bounties, is a debator ant
while she may fairly examine into th'
Justice of PARTICULAR cases, yet dut.
4. and good faith require her to pa.
them. The government is better aoI
, to pay these just demands, than thos'
entitled thereto are to lie out OF them.
This bill provided the equal bount,
of 1888 per month to every soldle
of the Union army for the whole tim
he served in the war. 1t was passe'
y by the Democrats OF the House, atte
. due consideration was transmnte
:. to the Senate. and was for thre
, months before that Republican bod
- to be neglected, denied consideration
and, to all lntents and purposes OF tn
Senate, was defeated in the House
its pretended friends! This is 4 spec
. linen leaf from the Record of the Sc
, sion of Congress just closed and
further evidence of the insincerity
g the Radical party IN Congress, in i
. professions of regard for the interest
of the volunteers and defender, %. ii
nation, and notwithstanding the nj
frmative voice of the Democrats
=. the House, the Republicans perslsten
" objected to, and used the availab
= power of minority against the COZ
:, sideration and passage OF the Just an
~ long deserved Back Pension Bill, t'
the relief of the wounded and di
=. allied soldiers and sailors. This b
h was reported in due time, and wi
g. urged upon the House, and failed on
-. for want of ,wo-thirds in the ma orit
10 the Republicans voting against a su
pension of the rules to consider 1t.
ia The Democratic House OF Ike
il resentatives has goue further in ii
~ proving the pension laws for the rell
m of the disabled Hitherto soldle
ee who had lost limbs were pensloned
ur S24 monthly. At the last session
", was provided that the peusloner shou