Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1876-07-26

ing but jobbery and corruption? Have
not Republican Congressmeu, from
their leaders uown to the tail end of
the list, repeatedly prostituted their
offices and their talents and opportun-
tiles, to selfish ends Let us see. In
the first place, by their professions
pending election, we were to have
to put it briefly-no end Of reforms in
the Civil Service, no end of retrench-
ment in public expenditures, no end
of economy in the Administration Of
the Government while our public
debt was to be wiped out in twink
ling, as it were, and prosperity, hap
piness and thrift were to be ensured
by the election of the Republican tick
ct. And then, again, Gen. Grant,
who, it was declared, possessed rare
good judgement and sagacity for Sc
lecting men peculiarly fitted for vari-
ous positions, would, if elected, call
around him to fill the several posts
under his Administration, only men
of greatest aptitude tor the work as
signed them. Only men ofstatesman-
like abilities, of most undoubted IN
tegrity and of highest capacities were
to be called in aid by the incoming
Administration, or entrusted with po.
sitions of responsibility.
Moral character, practical efficiency
and sterling worth, irrespective of ad-
ventitious circumstances, were loudly
heraIded as the central virtues which
were to pervade and surround the
Administration, or characterize the
Civil Service.
And how far have those promises
and protestations been carried out {?
We answer, the reforms, in every in
stance, remain to this day to be insti-
tuted, and that of the Civil Service
has long since become farce and a
by.word of ridicule and reproach
throughout Christendom. Under the
loud professions OF the honesty, purity
and efficiency which were to be made
the rigid tests OF appointments to po-
sitions of trust and responsibility,
bleach to-day the skeleton remains of
knaves, charlatons and mounte banks,
(who have been exposed and deposed,
only through the most strenuous aud
persistent efforts of the Democracy,
while men of eminent capacities and
excellence of character, who have
been chosen to places of trust, are the
extremely rare exceptions. And as to
retrenchment, economy, etc.,-why
every school boy knows that for the
past eight years the most rulnous, ex-
cessive and wanton recklessness, pro-
digality and waste have characterized
the Republican rule and the national
debt, instead of being wiped out or
greatly diminished, stands to-day in
almost its "pristlne' proportions,
while the burdened taxpayers have
paid into the treasury more than
double the National debt. Every de-
partment of the Admui t.ation has
been honey, y,combed with corruption,
jobbery and speculation, while the
spirit of wanton extravaganza and
prohigacy, made respectable during
their domination, has been manifested
in all their acts, and VIGOROUSLY so In
the squandering Of public lands, upon
the railroads in which the squanderers
were themselves pecuniarily interested
parties. Nay, the party which was
going to use such rigid discipline and
; economy, most ittingly displayed ita
real character and the sincerity ~ of
It's professions, when its Congressman
went directly to the Capitol and un
blushingly made their notorious raid
: upon the public treasury, ''going in
for back pay" and increasing their
own salaries for the future, the Pres
ident himself endorsing their villainy
by signing the bill and pocketing the
lions share Of the plunder.
Such are few of the many ignoble,
dishonest acts which have character
lied thoroughly corrupt, unscrupu-
lous and venal party. Indeed, had
we space, we might enumerate them
by the score. But the intelligent vot-
er need only have the matter suggest.
ed to his mind to be enabled to 60
through with the list for himself
And while of such character as
, we have indicated have been the acts
of omission and commission, if we
may so speak, which have made up
the record of Republcanism for those
years; what, during the same term of