Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1876-06-30
4 MODEL "REFCRM' PARTY


is the question in the coming campaign.
The only hope that the Republican party
could, by any possibility, have of carrying
the Presidential election, in the present
state of the American mind, is that by
some means OF other the people may be in
duced to believe that it means Reform
in the government. It is an awkward po-
sition. The Republican party knew that
if it put up Reformer for President, its
organization was defeated before election
day-the unreformed in it's ranks are too
powerful for them. They constitute an
accretion which has grown great in the
spoils of government, and any reform
deprives them of the motive which
makes them Republicans. It is desperate
venture, but the party must conciliate
their allies, who now may be almost con-
sidered the main body, or go to pieces
The Republican Senate understands it.
Could 1t afford to drop the rotten part of
the Republican party. the Senate would
have made splendid hit, by joining hands
with the Democratic House in cutting
down the government expenditures by the
immense sum of sixty millions of dollars.
The pressure from without was in that di-
rection. But the pressure from within has
been too strong, and we are called upon to
witness the appropriation bills cut down by
aDemocratic House, but insisted on in their
original extravaganza by Republican SEN
ate. They champion extravaganza, and talk
&hreateningly about stopping the wheels
of government if the House does not re-
cede from its retfenchments in behalf of
economical and honest government The
House has cut down in every department,
and the Senate insists on the old spend
thrift style. The situation was brought
wildly to light in the Senate, SATURDAY.,
when a Democratic Senator read the fol
lowing extract from speech:
siSir, retrenchment and reform are now
1'inatters Of imperative necessity. 1t is
4'not the mere cry of demagogues, but a
'4problem demanding the attention and
"worthy the highest ability of the repre-
1'sentatives of the people. No party is fiji
"to govern this country which cannot
4ssolve it. It is in vain to look to ex Gu
f'tive officers for reform. Their power and
4'infuence depend upon executive patron
sage, and while we grant they will squan-
A'der The Senate is neither by the theory
ssof our system nor by its composition, fit
'sted for the task. This House alone has
''the constitutional power to- perfect IA raj
t'ical reform. The Constitution provides
NShat mo money shall be Drawn from the
treasury but in consequence Of appropria
"tions made by law" and that "all bills
fffor raising revenue shall originate in the
1'House Of Representatives. These pro-
'visions were designed to invest in this
'House the entire control over the public
e'purse, the power of supply. This IS in
''vested in the House of Commons, and
1'has been jealousy guarded by it. 1t is
4'the pearl beyond price, without which
constitutional liberty in England would
@Iong since have fallen under the despot-
"ism of the Crown. Instead of repre-
sentative Republic, we are degenerating
E'into bureaucracy, governed by red tape
ssand subaltern clerks. While the powers
''of the House are invaded, the Executive
''takes care to extend by construction his
t'iust powers. Of this we have an exam.
S'ple in the Utah war.
The language was ridiculed by the Re.
publican Senators, but it was announced
to their confusion that it was an extract
from speech delivered by John Sherman,
of OHIO, (now leading Senator of that
side,) in the House eighteen years ago,
when he was in the House, and when, Mr..
Buchanan being President, Mr. Sherman
was urging the reduction of the appropria-
ton bills.
But this sort Of thing will weigh no.
thing. The Senate of the United States
is the last remaining representative body
of Republican politics. 1t represents that
party, and it knows that the next Pfesi-
dental race cannot be run except with
the old flag flying inscribed with extraya-
gance in government. 1t is right. When
the Republican ship goes down next fall,
the flag that sinks under the waves that
November evening, will have the same in
scription it has borne for fifteen years.