The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-08-23
How the Lobby was Killed.

The Republican managers m and out of
Congress have tried by falsehood, cal
umny, exnggeration, and sneeiing, to
break the force Of the Investigations
ordered by the House OF Representatives,
and which In the man were prosecuted
with vigor and effect. If the House had
doue nothing else to insure approval aud
confidence, these exposures of appalling
corruption In the public service beginning
with the highest and running through
every department and branch of the Adj
ministTaton, would deserve the gratitude
of the American people.
Tens OF millions of dollars have been
saved as the material result of this work;
while the country is enabled to see. under
the blaze of sunlight, the operations OF an
Infamous system by which the Treasury
was robbed and for which the people were
taxed, for the profit of organized Rings
and for the perpetuation OF the Republic
can party. The revelations thus far made
barely scratch the surface. The Treasury
lie rotten from top to bottom, and II can
never be thoroughly explored, so ms to
disclose the astounding realities, until the
authors and abettors of the frauds are
swept from power, and honest men take
their places.
Perhaps the best testimony as to the
moral effect Of these Investigations is that
furnished by the parties most directly In
terested in preventing them. When SAM
WARD, the epicurean philosopher. who is
known at Washington rs the King of the
Lobby, or. MS classically described by him
self, Rer TeStibuH, was witness before
one Of the committees, he testified that
the Investigations have killed the lobby
business" He spoke the words of truth
and of soberness. In twenty years no Con-
gress has adjourned with less faint upon
1t than that which closed its first session
n week ago. Not single job was put
through. Hardly one was even proposed.
The Senate did lite best to protect the
Rings 10y standing out against all the econ
omies OF the House. WINDOW, SARGENT,
and the Appropriation Committee fought
retrenchment Mt every step. with des-
perate determination TO defeat II. They
succeeded to the extent of ten millions,
with the aid OF the President; but with all
the intrigues, combinations, and venal
appliances. they were not able to carry
one of the great schemes which had been
concocted with so much care and cum
ming.
To the credit OF the House OF Represen-
tatives be it sad, the Democratic major
ity stamped out jobbery III every foim.
aud did not allow a bill to pass upon which
suspicion might rest as fraud on tho
Treasury. Let this great fact. which OF it.
self is the best commentary on the action
of that body, and at the same time its high
est eulogum be compared with the record
Of the Republican party for the last fifteen
years, and the country will quickly decide
between them.
No perversions or bubbles or falsifica-
tions can shake this fact, which stands
out against the sky like n bold prom
outory. and marks the point Of departure
between rotten Republicanism and sound
Democracy. Taken in connection with
the reduction Of the expenditures 10 the
extent of thirty millions of dollars, the
House may well ask a vote Of confidence,
aud expect favorable Judgment from
the people.