The Portland daily press., 1876-08-22
NEW YORK Aug. 10, 1876.

NEW YORK Aug. 10, 1876.
Congress has done one thing it deserves
credit for. 1t has adjourned. That is the
most creditable action it has taken during its
eight months session.
As to the House it preserved its consistency
to the last. 1t began with buncombe and
ended in buncombe. The whole scope, aim,
purpose and determination of the leaders of
the majority and their followers were to benefit
the Democratic party. The interests of the
people at large seem not to have been coDsid-
cred at ALL The business in hand was not leg
islation but Investigations party seeking
power trying to pick up materials for indicting
the party in possession of power. Naturally
enough the practices pursued by inquisitors of
such character were liable to scrutiny and
criticism. They could hardly escape suspicion
of partiality and unfairness however circum-
specify they conducted themselves. And yet
they had so little regard for appearances that
they prosecuted their explorations with reck-
less Indifference to the rules of equity. Wit
nesses were nterrogated in the absence and
without the knowledge of the parties they ac-
cused. The worst features of the star chamber
characterized their extraordinary performances
The weakest kind of tittle-tattle was not
merely received as testimony with owl-like
gravity, but actually sought after with eager
ness and avidity, A new order of politicians
was estabshed-scandal mongers-and In
illustration of the unerring law that supply
follows hard upon demand, perfect swarm Of
unprincpled fabulists appeared at the capital,
ready to swear TO anything that would serve
the purpose OF their patrons. A good many of
these Shameless aGventurers made stipulations
before they came as to the compensation they
were to get, SO as to be sure they would make
good thing of it. They did perhaps the best
they could to give satisfaction to their employ
ers, but it is hard work to manufacture stories
that are of such ingenious construction that
they will not break down at some point For
that reason it was not long before the sensa-
toual tales of these creatures fell into hopeless
discredit. In fact the entire bu |iness of inves-
tigation grew tedious and offensive, rot be-
cause there was the slightest disinclinaton
among Republicans to probe affairs to the very
quick, but because the thing was being done in
utter defiance of judicial propriety or any indi-
cation of desire to get at the truth.
The search was destined to failure from the
| bCSiuuiuS IL WhdtONcA ePhss ~ miRut udf6
been prosecuted. There were literally no
abuses to discover. The administration of
Gen. Grant has exceeded any preceding one
of this generation in the strctness and recti-
tude with which the public trusts confded to
it have been executed. The revenues have
been more faithfully collected and more ,pru-
dence used than ever before. The standard of
accountability has been higher and more rigor-
Gus. If any candid person doubts this assevera-
tion he can easily satisfy himself of its perfect
accuracy by examining the records. The facts
are all ascertalnable from the archives of the
government. Contrary declarations are made to
be sure with great volubility and with prodigi-
GUS frequency. But they are the mere vapor-
ings of partisan malignity, though they some
times derive adventitious credibility IN conse-
quence of being repeated by ignorant dupes
who have been imposed upon by them.
In nine cases out of ten however, the orators
and newsmongers who impute malfeasance or
corruption to the party in power do so with
the full knowledge that all such accusations
are false. They excuse themselves for such
violations of morality and decency by quoting
the effete maxim ''alps fair IN politics." The
There is no apology for them and if it were
only for the sake of putting The seal OF reproba-
ton upon campaign of SANDER. patriotic men
ought to pray for the annihilating defeat of an
opposition which resorts to expedients so base
and ignoble.
The repeal so far as the House could effect it
of the Resumption Act, was piece of trans
parent demsgogism. 1t was assented to by
men who were ashamed of it-who regarded it
as a breach of the public faith-but who had
not frmness enough to Withstand the teDpta-
tion to subserve the apparent interests Of party
by revocation of the nations pledge to its
creditors ....,.-
1t is very unfortunate that the Democrats are
in such strait that they canno. acknowledge
the real issues which divide the two parties. 1t
would not sound well at all for them to in
scribe ''Soft money and Sectionaism" on their
banners. And besides that it would be an in :
convenience, for they are only for soft money in
Indiana and the northwest and only for Sec
onaism in the South. At the East they pre-
tend as stouty as they can that they are for
maintaining the national faith, and throughout
the North they affect acquiescence in the
amended constitution. South of Mason and
Dlxon's line they stand by the fifteenth amend
ment but oppose its enforcement. They ac-
commodate themselves with facility that
knows neither pride of opinion nor mapliness of
character to every latitude into which they
drift. In this condition Of affairs they cannot
make much headway on their own merits, so
they must perforce abuse the enemy. Heace,
the noisy imputation of corruption; hence the
blatant clamor for reform" Out of this exi-
gency has sprung that wild and demoniac
sereecb which fills the air with din enough to
make sober men wonder whether majority Of
their fellow beings have not actually gone
mad
Amid this tornado of vituperation and revi-
lings 1t was not to be expected that sense of
decorum would restrain the tongue Of sander
from wagging against the Chief Magistrate of
the Republic. 1 heard it remarked not long
ago by an intelligent student of history that
the four Presidents who had In turn received
the coarsest, foulest abuse were Washington,
Jefferson, jackson and Grant. 1t will seem
Just as incredible ten years hence in respect to
all four of them as it does now in respect to the
first three.
But turning from the clap trap OF the stump
and the drivel of the pothouse, to the sober
realities of history, no unprejudiced observer
will dissent from the proposition that the Pres
dent has borne himself with rare dignity and