Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1876-04-06
Our Washington Letter

he SOOu Work III congress
still goes bravely on. The
democrats are determined that
a complete expose OF the corr
ruptions of Radicalism shall be
made. Mr.. Yates in his speech
Thursday said, ''They would
fight it out on this line if it
takes all summer" This is the
true theory. If Congress will
fully and fairly ventilate the
rascalities of the past few years,
the people will turn from Radi-
calism with disgust, because
they will sec is but another
name for thievegy. One thing
the committee should remem-
ber, that whenever the indica-
tions are that a democrat has
been a party to any of this ras-
cality that he should be treated
exactly as the Radicals are and
exposed without fear or favor.
What the people want is the
certainty that they will have
honest men in office. They do
not care so much for the name
will not inquire what his poll
tics may be, but whether he is
honest and competent. They
want a return to the Jeferso-
nian doctrine Of 'Fitness." The
democrats in the House can
prove their earnestness for this
reform-this return to first prin-
ciples, by exposing democratic
thieves should they find any:
their sincerity will be justly
doubted should they attempt to
shield any such. So far the rec
ord Of the House is good, though
not so good as it should have
been. The finance differences
in the party should have been
settled sooner. After a long
time they have agreed, but they
should not have been SO tardy
in doing it. Then they have in
some Instances deferred too
much to what might, or might
not be popular in the campaign.
Prompt and united action Oh
their part would have given
popularity to any good meas
ure. This has been most nota-
bly, shown in the bill to aid in
the construction Of the Texas
and Pacific Railroad. The COM
mittce long since agreed upon
a bill, which all, who have con-
si6ered the question fully, agree
would be of incalculable bcne-
fit to the country, and yet this
bill is retarded, because there
are some, who admitting its ne
cessity, are afraid that it might
injure ':the party" to bring i'll
forward. When the boast OF
Jay Gould's men, that they
would spend a car load Of mon
ey to defeat this bill, is remem-
bered, the men who cause this
delay make themselves liable TO .
unpleasant comment. Then the |
appropriation bills have been
deIaYed too much. 1t is true
that it required an immense a.
mount of labor to get all the
data necessary to make the !
proper reductions from the ex-
travagant radical estimates, but
with more help it could have |
been done earlier. Imake these |
comments, because our demo-
cratic papers should speak
frankly so that the Congress-
men can know what the people |
Of them. No elaborate |
platform building in Congress
is wanted. All that is needed |
to secure victory and good gov
ernment, is an honest expose ,
of the present one. And there
fore l say that while Congress
has done well, it might have
done better.
Marsh has returned and tes-
titled before the judiciary COM
mittee, which will present the
articles of impeachment against
Belknap, to the Senate on Tues
day or Wednesday Of next |
week. His testimony has been
taken before the Grand Jury, |
and it is supposed that the in
dictment and trial for bribery
will follow the impeachment |
trial.
The Republican Senator's
have determined to resist the |
reductions of expenditures made
in the House. A caucus was
held on the subject and this de- |
termination was the result of |
that caucus. They will claim |
that the reduction proposed will |
impair the efficiency Of the civ
il service and viii use as their |
campaign argument on this. sub
iect the State cry that the dem
ocrats are trying to cripple the