National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1876-03-20
OUR srAl1sTIcIAH FIGURES 17U!.

We are now looking at 4 Democratic
Congress in working shape. To use the
language Of the street, it IS putting in its
work" 1t must be, for about four months
have elapsed since it met, and, as it had
promised the country to do wonders and
perform miracles, It must be doing them
now Otherwise it has lied, and, o: course,
this is an accusation which the sensitive
spirits of the parry would repel with indig-
nation. So we conclude that they are at
wofk-the Democratic Congress nd
though it appears to US that there is only
good deal Of noise and bad oior, such as
there is around a fish market on a busy
gifted statistician TO Calculate the inesti-
mablc benefits derived up to the present
time. His report states first that THEY
HAVE DISCOVERED BELKNAP. This tlkes
almost line of very large type. H. has
been discovered principally by the use Of
a good nose for plumber II now seems, for
the enlightened Hester, who mourns that
the world is so wicked, apparently came
to Congress with the whole subject nosed
out and safe in his carpet-bag. He knew
that there was villainy afoat, because
because he heard SO abroad. He is too
honest man TO yield to guile himself, and
prefers from principle to mount the ros-
trum and weep the tears of the deceived.
He trusted in the virtues Of weak Re-
publican party, leaned upon broken reed,
and it collapsed. Painful spectacle! Weep,
Christians, and come and vote the Demo-
cratic ticket. And so they did-not in
New Hampshire.
So Belknap- vas discovered, and with
him Clymer and Sawbuck Robbins; but
his virtues, by the way, were not discov-
cred by the weeping committeeman
Marsh and Pendleton and all that crowd
But we must get on or the results of all
the excessive labors Of caucuses and COM
mittee meetings and open discussions and
conferences, &c, will still remain I'M
stated. But here it is again there is
nothing to get on. 1t all seems to be here
right in this little lump: Belkuap, C'y-
mer, Marsh, PendletoD, Superfine Rob
bins, tears, Marsh's vanishing boot heels,
New Hampshire election, $50 bills, bound.
less promises, a reunited country, settled
finances, glorious future, &c, all mixed
up together; the net results of the labors
of Democratic Congress for four work
ing months. But are there not other ways
oflooking at il? Let us pause before the
spactacle and consider. Let us commune
with our mathematician again. Let US go
into figures about it, for instance, and see
what they offer. There are few Difficult
lies that cannot be solved by judicious
use of the multiplication table. Now, to
state the case plainly, the Democratic Con-
gress las cost the country say, in the bulk,
$3.50, LOCO. Il is entitled to the Belknap
credit, (non-collectable, however, $l5, 900.
Balance, $685., 900 on the wrong side
again. No, that wont do. The political
capital gained in New Hampshire might
be added if it was not for the COMPOUNDED
figures, but they are on tHe wrong side,
too There are the West Point cadets and
the band, but they don't count up.
Clearly q mathematical solution OF this
matter is not possible. Blow mathematics,
anyhow Let us ponder over it as senti-
ment.
Congress is the great moral example aud
instructor to this country. 1t is costly il
estimated by the degrading standard Of
figures. but in the great onward sweepo Of
civilization it sings in an influence, so to