National Republican., 1877-10-02
THE NEW CONGRESS.


gress commences on the 18th inst, under
call from the President The necessity for
this extra session was created by the party
which has decided majority in the COM
ing House of Representatives, and hence il
a. very difficult to even conjecture what
will be its leading policy and duration.
When we consider that o parsimonious and
narrow-minded policy withheld the proper
appropriations for the administration of
national affairs in the several Departments
Of the Government, and when we know that
the same party returns now to revise its
former action and do justice to a suffering
Government, we are not hattered with the
prospect.
II, however, II shall turn out that the
present House has not inherited the faults,
follies and animosities of its predecessor,
there may be some hope that justice will
be done to the country under the present
exigencies. The last House of Representa-
tiyes seemed to regard 1t as its chief mission
TO pcrsecute President GRANT and his
subordinates in the Government, whether of
high or low degree, to the very end of the
chapter. Whether this new Congress comes
with like animosities and hates towards
President HAYES remains to be seen. We
sincerely hope that it will come with no such
inspirations; that II will find higher plane
Of patriotism and duty and will enter upon
the work Of providing for the necessities of
the Government under q laudable desire to
be just and wise in its action. 1t is to be
hoped that in this era of good feeling and
pacifcation each Southern and North
ern Representative will come to the front
in this crisis of our national affairs armed
with an olive branch, fortified by good in
tentions and patriotic motives. If frater-
nifty, peace and harmony are to come to us
again, let Congress set proud example by
leading off in that direction. Let it stay mp
the hands of the Executive and the various
Departments of the Government with lib
ensl appropriations. These are the sinews
ofgovemmcnt and of war, so far Us they
relate to that Department. For the want
of this proper support our army has been
without pay since June, and has presented
n most deplorable condition of affairs The
reasons given for placing the military de-
partment on such short allowance were not
concealed, but openly avowed. If the
President had at that time consented to
withdraw the troops from the Southern
States no doubt appropriations would have
been made, but on that point the President
was not ready to take action in view of the
unsettled condition of affairs in that Sec
tion, and the military arm of the Govern
ment was promptly punished therefor
Hence the present anomalous condition OF
the army. 1t is not of Republican origin or
procurement. Our Democratic friends
therefore, must settle the account with
themselves and the country.
We desire now TO urge upon the
people of the District of Column
bia to make up their budget for the
trict should be clearly and urgently set
forth at the outset. There are streets TO he
repaired and improved. There are parks TO
he cared for. The water front demands
some provision against a apidly-ncrcasing
malarious influences that are devastating
hoea'H 'ihouSh th''l pp'SohONS cNHai'lllollS
The people are entitled to the right of suf-
fmgc, and they must urge their claim to it
with an irresistible earnCstness. They are
heavily burdened with taxation to improve
the National Capital, and are entitled to
relief or recognition as citizens or both;
and to turn deaf ear to their appeal, would
be to disregard the dictates Of right and
perpetuatc wrong.