The daily gazette., 1877-11-27
WHAT THE PEOPLE SAY


Sir: l applaud the course you have
persued in criticising the recent action of
Messrs. Bayard and Williams our repre-
sentatives in the National Congress. 1t
indicates return to that historical Demo-
cratic system of Government, which in
vites frank, open and manly criticism of
public acts and commands Of our repre-
sentatives, consideration for the comfort
and happiness, aye the inaienable rights
of the people. AS to the tone of your
criticism persons may differ as to whether
1t was severe enough but it is coinmen-
cement and will lead to better under
standing between Representatives aad
their constituents.
The absence of Mr.. Williams vote on
the record of the vote upon the Silver
and Resumption Repeal Bills indicates
one OF two things-that he either had no
opinion at all or having one, was too
timid to express 1t, and by refusing 10
vote he lent his moral support to the de-
feat of those bills. BY his moral opposi-
tion to the Resumption Repeal Bill, he
has proven false to the trust reposed in
him by large majority of the voters of
this constituency for the st. Louis plat
form of 1876, under which code of prin-
ciples he was elected, after denouncing
the imbecile financial policy of the Re-
publican party as obstructing preparation
for resumption said: Gas such him
drance we denounce the resumption
clause of the act of 1875, and pe hereby
demand its repeal" His opposition to
the Army Reduction Bill certainly proves
him subservient to the opinions of Col.
Tom Scott and others of his ilk who
would unjustly tax the people for an un-
necessarily large army to shoot down
men asking for bread, when in the event
of any unprovoked outbreak the States
MALTA could be safely relied upon.
We often hear 1t aSsertedthat the course
of certain public men and public mea-
sures receive the appreciation of "the bet
ter classes" ''the more respectable clas-
ses," "the better thinking classes" &c. +,
and just as often ask myself whether it
is true; ''that all men are created equal"
and whether they are endowed with
"certain inalienable rights" Are not
poor mea endowed with reason? do they
not reason as philosophically as the ave.
rage would be aristocrat who is a fish
monger this year and who spends next
summer atCape, Mayor Saratoga Springs?
Is intelligence an attribute Of wealth or
is it the result of self cultivation? Have
not laborers that natural ambition of adj
vancing their children? If they are ex-
paofod IN ohnul l1ap tha m lxat nd dafnnd
the propertysof the country in time of
war, ought they not to receive consldera-
tion and protection in time of speace?
"Hath not laborer eyes? hath not a
laborer hands, organs, dimensions, senses
affections, passions; fed with the same
food, hurt with the same weapons, subject
to the same diseases, healed by the saline
means, warmed and cooled by the same
winter and summer as rich man is? Ii
you prick him does he not bleed? if you
tickle him does he not laugh? if you poi
son him does he not die? and if you
wrong him shall he not revenge? If he is
| like you in the rest he will resemble you
in that. II a poor man wrong rich one
what is his humility? revenge; if rict
man wrong poor one, what should hi:
sufference be by wealthy example? why
revenge. The villiany you teach him hi
he will execute, and 1t will go hard; bu
/ he will better the instruction"
In the language of Horace Mann,."W
want generation of men above decidin!
great and eternal principles upon marrow
and selfish grounds. Our advanced stat'
of civilization has evolved many compli
Gated questions respecting social duties
We want generation of men capable o
taking up these complex questions, anC
of turning all sides of them towards tht
sun and examining them by the whitt
light OF reason, and not under the falst
colors which sophistry may throw arount
them."
Therefore workingmen Il do not mear
those who are so subservient as TO escor
a perjured employer in triumph through
the streets celebrating the event will
martial music and fire works. They arr
unworthy of the name OF Independent
American citizens,) but frank, open ant
honest treemen, if you desire comfort ant
happiness to replace want and discom
fort IN your homes, when two years hence
you will be called upon to choose anothe
| Representative in Congress, compel the
party leaders to nominate a man who il
willing to follow in the footsteps of Jei
| ferson, jackson and Benton, and retair
this, Government of the people, by The
people, and for the people,"
Senator Bayard's opposition already to
the Silver Bill and his probable opposi
ton (if Mr.. Williams course is any in
dex TO his future action) to the repeal o
the Resumption Act may emanate from
honorable motives, if the influence o
ambitious aspirations call forth honora
BILE and disinterested action, but will
one eye upon the Presidency and thu
other upon Wall street, Mr.. Bayard'
course is strangely similar to that o
John G. Calhoun in 1928 in that mem
orable struggle between the people ant
the Second United States Bank, or il
other words, the people against the mon
ey power of the country.
As the Philadelphia Times says
"There is a tide in the affairs of publi
men which taken at the flood leads then
to make fools of themselves" John @
Calhoun with his vivid imagination ant
polished oratory, shaped The impulse
and swayed the opinions of the South
ern people. Henry Clay, the silve
tongued orator whose stirring eloquenc'
electrified and commanded the admiration