The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1877-07-26

pafONySln OF PASSION III Is tnc elimination
Of many causes, which have been augment
ing in volume since the close Of the civil
war, and have finally burst the bounds of
restraint and law.
1t Is impossible to scrutinizc the
legislation aud the administration OF
the Republican party during tho ten
years succeeding the rebellion, when it cx-
crciscd absolute power, without reaching
the conclusion that both were controlled by
the bondholdcrs, the banks, and the Rings
The welfare of the people at largo and the
interests of labor In all its forms were sub
ordinate to these powerful influences. Re-
construction. by which the southern States
were Impoverished and oppressed, became
a part of the system through which the
great monupolcs were upheld. because it fur
ni-hod votes for silencng opposition in Con-
grcss, with majorties OF two-thirds to over
come Nctoes, when interpreted by ANDREW
JOHNSON.
No such party despotism was ever before
Witnessed in this country. The cry of dis
loyalty WIS shouted against whoever gave
sign OF independence. Few were brave
enough to confront it, and the great mass
submitted to the degrading discipline with
chiefs entered Congress as masters. They
demanded charters, land grants, and sub
sides, and they were voted wit alacrity by
the purchased or silenccd members, until
hundreds OF millions of the most valua-
Bile part Of the public domain passed into
the hands OF II few gigantic corporations.
Tens of millions from the Treasury were
also voted to these corporations, and then
Congress abolished the first mortgage ON
the roads, which was the security OF the
Government for these enormous grants and
advances. Less than dozen men own these
roads to-day AS absolutely as they did the
committees and the majoritios which report
ed and passed the bills.
When the iiVc-twcnty bonds were first Is
sued, no condition was attached to them re-
quiring payment In coin. except as TO the in
tcrest. The debates and votes prove incOn-
tcstably that there was no obligation to re-
deem, except in legal currency, and Mr..
SHERMAN, now Secretary of the Treasury,
was conspicuous In asserting that fact at
the time, and In opposition ~ an amendment
to redeem in gold. The bondholdcrs were
largely represented in both Houses Of Con-
gress, and the outsiders were not idle. A
great lobby WAS organized, and in 1869 these
bonds were made payable in gold. BY this
legislation the bondholdcrs proiited to the
extent of several hundred millions. and the
taxpayers were hurdencd proportonatcly.
Most Of the legislation for the banks was
manipulated by committee of which the
Chairman was shrewd bank President and
others were bank directors. Those institu-
tons. under fostering charters and friendly
.t.ll.a lat.
wealth, and many of them paid fabulous
dividends before the crash came. Manu-
facturcr- likewise obtained any legislation
they needed. and the tariff to-day is a mass
| Of projected mOnupOlics, without rule or re0-
SON In this Wild and reckless career the
public expenditures were multiplied under
! every conceivable pretcXt, the currency was
expanded, offices were created, and cXtrav-
asnnrc without accountability dominated.
The public revenues were stolen. and every
department Of the Government was Iun by
q Ring
After seven years Of fictitious success, the
/ bubble burst by the bankruptcy of one of
/ the pillars of the vicious system, and in
spite Of the illegal efforts Of the then Sccrc-
tnry Of the Treasury 10 prevent m incvita-
bic catastrophe. The ruin and misery in
hictcd by the collapse Of 1873, and by its
consequences since then, cannot bc meas
ured in money. OF all the sufferers, the
laboring men and their families have had
most to endure, not only in the reduction of
wages. but also in the increase Of their bur-
den-, for it is not the rich class. by any
means, who pay the bulk Of the taxes.
! They are the favored few, who do not feel
the turn Of the screw which makes poverty
shrek in agony.
Supcraddei u these and other causes
came the Presidential election Of last year.
Everybody knows Mr. TILDES was chosen
by large majority of the people, white
and colorcd. and by majority of the
electoral colleges. conspiracy was de-
liberatcly concocted to deprive tho coun-
try Of the victory thus won, and it
succeeded Mr. HAYES is administering the
Government by barefaced fraud on the
people and through the combination of
some Of the very men who were leaders dur
ing the period we have above described
They could not afford to have their past
misdecds brought to light, as Mr.. TILDEN
would have uncarthcd them; and they were
determined TO hold on TO power and patron
age at any cost.
II is not 10 be supposed that tho working
men. laborcrs and others, were inditicr-
| cnt spectators TO these events. They saw
great corporations and Rings combining
to Increase their wealth, and they combined
also for THEN own interests. They saw the
Constitution practically ovorthruwn and the
laws trnmpled under foot, 10 install a de-
tcated candidate in the White House, and
tine example has had its bad effect Des-
pcrate and dangerous men have improved
the chance tomakc common cause with the
strikers, and the enemies of social order
may be said to have taken the case of the
strikers ont Of their hands, and substituted
ion il terrorism and plumber.
What will be- the outcome time alone can
tell; but one thing Is certain, we are now
rcapng the bitter fruits Of the eXccsScs
plumber corrupt legislation, frauds and
iuiQuitcs of the Republican party and es-
pecally of the browning outrage, by which
a successful conspratur was Installed in the
White House We must dcplore the sad
scenes and the awful events Of the past