National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1877-05-10

these arms OF the service were not only
disgracefully reduced, but what was appro-
prlsted was hedged about as 10 make pay.
ments absolutely embarrassing. Much of
the mischief was attempted in the first scs-
sion Of the Forty. fourth Congress- and !.
was intended 10 have Ms eAest upon The
pending Presidential election. Otherwise
we are convisced that many Of the more
thoughtful among the Democracy woul-.
have refused to follow the lead of the false
economists. The last session showed a
good deal Of impotence, and but for the
fact that the important question of who
should be President overshadowed every
thing else the appropriations would have
been made liberal. The Bourbonr, how.
ever, were unable to disguise the fact that
they desired to embarrass the operations
Of the Government.
And now how they must Joy over the
postponement OF the extra session Of the
Forty fifth Congress They sec looming
up that very embarrassment which they
endeavored to accomplish directly by legis-
latIon, and they see that II Is to be much
grester than they had hoped for in their
widest dreams. II the extra session had
been called early in June there would have
been equitable legislation and liberal appro-
pria,ions The deficit in the pay of the
navy could have been provided for; an ap.
preparation for the army would imme.
diately relieve the Administration of all
possibility Of being charged with viola.
ton of law, and the machinery of the
courts could have been kept In motion, to
say nothing of the important advantages
we might glin by legislation that my be
made necessary by the European war.
We think the poltponement of the SEES.
sion was unwise, and desiring as we do
the complete success Of PRECEDENT HAYES
administration, we hope that that est on
will be reconsidered. Because the procla.
nation has been issued calling the session
in October Is no reason why another
should not be issued fixing an earlier date
when 1t becomes apparent rs we think il
must, that vital interests of the country
will suffer in consequence of the postpone
ment. Besides the President may rest
assured that departure by so much as a
hairs breadth from any provision or re-
quirement Of law will bring upon him the
censure Of the Bourbon and doughfe e
Democrats. They arc watching him as a
cat watches mouse, and they are prepared
to pouncc upon him for what to them may
appear the slightest inraction of NV, and
they will not inquire whether the inter.
ests of the country were subservod by it
or not. The Democratic papers all hint
at this already.
Again, the Presidents motives have been
most outrageously mIsconstrued as to the
postponement. While we are firmly con.
WINGED that he was actuated by patriotic,
but mistaken motives, the Democratic
press is determined not 10 sec 1t in thai
light. The Now York Express said only
a day or two ago:
| 1t is significant, however, that the President
| consented to postponemcnt only when he discov
cred that he could not place . Republican
Speaker in tho chair.
Other papers have charged that he wal
afraid TO have his Southern policy dis
cussed at this time. OF course, to assign
either these or kindred motives is absurd
as well as unjust but it would be Just al
well for the President by act to hurl tn,
lie back into the teeth of his accusers.