National Republican., 1878-08-10
THE DEMOCRATIC REoUIEM.

TENN the present House OF REPRESENTATIVES,,
than Is presented In the fact that even the
Democratic party is ignoring tho claims Of
present tncumbents and nominating new
men In their stead. This Is the inevitable
consequence Of the blind, hypocritical and
corrupt line of policy that has been pursued
by the Democratic majority Of the House
during the past and present Congress. Tho
mass Of the reading and rejecting Demo-
Gratis throughout the country have not been
so blinded by party bigotry and prejudice
that they would give cheerful assent and
adherence to the fagrant hypocrisy and
wrong that have characterised the majority
of the House during the last three years.
When that party succeeded to power in
the popular branch Of Congress 1t threw to
the breeze the banner of retrenchment and
under tho executive bmnch Of the Govern
ment was knnve, and that they could
establish the fact In proof They assumed
from the profundity Of their own ignorance
that these Departments were so corruptly
and extravagantly conducted rs to demand
TtiOiIn tbpohoSo' Al
view Of these assumptions the Democratic
majority organized themselves into investi-
eating committees, or rather into raiding
parties upon tho competency and honesty of
almost every prominent official under the
Federal Government at the National Capt.
tai To the neglect Of other important and
jeoparlcd interests these reputation raiders
organized their secret inquisitions, threw
out their drag and occupied the time
and money Of the Government in blind,
malignant and fruitless search for corrup-
ton and extravaganza. They hunted the
field over during the entire Forty-fourth
Congress without securing more than q
single scalp, and that was secured more
through misplaced confidence than any evil
dent intention of wrong on the part Of the
victim. It did not appear in this case that
any personal act had been porpetrated with
wrong intent Ifany evidence Of completely
with wrong was brought to light it was
evident that 1t was the result of unfortunate
relations more than Of an intended act of
dishonesty. This one case, which was
peculiar one, was oil the game
that the Democrats bagged during
a most vigilant two-years' hunt. The inves-
LEGATIONS, however, had cost the Government
vast sum Of money, which, Of course, di-
verted just so much of the national resources
from more legitimate and necessary objects,
and neither extravagance nor corruption nor
malieasance in Office was established any
where except, perhaps, in the solitary case
we have already referred to, and in that in
stance we contend there was misfortune, but
not intended crookedness. At the close Of
the first session Of the Forty-fourth Con-
gress the people began to show a feeling of
disgust at the hypocrisy which had marked
its history. Some Of the most prominent
of these Reformers, whose hypocrisy and
rottenness had become apparent, were pub
licly condemned at the ballot-box and rele-
gated to private life. Wicked and cruel at
tacks had been made upon official reputa-
ton without success in establishing the JUS
tico of the allegations. The people began
to see and comprehend this, and they ap-
piled the corrective in some instances
though not us far as opportunity offered.
To make show of justice in the charges
of oxtravaganoe, which utterly failed Of
proof the Democrats set to work to cut
down salaries and reduce other expend |.
lures Of the Government under besotted
ignorance of its necessities. In this way
, the clerk was punished by reduction Of pay
or absolute discharge from employ fol
| tha IF IN ard hia anrxi inae
In this way the departments were crippled
their business fell behind because II could
+ not be kept up with the means afforded
, they became confused and embarrassed il
0 their conduct under their crippled condi
. tions, and the country at large, so far rs il
}, held any business relations with the Gov
:, ernment, began to suffer from the conse
= qucnccs of this blind folly, the crowning act
1 of Democratic infamy being to leave tn,
army of the United States without pay
T ntions, and provender.
e When the Forty-fith Congress went il
y session it was fondly hoped that the Hous
S would have drawn lessons Of wisdom from
9 the history Of its predecessor. But sucl
: was not the case. Insane with the ide.
4 that all Republicans are rLscals and al
L Democrats are saints, the incoming Con
e gress was more rapacious if posi-
d BILE for official reputation, wrong do
Il ing, and sacrifcial offerings thar
J. its predecessor. The House organized il
l. self into regiments, battalions, and squad
g of investigators, and invaded every depart
a ment and division Of the Government il
: hot pursuit OF corruption. Eight months o
o time and large sums of money have beel
h expended in n hunt for suspected crooked
+ ness, aud yet none has been mad
IL apparent except what has beer
&c laid bare in connection with the oflicia
organization of the House itself Beyon
z this nothing has been discovered. No in
r. stance of fraud, corruption, or malleasanc
: in office has been laid at the door of an
" Republican official. A government crippled
J. on all hands by the par'imony of mocl
d Democratic economy has been struggling a
IF it best could to discharge its functions witt
IF usefulness to the country, but all unde
Is great disadvantages and embarrassments
h The people begin to see and understand thi'