The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-08-21

After a prolonged possession Of power. ex-
tending over a period Of seventeen years,
and embracing every department Of the
Government. except the House of Repre-
sentative, since 1915 the Republican lead
cr9, with rare ellrontery. are NOW appealing
for a vote Of confidence at the Congress
elections this fall, and DE GoLYER GAR
FIELD. whose record Is stained all over with
corruption auduciou-ly declares that the
continuation in power of the Republican
party is necessary to protect the Treasury
from -puliation" In other words. he asks
that public plundcrers shall mount guard
over the vault, holding the public treasure
There is no example in the history uf free
government which compares with the open
defiance of Constitution and law the ex-
ccsses Of power. the prodigaity, the cor
ruption, the neputism, the disregard Of So
cial restraints, ami the license which mark
the career Of the Republican party since the
close Of the rebellion, and especially during
the era Of Grantism. when even the external
forms of deccncy were thrown aside, and
government of Rings ruled the country like
au absolute dcspOti-m. These Rings con-
trolled every branch OF the public service.
There was Il Treasury Ring. a Military Ring,
II Naval Ring, Postal Ring, a Whiskcy
Ring, Customs Ring, Land Ring, a Judi
dietary Ring, Il Railroad Ring, a Patent
Ring, Washington Ring an Indian Ring,
and Claims Ring. with agencies and rami-
locations extending in all directions.
Though independent OF each other, they
mace common cause. furnished the money
for Presidential campaigns, and for the cleo
ton ol Senators ana Representatives, in or
der 10 preserve their ascendaucy and TO
continue the atrocious system by which
they were enriched at the cost Of the tax
payers. They owned the committees in
Congress that prepared legislation dictated
by their attorneys, and by combinations
were always sure Of suhservicnt majorites
in both Houses. Even now. after all the ex-
posures, some Of these Rings under new
forms, are rs powerful rs they ever were.
Under this sway the carpct-bag and bay
onet rule in the South was created not only
to MI the pockets of the swarm OF adventur-
crs VINO rushed there under the promise Of
the fullest protection, but to secure the
votes OF tho States thus held in bondage FOR
the Presidency, and to swell the maiortics
IN Congress by frauds, miscalcd Senators
and Representatives,. When the end came,
There was a legacy Of two hundred millions
of debt for an impoverished people to stag
ger under, in addition to their other mislor-
tunes.
The Civil Service Reform Commission.
hcadcd by llr. G.. W. CURTIS, reported that
one hundred millions year had been stolen
IRON the revenue from imports, by devices
that depended for success on the collision
OF the Custom Houses with the fraudulent
importers at home and abroad, who organ
lied the methods by which this wholesale
.windlng wac carried on, TO the injury OF
honest merchants, whose legitimate trade
was sacrificed by the undrrsclling of
fraudulent class, that were enabled to drive
thcm from the market.
Different Republican Congresses voted
away two hundred millions Of the choicest
parts of the public domain tnrailroad cor
poiNtions, besides siAty-four millions of sub
,idy in money and the interest on this large
sum, not a dollar of which, uudcra decision
Of the Supreme Court, is payable until 1900.
After establishing one OF the greatest mo-
uupolics ina tine world. amt apprppruting TO
it- u-r the most valuable lands, the party
which did tins, at their national conYcn-
uuu7 NOW "reailrm opposition to FURTHER
grants of the public lands to corporations
and mnuopolicS, and demand that the ma
tnual domain bee devoted to free homes for
the people when they had already given
the hr-t oi these lnude 10 Rings.
Ihr record of expenditures in the last ten
'ycnr- Of profound peace, as compared with
tine dccado immediately preceding the civil
war, Is appalling to contemplate in its oxh-
bltion OF Extravaganza and reckless waste
OF the peoples money Between 1868 and
l,77 tine total expenditures for the ciyll
service, war, navy, and Indians, exclusive
N. pensions amt Interest on the public debt.
aggregated sLtG},l72,lG6.12. In thi. state
n.eLt, tAa asli7cd year is included, when
the House d. Representatives, against the
efforts Of zinc Executive aud the vote Of the
5cn"tc reduced the appropriations more
than tWeuty-thIoc millions.
Between l5j4 aud 1851 the total oxpcndl-
lures for the civil service war; navy and
Indians, exclusive OF pensions and interest