Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1878-08-15

The coudiiion IF mediocrity, it not lower, to
which tbs members Of tho Congress Ct the
Uaited STATES havo fallen, is the subject ct well
torcded complaint a1d di5pondent anxiety to
these Wao have any real interest 10 the welfare
OF tue country. throughout the length and
breadth OF the land. A bluodcr 10 tho ofic ial
course Of member of Congress was formerly,
and rightly. looked upoa as crime, and treat
Cd as such by tho cu!prit's constituents, ADD
thus The standard of excellence established by
lhos, VINO composed the carl!ero congresses was
kept up until comparatively r1cont times; but
how al! is changed, and the support OF perolcl
Gus bill, the misrcpreseOtat OF CONSTITUENCIES
interests, the betrayal Of trusts, the swallowing
no of DISTRICT, State, and national Interests in
those of self, arr considered as errors in legls!a
tor as vcnial as indiscretions 10 private life,
aud that vii! be corrected by tho experience to
he derived from repeated re elections. There
oan be no excuse for wrong or irj udicious
vo;c ,r speech by 4 member Of Congress. lie
has, or ought to have, nothing else to do but
at,cd 10 his duties az representative, and
ronse quentIy has ample time to consider every
measure uDoa which he will DO called to act,
and if no does not take the trouble, or is inca.
pablo Of giving these measures the considera-
ton they demand, and thereby fails TO become
IN efficient representative, aud reflects neither
credit upon himself nor the people for whom
he is agent, and for attending to whose inter
osts he makes more money thaa lie would if en-
gagged IN any other business, no should not CON-
plain if they express wish for him to retire
and lot his place DO filled by more efficient
mar la this connection we think it not mop.
partunc to quote tho following from that emi
nenIy able and conservative paper. the New
York Journal Of Commerce. Of yesterday:
"There is no sign anywhere yet of political
revolution. Tho present mem bers of Congress,
or men of their political faith and mental and
moral cslibre, will probably be re- elected
Nothing now indicates the likelihood of change
for the better or very material loss to one or
The other party Banning. of Ohio, has just
lost his denomination for no other reason than |
because he did SO few personal and private IA |
vors for his constituents. In the absence of any
create. claims upon them, official courtesies |
and small attentions to the voters 60 long way. |
Tho member who, in addition to procuring river |
and harbor appropriations for his district and |
voting for the various whinls of the home ma. |
iority, keeps it we'll supplied with Public Docs.
and seeds from the Agricultural Department. |
has now good prospect of nomination and re- |!
election. Perhaps at some distant day higher |
considerations will influence the electors. But |
o fatal epel of apathy seems to rest over the !
whole country, making the citizens Indifferent
to the worth or worthlessness of tho men who |
make laws at Washington. Not expecting that |
the Forty. sixth Congress will be any wiser or
better than lis predecessor, We shall not be dis.
appointed by the result"