New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1878-06-18


| cracy chance TO prescribe. They have had
! their chance, and made mess of il. and there
| is no one so blind now as not 20 see that the
| Republican policy and plan of resumption
were wiser than anything their opponents
proposed. The thanks Of the Republican
party are due the Congressional majority for
this material contribution. Herein, TOO. the
| Democrats have demonstrated their insincer-
| ity. They resolved at ST. Louis that their
| opposition 10 the Resumption Act was based
upon the belief that the Act was really an
obstacle - resumption. The comment on
that profession Is found in the undeniable
fact that their whole policy in Congress has
been one of obstruction to resumption.
They might have gone into the Congress
sional canvass with the claim that if they
had the power they would build up the IN
dustries Of the country by the enactment of
wise and judicious tariff. No Republican
could have answered that claim with
half the force that Mr.. Fernando
Wood has with his unsuccessful attempt
to cook I'D a bill which would unite his own
party. Thanks to Mr. Wood, the public has
not to be enlightened on that point. They
might have flung out the old charge of extray-
agance against the Republicans and demanded
power upon the ground that they would
retrench expenditures and practise economy.
They have themselves furnished an answer
to that argument in the indecent man
ner in which they have increased the pat
ronage and salaries of the Democratic House,
and attempted to cut down the same in
Republican Senate, only retreating from the
latter position upon the argument that
the Senate would be Democratic after
next March in the introduction Of a
vast array of claims against the Gov
eminent arising out of the rebellion,
and in the hasty passage of log-rolling appro-
priation bills. They have done the Republic
cans the favor in this matter TO prick their
own bubble. They might have made some
innocent people believe they would purify
and reform the Civil Service had they
not been afforded an opportunity to try
their hand at reform in the limited
sphere Of the Doorkeeper's Department of
the House, when they played such fantastic
tricks "a made them for months a pub
lie laughing stock, while their appointees
were a public disgrace. BY their DoOrkeepers
and their committee clerks and experts, they
have relieved the Republicans of any neces
sity for answering them ON the question Of
Civil Service They might have come for
ward with the somewhat worn and stale APP
peal to independent Republicans to lay aside
partisanship and vote for change in the
Government but fortunately they have shown
what they mean by -partisanship during
the present session. After such partisanship
and prescription as they have shown MS, they
will hardly have the assurance to talk in the
old strain on that theme.
Then there were lingering suspicious in the
public mind that under Republican adniinistra-
tons there had been corruption and fraud and
official peeulation and extravaganza which
had not been thoroughly ventilated and
exposed Had IL not been for this
Democratic Congress there would no
doubt have been people simple enough
to listen credulously to the Democratic argu-
mont that power should be iDtrusted to the
Democrats TO investigate the transactions OF the
past seventeen years. But the nimble Glover
has had Ash-hooks and lines and harpOOns. and
experts and clerks and lighted candles, and
power TO send for persons and papers and adj
minister oaths, and been given full swing,
and the result il that be has not only been
unable 10 discover Republican rascals, but I'M
able to escape finding Democratic rogues. No
Republican Congress could have given itself
40 clean a bun OF health as this one has, nor
could any Republican Congress have shown
up Democratic rogueiy half so SUCCESS
fully. The Republican party owes q thou
sand thanks to Glover and his committee.
In the matter Of the Potter investigation the
party must thank Mr.. Potter and Speaker
Randall and all who voted for the inVestiga-
ton, for so ordering the inquiry and limiting
ITS scope, 30 constituting the committee sum
moning and examining the witnesses as
to leave no doubt of predeter-
mined purpose TO discover fraud. Here has
been such an exhaustion of ammunition as
leaves nothing whatever in reserve. The Re-
publicans owe these gentlemen thanks for dem
onstrating so satisfactorily the soundness Of
President Hayes title and the hollowness Of
the fraud cry. They have instituted the inquiry
in their own way, have appointed their own
committee, and taken every advantage.
Net result thus far, one liar, whom they have
TO dismiss as soon as possible for fear they
win Get tangled In his testimony themselves.
BY the adoption of the resolution disclaining
any purpose 10 disturb the Presidents title,
which they refused to listen TO before they had
heard Anderson's testimony, they confess the
miserable weakness of their case. Nobody
but themselves could 30 effectually have dis
posed of their own case. They have fred of
all their powder. ... -.,-.t...-
In all this they have done the country a
service, as wen as laid their opponents under
obligations Of gratitude. These people have
been disturbing the peace for years with
their clamor about Republican dishonesty
and incOmpetency, and their boasts of
what they could do if they were only per-
rnitted the CHANCE THEY'VE had IL now. IL