Brenham weekly banner. [volume] (Brenham, Tex.) 1877-1907, 1879-12-05
The Coming Congress.
rom he NV YORK sLn.5

'tro'i, The New York Stn-]
The Republicans and die De-
naocrats will both seek tie gain
a favorable position for the Pre-
sidential oaHlpaiSn. This has
been for many years past the
experience Of all sessions imme-
diately proceeding an election
for President, Politics have
become game with a stake of
six or seven hundred millions
Of annual receipts and expendi-
lures to handle; immense con-
tracts and jobs; one hundred
thousand Offices; the treasury
and its vast operations; the pub
lie lands patents Indians and
the other large business requir-
ed for a growing population of
forty-six millions or more.
Besides this great stake, the
Republicans have an additional
interest which has made them
desperate in the efforts to retain
possession of power at almost
any cost. AS long as they can
hold on to Office, and manipulate
the public accounts, and make
the records of the departments
conform to their necessities,
there will be no full exposure
of the overwhelming frauds and
rascalities that have been perpe-
trated since the close of the
civil war. The lame explana-
ton of Mr.. Boutwell, and Mr..
Sherman in regard to the ap-
palling discrepancies in the
official statements Of the treas
,ury as to the public loans and
the other issues, have only serv-
ed to excite increase suspicion
and 20 fix attention more close
ly on that point. Under the
greatest disadvantages, the
Committee of which Senator
Davis of West Virginia is chair
man have succeeded in estab-
fishing certain facts which, when
put before the country in the
form of a report, cannot fail to
create profound impression.
They have found millions I'M
properly entered, and balances
forced to cover up these fraudu-
lent charges. Volumes of the
most important accounts are
missing, and it is evident from
their connection with the public
loans that they were purposely
carried off and destroyed to
hide vallainy. In some of the
existing books whole page are
torn out, and they are otherwise
mutilated and erasures visible
to the eye, and others to and or
binary magniher, may be coun-
ted by the thousands. All these
charges, this thievery, this mu-
tilation, and this destruction
relate to the most important
books and accounts of the treas
ury.
Can anybody believe that
such criminal tampering with
the records of the treasury, ex-
tending only over a limited
period of years, and all pointing
to intentional fraud and forgery
to cover up excessive issues,
counterfeiting. and stealing was
the result of mere accident
No wonder the Republican lea
ders seek to solidify the North
against the South:by a sectional
crusade, and to ignore all these
material questions upon the So
luton of which the general
prosperity depends. No won-
der they cry out for a "strong
who will trample the
constitution under foot, use the
army to crush out opposition
on the slightest ofpretexts, and
subvert the government to the
worst partisan objects. This is
their game to win the next cleo
ton, to bury out of sight the in
EQUITIES which blot the career of |
the party and of many of its
prominent leaders, and to pre- |
vent the punishment which an |
indignant people would admin
lister upon a full exposure.
Donit rroud tha Emit Tr.ae