Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1881-02-28
lanraster fntell!genrer.
SDeW Them Out.

Spew Them Out.
Senators Thurman and Wallace unsuc-
cessfully sought to persuade the Senate
to defeat the appropriation bill for rivers
and harbors. Senator Thurman de-
clared that there was too great a dispo-
sition on the part of some Southern MEM
bers to 60 for " the old flag and an appro-
priation," and he told his Democratic
colleagues that they would get terribly
beaten if they thus shaped their policy on
the principles of Mulberry Sellers. This
was timely warning from the distin-
guished senator, who is now leaving dis
seat, to his associates remaining behind.
While admitting that he had himself
voted for these appropriations for natur-
al improvements, which his constituents
clamored tor, but which the plain letter
of the constitution forbid, he declared
that he had done nothing for which lie
felt now greater regret.
To his Democratic colleagues his ap-
peal came with more force than to the
Republican senators, only because the
Democratic doctrine in regard to inter-
nal improvements has always been very
conservative, our construction of the
constitution being strict. Still, with
such bill under consideration as this
one for the improvement of rivers and
harbors, which is avowedly made up to
distribute the country's money in the
districts Of representatives, to make
them strong at home and 50 help their
reelection, and rot with any view
OF advantage to the country, Ger
tainly the Republicans and Democrats
voting for it are equally subjects of CEN
sure. II the money expended really i'm
proved valuable waterway, then the
question between The parties would lie
as to the propriety Of eXpending the
money OF the nation on What would he,
from its location, a state work. But this
bill confessedly appropriates the national
money for works Of little, if any, value
which even the states do not ask for. 1t
is simplya robbery f the treasury. That
it is done by the will of a large majority
of both houses of Congress clearly proves
the unfitness of the representatives fol
their places. 1t isa melancholy cxhibi
tion. Though it has been plainly point.
ell out how useless many of the
projects are which this bill provides for
not one has been stricken out of it. The
members are banded together to take
care of each other and they stand Loyalty
together for their appropriations and in
defense of their ''ret lambs,' as old
Winnebago Simon patheticalIy called
that Harrisburg postofiicc, when some
unkind senator suggested that he could
buy i good part of Harrisburg for tie
appropriation he asked to purchase q
site.
The warning Of Senators Thurman
and Wallace comes with as much force
to Republicans rs to Democrats. Tie
Democratic party will not be more hur!
by the dishonest and weak conduct u1
its representatives than will the Repub.
lic;ln, whose congressman are quite
as bad. The Southern members love
Of an appropriation is no more
marked than that Of the Northern
members. 1t is q disease which seems tC
know no locality nor party. But per.
haps Senator Thurman's idea was thai
the Democratic party would be less tol
Grant of such Misrepresentation O
the public moneys and that it
representatives would therefore per.
sonally suffer when facing thei
constituents and accounting fol
their stewardship. In that view h'
is right. We do not believe that Dem
Ocratic constituency generally will sus
tain a representative who filches tn,
public money even for their benefit. Re
publican constituencies seem to be NOR,
accommodating and less squeamish. 1t il
a good distinction to preserve betweel
the parties, and we recommend the
every Democrat who voted for the pas
sage of this river and larbor bill be re
Jected by his party in his district. FO
he has not the excuse of ignorance. Th'
iniquitous character Of many of the ap
preparations was clearly shown in the
debate upon the bill. There is no chanc,
for dispute that many of the objects fol
which money was appropriated were o
no value to the country. The none,
was stolen. The men who voted to pas
it out ofthe treasury are too dishones
or too weak to be fit representatives o
Democratic principles and tie people
should spew them out.