West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1882-08-09

uIOu Ills objections, beiou Ell the
Constitution of the land, and insult
ed the decent opinion of the country.
More than two thirds cf Tie mem
bers present in each House declared
their determination TO steal the
money OF the nation and bestow IL
upon local jobs IN winch they or the
lhleving politicians with whom they
associate at home are interested, the
Constitution OF the country, the OBJ
Iections OF the President, and the
moral sense OF the people to the con.
trsry notwithstanding.
There is no excuse or extenuation
Tor this shameful proceeding, for
every honest provision in the bill
could have been saved by accepting
the Presidents suggestions. Tae
improvements on the Mississippi on
the Potomac, at He'll Gate, aud
wherever else they are OF import
ance, need not have suffered or been
delayed but it was the jobbery the
me nb,rs of Congress were after and
were determined to have.
The sc Iate, Which il generally assumed
to be more conservative aud deliberate
body than the House, has excelled 1t in
recklessnoss throughout this whole bust
ness. Members voted for the outrageous
Jooocry from whom better things were TO
have been expected. Such Senators ss
Anthony and Aldrich OF Rhode Island.
Hoar of Massachusetts, Window OF Min
ncsota, and even Sherman OF Ohio, are
men who ought 10 have higher respect
Tor themselves and IA loftier sense Of pub
lie duty than they have displayed in this
business
The worst of il is not that this is "a piece
OF extravaganza, an unjusiinable waste Of
certain millions OF public money, but that
1t cXhibns an utter di6r,gard of fundamon-
tai principles OF which Congressional nc
ton should be based, lack Of "A sense Of
honor ana Of public morality, and AN inIc-
cent disrespect for tic opinions of man
KIND, That bode nothing but evil 70 the
republic. If II were Lot that we believe
the people are more honest than Congr, So
and will visit ith conduct with condtmnn-
non and TCuibution, II would lead us D
take a depending view Of the future.
But the people viii not allow this dis
graceful Performance 10 90 unpublished.
Every Senator and every Representative
who voted Tor this "stcal" should be "a
marked man from this day, and every
honest voter should refuse to give him
countcnance or support In fuiur., and
honest voters arc at least numerous
enough to hold The balance Of power be.
tween pnrlIsan togues.
IL matters not whether the guilty man
ls IA Republican or q Democrat. Honesty
is more than politics, and uprighln,ss is
above party. lie should be prevented
from bcng candidate for reelection, #
possible, and lac should BIZ defeated if
nominated. II is not merely thst single
shameful act is to be punished, but that a
principle f public conduct Of the very
highest importance is TO be yindica;cd,
and a standard sci for the future.
OF the Al affirmative votes in the Senate
~ were those Of Republicans aud % those
Of Democrats. Of the negative votes ~
were Republican, 3 Democratic, and 1
Independent. In the House GJ Rcpubli-
csbs, 81 Democrats, and 6 Grecnbackers
and other Independents voted for the
steal, and 20 Republicans, 81 d, mocrats
and 2 independents voted against il.
These men are to be dealt with az iDdi-
yiduals, but the Republican party cannot
fan TO suffer for this piece Of recklefsncps.
1; controlled the committees, and Il had a
majority IN both Houses. II had the
power % iusis, upon honesty and deccncy
in The appropriation bills and failed 70 30
it. Moreover, the veto " that OF a Re
publican President, and should at lcas.
have commanded the respect Of Bcrubl!-
cane. They cannot escape the rcsponsi-
bI.ity on account of the division " both
parties by The line that separates thieves
from honest men.
This act will cost The Republicans many
Congressional district az the coming
election, and Il is likely 10 destroy their
hope of controlling The next Congress.
But the people should discriminate, and
80 far IS possible metc cut their retfibu-
ton TO the individual offenders. Among
the many considerations which must inn
press upon iho people the necessity Of
clecting a reform Congress this fall, the
reckless river and harbor tbicycry should
not be the least.
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