Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1882-11-27
THE REPUBLICAN PARTY.


the close of President Arthur's term.
The present house of representatives
is republican, while the next house,
as the result of the recent elections,
will be largely democratic.
These facts show that the demo-
Gratis will not be able to control eth
er the Legislation or administration
of the government until after the 4th
of March, 1885, and not even then,
unless they win the next presidential
election and secure a majority in
both houses of congress. Republi-
cans now control both houses in on
gress and have a republican presi-
dent at the head of the government.
The responsibility of legislation and
administration devolves upon them,
and not upon the democrats, in the
approaching session of congress.
What, then, in the light of these
facts, especially in view of the ex-
preston of the people at the late
election, should be the policy of the
republican party, as represented by
the president and congress?
The answer to this question, so
far as President Arthur is concerned,
is a very plain one, and we hope that
he will have the sagacity and good
sense to see and adopt it. The best
thing that he can do for himself, for
the country, and for the republican
party is to give up altogether the
business of party engineer and dur
ing the remainder of his term confne
mis- thoughts and activity to the con-
stitutional duties of his office, en-
deavorlng to give the people an effic-
lent and economical administration
of the government. AS a party
manager, he is conspicuous failure.
His administration, as a political
power, to control his own party, is
practically dead. He cannot revive
it. Any attempt to do so by the
government will only make things
worse.
The true policy for congress at the
coming session is equally clear. The
republican party, having the control of
both houses, will be held responsible
for what congress does oromits to do.
And among the things which should
be done we name the following:
| There should be a reform in our
revenue system by great reduction
of taxation and by readjusting and
simplifying the details of tariff du-
ties. There is no sense in taxing
the people at rate that creates a
surplus of more than $3.50, 100000 a
year, to be disposed of in paying off
the national debt. A surplus of
$50, 200, 900 or s75,OOO,OOO a year
| is quite enough for this purpose.
Our tariff system should be readjust-
ed simplifed, not by abandoning the
principle of protection, but by ap-
plying the principle with more WIS.,
dom.
| Congress should at the next ses-
sion pass a bill that will give the
sanction and power of law to the
the great principles of the civil SER
vice reform. The Pendleton bill,
pending in the senate, and that of
Mr.. Willis, in the house, are models
in this respect. Let the republicans
seize the opportunity of their power,
and pass these bills, or some others
of equivalent character and effect,
and thus cut up root and branch the
"Spoils System" with it's infamous
appendage of political assessments.
This is alike their imperative duty
and their highest party interest.
There should also be thorough
reform in our postal system, by
which we mean economy in its ex-
pense, reduction of letter postage
, to the two-cent rate, at least anC
, the addition of the postal savings
, bank, if not the postal telegraph
t These changes would widen the
sphere of the system and cheaper
] the cost to the people of letter cor
, respondence, and for both reasons
| make the system vastly more service
t able to the general public, The par
D ty that projects and carries out tn
reform will thereby win popula
favor.
To this we add currency reform
{ by which we mean the mmediat
suspension of the coinage of silve
o dollars, the adoption of policy tina
s contemplates the payment and tota
!. retirement of United States legal
d tender notes, and also the adoptio
o of a policy for the permanent estab
= lishment of our national banking sys
it TEN, even when the public debt sha
l. be entirely paid. These question
n are in the air and their solution car
d not be long postponed. The reput
IL lican party should take the lead i
< solving them, and especially shoul
y it at once put an end to the stupent
in GUS folly of coming silver dollars
IN when nobody wants them.
t, To this we add, once more, gene
lg Gus and liberal appropriations to a
tie states in the great work of popul:
is education, so as to remove illiteraC
ly and make the people in all parts I
nd the land body of intelligent voter
al All these questions come with
be the sphere of congress and the f
L. q Il L