Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1882-09-08
The Moral Sense Of the Country Shocked.


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The Moral Sense Of the Country Shocked.
1t is remarkable fact that jaw Hub
bells stand and deliver circular to
government employees has not provoked
word of reprobation from a single Re-
publican member of Congress That it
is shock to the quickened moral sense
OF the country, and q scandal to Ameri-
can politics, is proved by the almost
universal public condemnation it has
encountered. Here aud there Re-
publican machine organ, which places
the success OF the party above all
moralities and proprieties, has been
found to excuse and palliate it, but we
do the Republican press the justice of
saying that it has very generally re-
buked it. But no Republican Senator or
Representative in Congress has opened
his mouth against it. So far from this,
several Republican Senators from the
New England States have had the hardi-
hood to defend it as legitimate and
proper part of the Republican election
eering system-and the silence of other
Republican Senators and Representa-
tives in the presence of these attempted
defenses makes them all defenders of it.
Indeed, the circular is not Jay Hubbell's,
it is the work of the Republican Con-
gressional Committees body which
represents the Republican members
OF both Houses of Congress. Not only,
therefore, is it not condemned by any
Republican at Washington, but it is APP
proved by all-and this, too, notwith-
standing the letter of Mr.. Hayes, writ
ten in 1877, and formally Endorsed by
the Chicago Republican platform of
1880, which declares that "no assess
ment for political purposes on officers
or subordinates should be allowed"
That a Republican Congressional Com
mittee should, in violation of this reso-
luton of their own party. and in def
ance of the moral sense of the country,
deliberately assess the officers and sub
Ordinates of the Federal service, and the
act receive the expressed or silent APP
proval of the party's Senators and Rep
resentatives at Washington, is fact
which cannot fail to make an impress
sion on the people. The better elements
of the Republican party keenly feel the
disgrace, and the Boston advertiser
thus expresses its modification at the
tacit approval it met with in Congress:
"What Republican member of the
Senate or the House has made motion
to relieve the party from this scandal?
What member has ventured publicly to
criticise it? What one has done any
thing to acquit himself of the response
bility of it which, under the circum-
stances. attaches to him? If there is
one Republican in either branch who
disapproves of what his committee has
done and persists in doing. in defiance
OF public opinion as expressed by al
most every organ of opinion except the
professional politicians, he has not
thought it worth while to make his dis
appreciation known. 1t does not appear
that there is one among them all who is
SO earnestly opposed to the business that
he is willing TO make fuss about it.
What congressman may say privately
when at home counts for moth
ing, and they know it. The place to
speak to some purpose, the place to do
something effectual for reform, is in
Washington. but the time for pertinent
speech and action is over. There
have been abundant opportunities. be-
sides those afforded by the caucuses-
for example, while appropriation bills
were under debate and subject to
amendment-for any member to make
a record whose convictions prompted
him. and who had the courage to show
his colors. Not man of them all has
disavowed an action which, until disa-
vowed, he must be presumed to author
iZe and sacrifice.
"Why are the Republicans from Mas
IN o-I Uo,,eo
keeping silent while such things are
done in their name? The Republican
party of thissState in its last convention
declared itself in favor of n reform of
the civil service, and among the specific
measures of reform enumerated as nee
essary was the prohibition of assess
ments upon the salaries of office-holders
for party purposes Certainly this
meant prohibition by law, and it may
be presumed that it meant prohibition
of assessments for party purposes by
Congressman rs well as by officers of
the Administration; but 1T is contrary to
the spirit of the declaration that, In the
absence of prohibitory law. Massachu-
sets Republican Congressman should
allow the evil to be revived without pro-
| test on their part. Let it be clearly I'M
QerStOOQ bD3C the OHcnSc HO" cOH-
planned of is one for which the Repub-
iican members of Congress are alone
and wholly responsible: not The Admin
istration. put the Republican part of
Congress, and nobody else. has done it !"
ST. Louis Republican
If we could only follow the Irish
mans advice we should be wiser and
sadder. If not better men. When drill
/ ing an awkward squad, his patience