The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1882-08-31
The Moral Sense Of the Country Shocked.

1t is remarkable fact that Jay Hub
bells stand and deliver circular to
government employees has not provoked
a word of reprobation from single Re
publican member of Congress. That it
is a shock to the quickened moral sense
of the country, and scandal to Ameri-
can politics, is proved by the almost
universal public condemnation it has
encountered. Here and 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-
tiyes in the presence OF these attempted
defenses makes them all defenders of it.
Indeed, the circular is not Jay HubbelPs,
it is the work of the Republican Con.
gressional Committee 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 ap-
proved by all-and this, toe, notwith-
standing the letter of Mr.. Hayes, writ
ten in 1877, and formally indorsed by
the Chicago Republican platform of
1880, which declares that no assess
rnent for political purposes on officers
or subordinates should be allowed.
That a Republican Congressional Com
Inittee should, in violation of this reso-
luton of their own party. and in deli
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 ap-
proval of the .party's Senators and Rep
resentatives at Washington. is a 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 -AdUersiser
thus expresses its modification at the
| tacit approval it met with in Congress:
"What Republican member of the
Senate or the House has made a motion
to relieve the party from this scandal?
What member has ventlred publicly to
criticise it2 What one has done any
thing to aeauits himself of'the -Fesponsi4
bility of it which, under the circum-
stances, attaches to him? If there is
one Republican in either branch who,
dlsapproves 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 a 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
We're un1er 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
Il
vowed, he must be presumed to author
: ize and sacrifice.
"Why are the Republicans from Mas
sachusctts in the Senate and House
keeping silent while such things are
done in their name? The Republican
party of this State in its last convention
declared itself in favor of a reform O
: the civil service, and among the specific
measures of reform enumerated as nee
essary was the prohibition of assess
ments upon the salaries of of1ice-holder'
for party purposes Certainly thi,
meant prohibition by law, and it ma.
be presumed that it meant prohibition
of assessments for party purposes b,
, Congressman as well as by officers o
the Administration; but it is contrary t,
, the spirit of the declaration that, in tn
5 absence of prohibitory law, Massachu
sets Republican Congressman shoul'
: allow the evil to be revived withoutp pro
), test on their part. Letit be clearly un
i derstood that the offense now com
J planned of is one for which the Repul
i fican members of Congress are alon
$ and wholly responsible; not the Admin
: istration, put the Republican part 9
: Congress, and nobody else. has done it,
. I-Sk LOuis ReDub[icGR