The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1882-09-01
rmE LAST CONGRESS.

whilst great number, regaraiess ot 1ue
popular sentiment OF shame aud indig-
nation over the scandal and disgrace OF
the last session Of Congress, instead OF
appearing in saok.oloth and ashes. dare
put on bold front apd defend the
planderers of the public treasury.
Were this adverse criticism confined to
Democratic ranks, it would be denoune-
ed as demagogism. But such is not the
ease. One of the ablest and most point
ed articles we have yet seem on the
work of the last session of Congress
was contained in recent issue OF the
Nav York Herald. Says that paper,
"Nsver before did majority so out
rageously abandon all pretenee TO rep
resent the people or to be concerned for
the interests and welfare Of the nation
nor SO shamelessly abuse, for the inter
ests of party and individuals, the trust
bestowed for public reasons. It's common
enough for parties to outlive the issues
upou which they came into existence
that, indeed, is the natural history OF
parties. But when the great issue is
gone, and tho party survives only as
pretext for the seizure of the offices
and the distribution of the plumber,
it is the common function OF its orators
10 roar over the danger with which the
nation is forever menaeed by the same
old issue. They commonly pretend that
the danger is eternal-as republican
statesmen have SO repeatedly revived
the passions Of the war over an occasion
ally discovered bl loody shirt. But it is
q significant fact that even that pre-
tence was lost sight of in Washington
in the mad rush for plnnder.
II was very practically recognized that
the republican party is rs to all great
public topics, all respectable divisions
Of opinion in the national mind, an or
ganization without vitality or purposes
that It exists simply 10 secure the Offices
Of the government for is leaders, and
that its one conception of great con-
cern relates to the use OF the public |
purse in such way as to perpetuate
the official tenure Of It's bosses. great
and small.
Public opinion was startled At the
very organization of the House and in
he light of its achievements we may
zee that the accusations made at that
line were not unjust. Ia the organi-
.ation the whole campaign was planned
IS gigantic scheme for tapping the |
rational till. An absolute Indifference
o every measure of public utility that
lii not promise party plunder appeared
wen 10 the formation II The committees,
md was combined with an intense At
ention TO every schem4 that either di-
'ectly put the public money at the
mercy Of the bosses or enabled them to |
,laim in bulletins 10 their constituents |
oarty gratitude for public expenditures
made without good reason. but simply |
% purchase popularity. That un?aral-
eled villany, the Pension bill the
River and Harbor bill the Tariff
Commission bill, planned to cont;nne
the extortiop from the people Of an e& |
cessiVe revenue, were simply equivalent
70 the one hundred and City million |
Of dollars TO sustain the Republican
party. That is what the money goes
for. Half million dollars TO be spent |
on an obscure diteh in some rsmots
region under the pretence that it has
relation to commerce Is simply half
million to bs spent by republican ofIic-
ials III such way as 20 further the In
terests OF republican candidate. ES-
cept the Mississippi millions, the sum
for the reclamation Of the Potomac
fats and that portion of the appropria-
tion assigned for the Improvement Of
channels ia our great seaports, ali the
eighteen millions of that bill are party
pap. Every cent of the hundred mil
lions of so-calied pension money Is Of
the same nature and will be used in
such way az to distort the results of
elections in every Congressional dis
trict.
Here, therefore, the republican par
ty presents itself plainly to the country
as party that proposes to perpetuate
its existence .oy vast ex penditnres wrung
from the people in the form of enor-
mousiy burdensoms taxation. That is
its one principle IS q party, its one the.
ory Of politics, its one conception Of the
general welfare. If the people do not
respond to this ut tie polls ia a way
to astoaish the hosses we shall be sur
prised."