Knoxville daily chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1882, 1882-12-02
WHAT THE COUNTRY EXPECTS.

WHAT THE COUNTRY EXPECTS.
The New York Tribune, of We'd
nesday, says:
During the short time that has
elapsed since the elections, the pub
lie desire has been very freely ex.'
pressed. There are some matters
about which sharply opposing wishes
are expressed. But upon others the
expression of desire is nearly or
quite unanimous Thus there is a
wide difference of opinion in regard
to the kind of revision of the tariff
that should be made, but there is
practical unanimity in the desire for
a thorough revision. Men differ
widely as to the kind of taxes that
should be removed, but all are virs
tually agreed that material reduce
ton of taxation in some form ought
to be made. Men differ as to the
sort of appropriations that should be
made, but they agree that dishonest
and wasteful appropriations should
be stopped. So men have very dif>
ferent ideas as to the proper method
of reforming the civil service and
diminishing the evils of patronage
and spoils seeking. But there is
substantial unity in the earnest de-
sire that in some mode those evils
should be abated and the service
should be reformed
Ali sincere Republicans will earns
estly counsel Congress not tosforget
this substantial unanimity of public
opinion upon certain points. The
truth is that tremendous defeat
has been caused, in large measure,
by overlooking or ignoring this prae-
teal unity of the people in certain
desire. Party leaders saw wherein
the people differed, and imagined
that it was enough to speak loudly
and vote stubbornly on the popular
or right side as to those points Of
difference, but the people cared far
more for the objects about which they
were virtually united. They wanted
taxes reduced and the tariff revised,
and the power of patronage cut
down, and the corrupting influence
of the hunt for spoils limited. Had
Congress done these things, or
enacted laws attempting to do them,
in either of several modes, the peo..
pie might have divided about the ex
pediency or superiority of the modes
chosen. But when Congress refused
to do either of them at all, the peo-
pie were practically united in con-
demning Congress. And as the Re
publicans were responsible for the
conduct of business. at the last SEES,
sion, the weight of public rebuke
fell upon them. To refuse to act at
all, whom the whole people wanted
action was an insult to the whole
people.
Other causes affected the popular
verdict, particularly with regard to
candidates for State offices. But
votes for Congressional candidates
| were largely influenced by the con-
duct of Congress as to those matters
already mentioned. First in impor>
lance and weight, probably, was the
desire that the power of q Federal
| Administration to dictate in conyen-
tlons and elections through patrons
age should be checked, and that the
dIsgraceful and demoralizing scram>
BILE for spoils should be arrested
The conduct of President Arthur
| of Mr.. Conkling or Senator Cameron
and of other men. had given great
intensity to that wish, but Congress
passed no act on the subject; al,
lowed its very organization to b.
shaped by Executive influence, ant
not wisely shaped; nade daily obels
ance to the appointing power, boil
IN Senate and House, and took part
IN the scramble for spoils as if i
had no better business. The refusa
to reduce taxation, and the passag
of wanton and reckless appropria
ton bills, and had less weight witt
, the feelings OF voters than the re
! fusaliof Congress to restrain or evel
to resent and rebnke the dictation O
, the Administration through th
abuse of patronage.
It would be well if Congress woul
! set itself with resolution and firm
ness, throughout the short sessio
Il that is at hand, to do the thing
about which the people are sub
stantially united They want spoili
hunting checked and Executive die
/ tation arrested in States and con
ventions, in the House and the Sen
ate. Congress can at least d
something in that direction, who
some part of the people will approx,
D and that will be better than TO d
) nothing, which nobody will approve
They want taxes reduced. Fl Con
eress does this ID such
n gzs a. uY offend Soma PEG