Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1882-12-13
THE OUTLOOK.

AS ndS dIToduJ DCcu duuOEuCtO Ill AJLCEE
specials, the present session of congress
bids fair to be very busy one. TIE ses-
sion is a short one. The Republicans feel
that they have great deal to do in the
waning hours of their expiring majority,
to strengthen the weak joints in their har-
ness. Their aim is to repair the errors of
the past, and strengthen themselves for
the future. A perplexirg task is
before them, and in the fuss and furry of
the haste Of {. short session, they may un-
dertake to DO too much and do nothing
we'll.
They are not only stung, but stunned by
the rebuke of the people. Their eagerness
to take back track shows their insincer-
ity, and they will get little or no credit for
right action from principle. Mere policy
impeis them to impress upon the
people the idea that they are not voting
selfshly, but for the public good. The
people have had taste Of their quality,
in their former action. and q gaining back
Of the confidence lost is task most diff
cult.
On this point, the Republicans who are
elected to seats in the Forty eighth con-
gress are most anxious, while the defeated
members, who never expect again to warm
seat IN congress, are Indifferent, or sui
len, Or sulky, and take their overthrow
most ungraciously. They attribute
the defeat of the party, and justly,
to selfish and corrupt leaders, and
bad blood, elimination and recrimination
In this state of things, there is lack of unity
of feeling, and the defeated members in
the seats are not SO anxious to hasten mat
ters az are the members that hold over.
There are various objects which Repub-
lican members wish to accomplish for
party benefit more than for the public
good. Civil service reform, which has been
SO much mouthed and so little advanced, is
topic OF great concern and much discus
sion. Every promise of reform in that
direction has been falsifed. Its
principle, if it has any,
has never been practically lived up to. The
word of promise has been kept to the ear
but broken to the hope.
The tariff looms up for "judicious'' ad-
justment but it presents stubborn prob
lem for solution, and party ties will not
be kept intact in its discussion.
Appropriations are to be cut down
and the reckless extravaganza of the party
in this direction is to be avoided.
The Territories will be clamoring at the
doors of congress for admission as states.
Dakota, Washington and New Mexico will
come forward in this direction. The Re-
publicans will surely advocate the admis-
sion of the two first named as a party
measure, and their admission would in
crease the slender and precarious Repub-
lean majority in the Senate. But the po-
| litical status CT New Mexico now being SO
we'll defined, the Republicans will not be so
anxious for its admission.
All these things and others, leading to
debate and long drawn-out discussion,
| must, with other questions, consume q
| large share of time.
The Fitz John Porter case will be
warmed over and rehashed, to the con-
sumption of more time. The
putting of Gen. Grant On the
retired Hist Of the army will come up
for consideration. a proposition without
justice or merit to recommend it. 1t is a
| matter Of pure favoIitism. Gen. Grant is
| rich. He has been rewarded by his coun-
try far beyond his deserts. He has been
| twice elected by grateful peo-
pie to the highest office within
their gift, and in return
rewarded their generosity, By giving them
an administration of corrupt personal
favoritiem, such as the history of the gov
eminent has not otherwise known. And
in his Unsuitable greed, he, and his gang
of corruptionists, sought third term to
perpetuate the reign of dire corruption.
The treasury should be no more
depleted in his behalf, by giving him a
salary of twenty thousand dollars a year
for doing nothing. Such an act would he
a matter of unjustifable favoritism. He
is constantly bobbing up. and putting in
his oar somewhere to vex the public pa
tience.. 1t is high time he was retired, not
on a salaried army list, but retired
to such position as impartial
history will give him, and where he will
shrivel up into dimensions far less than
the toadyism of the present day has been
wont to give him.
If the Republican party wants to re-
trieve itself, let it show works meet
| for repentance; let it lay aside
the corrupt partisan selfshness that has
blackened its record, and honestly seek
the general good, instead as heretofore,
run for party benefit.
The loss of power for its lack of fidelity
| to the true interests of the country, and its
outrageous party sins, will be
a just retribution, and if the party succeed
ing it in power shall live up to the behests
of patriotic rectitude and seek the true
welfare of the country, and be party of
the people and for the peo-
pie, all will have good reason to
rejoice in change of administration.
| But let not much be expected from the
| present congress in the receding weeks of
the short session. The present majority,
if not too much debauched, is too
heavily cowed and dispirited, by
| the popular rebuke of the