The Democrat. (Scotland Neck, Halifax Co., N.C.) 1884-1896, 1885-09-03
A GROWING ETH-KLLL 1T NOW.

Hss1u urn the raScalS out.
GROWING EVL-KZLL 1T NOW.
One of the most dangerous and
fearful practices ever INDUCED in
by any people, has taken root in the
Federal Congress. And the sooner it
is eradicated, cut up root and branch,
the better it will be for the freedom
of the American people. If it ex-
tends it's operations outside Of con-
gressional circles, there could be no
prediction as to its injuries upon the
people, nor could there be any limit
fixed beyond which the custom could
not go. It has become habit with
Congress, that when a member of
either house, or clerk dies, that
body becomes very liberal with the
peoples money, and pays all funeral
expenses-however much, and some
times it runs up beyond thousands
and tens of thousands. We believe
Garfield's sickness and burial cost
in dollars and cents over 100000,
and we expect to see Congress pay
out of the peoples money several
hundred thousands of dollars as
soon as it meets for the funeral ex..
penses of Gen. Grant. You give
your President fifty thousand dol
lars per year, and in addition to that
you give the contingent fund of the
White House about seventy thousand
dollars year, all for the President.
You give a member of Congress
five thousand dollars a year and
his travelling expenses and stationery
bills in addition. You give the Off
GERS of Congress from $500 to $4,000
year.
Now if any one from the above
classes dies during his term, Con-
gress at once sets about with the
peoples money to hold a big Or little
'to do over the dead body, according
to rank. A committee is appointed
from both houses to accompany the
corpse home and see that no body
snatcher lays foul hands on the lump
of clay until it is deposited in it's
last resting place. Congress foots
all the bills out of the peoples money.
Then day is set apart to crate, eulo>
gize and rejoice over his virtues,
craftsmanship, and greatness and
goodness, which no one. not even
his most intimate friends, ever dis
covered until Death-the great
leveler claimed him as his own. If
you we're to take tbs Congressional
Record and read over the eulogies
delivered On these occasions you
would be amazed at the great men
thiS country has produced In fact
no man ever died as member o.:
this body, or as President, who was
not very great and very good man,
II the sermons delivered on these
occasions have any truth whatever
In the them. The next step they
take is to vote the family of the de-
ceased tEe unearned salary of his
u':eXpIred term, and pay hirr too.
80 1t frequently happens that tate
or congressional district draws
salary for one dead member and one
living member at the same time.
Now, its bad enough to be so badly
represented, and misrepresented
mere IN this world, where we can
speak about these wrongs to each
Other, but to pay fellow to m1srep-
resent US In the world beyond when
we cannot even so much as hear from
him is beyond human patience to
endure. Now this is all wrong. 1t
Is all done without the warrant of
the Constitution. 1t is high pre-
rogatlve the members of CONGRESS-
have assumed and exercised without
legal and Constitutional authority.
ana ought to be stopped. Why should
the people be taxed ten thousand
dollars to buy gold plated casket,
furnish funeral escort, and a BODY
guard, and furnish transportation
one thousan Or four thousand miles
for member of Congress.
The people are no more interested
in the burial of king than pauper,
and the God of Heaven said let the
dead bury their dead, and we find
neither in the Bible nor in the Con-
stitution any command to Congress
to bury their dead by taxation Of the
people.
Our University articles have
raised thundar fU,,ro+;roI1, ol