National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1886-02-20

ceYenty-nNC uayS' almost eleNGu Weehs,
have elapsed since the forty-ninth Congress
assembled having a safe Republican major
ity in the Senate and an overwhelming
Democratic majority in the blouse of Rep
resentatlves--the latter fact being largely
due to fraudulent and revolutionary dis
reimbursement Of Republican districts.
Immediately on assembling the Senate
quietly addressed itself TO the important
business in hand, and has continued to
work with degree Of industry and an evil
dent appreciation Of its responsibilities
worthy Of hearty commentator. II has
shown as much Of lofty patriotism and as
little Of merely partisan spirit as has ever
been displayed in the proceedings Of any
legislative body in the United States since
political organizations appeared on the
national stage. It has promptly sur
rendered party advantages in the hope of
promoting the general good, and the major
fly has only drawn the party line when and
where failure to have done 50 would have
been a surrender of principle.
1t Is too much the habit OF the press and
people to indulge in indiscriminate censure
Of public servants. Abuse Of Congress is
as common in newspapers as weather items
or market reports. Merited censure Of
Congress is both just and expedient, but
ignorant and uncalled-for scolding is In
decent and injurious, for II not only de-
prives men of their fair deserts, but tends TO
impair public confidence in body that is
rendered less potential for good by such
impairment.
The NATIONAL REPUBLICAN, speaks adj
visedly, and after careful study of the facts,
when II states that the Senate Of the forty
ninth Congress has, by diligent attention
to business and the maintenance Of q lofty
standard of public duty under circum-
stances calculated to arouse political BIT
teri ess and provoke party strife, merited
the confidence of the people in no common
degree.
An inspection of the Record and the
calendar of the Senate proves that 1t has
performed vast deal Of work, and that
the public business, so far as 1t depends on
the Senate-and especially in so far as the
Senate is authorized to take the leads in
an advanced state of forwardness. Not
one Of the great objects Of public concern
has been ignored or neglected. The Re-
publican party of the country may proudly
point to the Senate as an example Of Re-
publican methods of doing public work.
But what has the House of Represent
atives been doing during all these weeks ?
Conceding that it was justified in devoting
good many days to the framing and adop.
tlon Of new set of rules, and making no
account of the time thus expended, what
else has II done to merit approval or disarm
Ccnsure? The southern wing Of the Dem.
ocratic party-the wing that makes Dem
ocratlc national victories possible by neat
and handy devices for putting minority
on top and holding II there-has the speak
crship and almost monopoly Of important
committee chairmanships. We make no
complaint of this, for II accords with the
old maxim Of the Democratic party-''to
the victors belong the spoiIs." The south
is the victor-let her have the things that
pertain to victory.
Where are the great public measures to
which the House was expected TO give care
| full consideration? Where are the appropria-
ton billsY What has the House to show for
seyenty.nve times "the space that measures
day AMI night to mortal mani"
From present indications there can be nc
hope that the House will meet the Just de.
mands Of the people, 1t will go dilly.
dallying along in a dazed, slip-shod sort Of
way, with its work in chaotic state, until
past midsummer, when conferees will ar
range the appropriation bills and the mol
will melt away, not dozen members OF the
House knowing what has been appropriated
and most Of them too deeply disguised Il
care.
The contrast between the two houses o.
Congress is suggestiye-in fact, it is ex
tremely instructive.