National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1886-01-26

tional questions of delicate nature touched
upon.
As to the former, 1t is probable that Sc
crecy serves as an encouragement to calumny.
So long as It is known that nominations will
be considered In secret, and all communica-
tions will be treated as confidential, the
slander mills will be kept running up to
their full capacity. 1t would require an
ingenious mind to invent any plan more
sure to encourage and incite personal vilin-
cation by the enemies Of a candidate for
confirmation than the system now In vogue
We believe the moral tone of American
politics would be elevated, public decency
promoted, and calumniation discouraged If
nominations were considered and acted
upon with open doors. The committee
rooms afford ample opportunities for all
the secrecy required in this business. Pub
lie officials are the servants of the people,
and no man should be an applicant for Of
fee or be nominated therefor who Is afraid
to trust his case before the Senate with
open doors. And If corrupt men do apply
and, by,deception or fraud, get their names
sent to the Senate; and If, when commit
tee has reported against them, demand is
made for the reason why-in such case 1t
were better for the country to let the facts
come out.
A very wholesome influence will be set in
motion when 1t is decided that bad habits
or character shall no longer be sheltered
from exposure by secrecy at the Senate.
There are men enough in the United States
who have clean hands and a good record,
who do not fear to face the world and are
proud to challenge scrutiny-there are
enough good and true men to I'll all the of
fees, and 1t is best to get rid OF every ar
rangement that encourages the unclean to
apply for place of public trust
Il may be that in considering treaties
there will sometimes be a good reason for
secrecy, but this will not often occur. When
1t does happen, however, the Senate will
always have the right to "clear the gal
leHes and close the doors.n This right
exists as to both houses, and should not
be surrendered. But the Senate may well
take favorable action on the proposition to
abolish the secret session as 1t now exists.
Let 1t be understood that open executive
sessions shall be the rule, to be departed
from only when good reasons exist, and the
dignity Of the Senate will suffer no loss by
the change.
As minor but not trivial consideration,
It is worth while to pay some attention to
the convenience Of the thousands Of people
from all parts Of the United States who
come 10 Washington to see Congress. To
have hundreds OF these at time, aggre-
eating hundreds Of thousands in the course
Of year, hustled out OF the galleries be-
cause a senator desires 10 interrupt lcglsla-
| tive business long enough for his friend
Smith to be confirmed as postmaster at
Smithville, or another senator wants his
friend Brown confirmed as consul TO Corn
vile, is not treating the people with due
respect. Senators will agree with us that
there is a great deal Of unnecessary inter.
ference with the comfort and convenience
Of visitors for very inadequate reasons-foI
business that could be attended to before
all the world without injury to public OF
! private interests.
And there is another thought that may
be worth suggesting In this connection
secret sessions are secret only In name.
The press Of the country has hitherto man
aged TO get hold OF all secrets worth print
| ing. 1t does so at this time, and 1t will
keep right on doing so. Therefore, when
the people are hustled out of the galleries
as II the existence of the nation depended
on the impetuosity of their exit, they feel
quite sure that H. after the doors are locked,
anything OF real interest happens they will