New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-11-28
TgOUGHTS FOR RULERS.

The most effective sermon is not always mat
which calls by name people IN the pews. Inc
lesson given to their rulers by the voters Oh
this country can be interpreted, BY anybody
who pleases to mean the man in the next pew
But he will be happest in the long run VINO
asks his conscience in all sincerity " How much
of that belongs to me?'
Congressman may well ask their own con-
sciences how far they have been governed by
their sense of right, and how far swayed by
desire to please Ignorant, vicious or greedlly
selfish elements among their constituents Has
there been no conspicuous or half-conscious
betrayal of public welfare to demagogues and
kraves? May there not be found in the long
list of appropriations some which were known
to be unworthy, but which strong or noisy
interests favored? The voters know, and they
have their own deliberate judgment regarding
some features of the pensions legislation, the
River and HarbOr ILL., and the Public Build
ings bills How many members of both houses
were there who delayed public business by
their neglect? If any member is conscious
that in either of these respects he failed to 90
his duty he may properly take part OF the peo-
pies censure to himself.
The people wanted pure and impartial
Election law, and were giving to no other topic
more earnest attention in many OF the States
when Congress was in session. 1t would be
well for every Senator and Representative to
ask his own conscience whether he performed
his entire duty in that matter whether his pre)u-
dices or his tumidity stopped an act OF Justice;
whether private influences OF constituents
which he had no right to regard, restrained him
from urging measure necessary to the public
safety or whether any partisan or selfish motive
led him to insist upon provisions not IN accord
with the welfare of the country. Can any man
tell how many voters were disguised by the
failure of Congress to complete such measure
as should have been enacted to protect the
purity of the suffrage?
The new tariff was in truth brave and wise
measure. In nearly all its provisions it de-
serves hearty approval. But few features
ing which congressman must have found it
hard to reconcile with strict sense OF duty.
There were many warnings that the people
would not approve any favor to trusts or other
combinations designed to deprive consumers OF
the benefits of Protection, and in most things
Congress remembered its duty. But was the
greed of individuals or corporations unable to
shape any clause of the act? If one or two
trusts which still survive had been forced out
of existence by the bill the measure might have
commanded more support at the outset than it
did.
Again, If among thousands of worthy public
servants some individuals in posts of trust have
failed to do their whole duty to the people
whose servants they are, some fraction OF the
reverse may be owing to these delnquents also.
In several States, moreover, there was a Re-
publican management which did not satisfy the
sincerest voters. 1t is now duty OF all who
are charged with responsibility to say whether
such management shall be sustained and pro-
longed. In word it is proper time for the
very best thought and the conscience OF the
country to be heard and Needed