New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-01-30
nNrA1rHFUL REPRESENTATIVES,

1t is the declared sense of the Republican
caucus that Republican members cannot dis
charge their duties to their constituents, nor
act with fidelity toward their party, without
attending strictly to the business of the House,
being present at all sessions when they are
physically able, and remaining in attendance
until the business of the session has been COM
pleted. The resolution of the caucus expresses
the will of constituents. But that Will has not
been made known, it appears, with such empha-
sis as to command the obedience OF all men,
hers The time has come for Republican jour
nails to second the efforts of the caucus and TO
make known the determination OF constituents
to retire any member who neglects his duty to
the party and the country.
II is far from light matter. The success OF
every National policy for which the people de-
clared by their votes in 1888 depends upon the
personal fidelity of Republican members. II
to one of them were offered few thousand
dollars for betraying the confidence of his con-
stituents, and defeating by his vote the policy
of his party, he would be aware that such
treachery would put an end to his public life
and cover it with infamy. But 1t is in every
respect as much a betrayal of the party, and oil
constituents, to expose National policy to de-
feat by absence or neglect. When member
does this for the sake of pocketing few thou
sand dollars in his private business, he sells
out his party and his principles for personal
gain as truly as if he had pocketed Demo
cratic bride.
There seems to be but one way to arrest this
betrayal of public trust in some cases The
newspapers in every district will have to put
before constituents the record of absentees and
to show what interests they imperil or defeat
by their absence. 1t might not be out of place
for a standing committee of the caucus to be-
gin the regular publication every day OF an
official list of Republican absentees whose fail
ure to attend is not caused by physical inability
or by other sufficient cause made known to the
committee If such hist were sent out for
very few days, and copied by Republican news
PAPERS widely, it would become very short
list indeed.
No man has any business to take seat In
Congress who cannot discharge his duty there
If he is compelled to attend to private business
at the time public duties claim his attention he
cannot honorably delay rendering his resigna-
ton to those who elected him as their repre-
sentative But frequent absences at Washing
ton are DUE it is commonly reported rather to
pleasure than to business. The many enjoy
ments of the National Capital, it is said, take
members from their duties much too often
Be the cause what it may, the man who neg
ects the trust reposed in him by constituents
ought t. have his name published every day of
his absence from the House in every Repub-
lcan paper of his district. In almost every
session of Congress for several years the abb
sence and neglect of duty by some Republican
members have more than once caused serious
difficulty. Now that the party has been charged
with the responsibility of government, the of
fence can no longer be tolerated with safety.