The record-union., 1891-03-14

efnOr Tor that institution.
THEY ARE GONE.
That end of the Capitol where Speake,
Reed vigorously sought to revive the
smouldering emblems of dying patriot
ism, now presents the somber tint OF
doubt as to whether the war, the tariff OF
the people themselves are jointly and
severally an ignominious failure. 1t is
our Colonel John p. Irish, of the Alta
happily arriving in time to lead in the
Doxology.
"Here let those reign whom pensions can in
To vote patriot black, a courtier white,
Explain their country's dear-bought rights
away,
And plead for pirates in the face of day.
AS the solemn herd with grip in hand
pass through these halls, one invariably
feels as though they were trying to CON
ceal some other political blunder which
might have been accidentally overlooked
in their hurried departure on the 4th.
| sometimes fancy | can see Pocahontas
turning around from her lofty eminence
to kiss her hand to some good fellow who
has been so completely showed under
that all hope of recovery is abandoned
On the portals of those stately entrances
there seems TO be written, in large, dis
play heads, that terrible admonitory
warning,
cNiiAAiNs
and as they leave the building for the
last time they seem to shudder as though
they had never noticed it before.
There are valuable lessons in future
statecratt to be studied, which 1T were
well for the new tenants in common to
take notice.
The incalculable time wasted in ''chin-
wagging" during every session of Con
gress; the impending calamity to the
v,t+
their number increases, to the utter eX-
clusion of necessary legislation, now at
tracts serious attention and presents an
urgent question to the thoughtful states
man as TO how this abuse can be sup
pressed.
The average constituency, especially i'll
the South, implicitly believes that those
individuals who are gifted with re-
dundancy of jaw-bone are the more suit
able to represent their interests in the
councils of the nation, so called. When
we come to reflect over tire usual mate
rial. moral and solid statue generally
maintained by very large majority o1
that class of persons, we find upon ex-
animation that this peculiaTity, Or gilt, IS
rarely ever bestowed except at the com
plete displacement of those indispensable
attributes which make men industrious
and useful.
we have only to refer to the names o
Baker, Ferguson, Edgerton, Pendergast
Hawks, Ike Hall, Tom Fitch and others
not now recalled, to establish the correct
ness of that assumption.
Those gentlemen We're all eminent anG
useful in their profession, but wholly
out OF place here, and 1t IS as well that i
should be understood among the people
A COMPARISON.
When the halls of legislation of the
on the earth, dedicated to the calm delib
Grafton of matters connected with its
present and future advancement anC
prosperity, are transformed into public
arena for the exhibition OF wind butchers
air carvers and political bunco-steerers
one becomes disgusted with q representa-
tive form of government.
Clear, concise, polite and logical state
ment of fact, without mental fancy ol
verbosity is more effective, expeditions
and carries with it respect and conviction
The most shameless attempts to perver
legislation occurred here last January IL
the Senate of the United States over the
'.cloture," a wise and necessary measure
in all legislative bodies.
The Democrats had determined to "de
bate" forty-seven days in order to pre-
vent vote on that change in the rules
and started in on full time.
1t was not the cloture that was objec
tionable but the force bill which followed
behind like the tail of comet. anC
equally as inSeparable.
Nor were the Democrats solely at faul
in this questionable transaction. Th'
Republican Senators who opposed tn,
silver bill We're willing for this debate Il
| continue to the last day of the session
| rather than that bill should pass.
Had they succeeded in passing the fore
bill without the "cloture'' they would
have fought the silver bill with equa
enmity and resorted to the same tactics.
When we reflect that all the appropria
ton bills would have failed and the Presi
dent forced to call an extra session o
Congress, composed of men who woulC
| Immediately pass the silver bill with
yell, it is quite plain to see to what de
gree of mendacity a legislative body
can descend, and to what base uses may
debate be employed.
1t is well enough to explain why it i
that takers and lawyers are not the mos
desirable class to occupy seats in a de
Lucrative body, especially in this age o
politics. The talking class at best ar,
simply attorneys here for the quiet, solit
commercial or producing class. They
do as they are told, and as rule they ge
their pay precisely as they get paid to at
tend case in court. Then why not sent
the principle?
THE ANSWER.
The leading solid men of the country
say no business or professional man car
afford to neglect his affairs for such
meager salary. That is substantially
! true, but there are certain duties whicl
that class of men owe to the State. Abol
| ish the salary and try that while. Som
! argue it would let in a cheaper lot thar
we have now. That is useless, if not i'm
possible.
! The people seem to be seeing it anG
have commenced to correct the evil in {
certain degree-but will this moyemen
last any longer than the Know-N 9th
ings, the Changers, the knights of Labo
and other kindred political organizations
Outside dozen men or so, the recog
niZed leaders on either side, the remain
| ing honorable 300 of the House of Repre-
sentatives occupy themselves principally
| during the daily sessions in chewing to
bacco, talking politics, telling stories, o.
| listlessly lounging on their chairs dream
| ing of beer, women or their befoggeC
constituency. Suddenly jerlled TO thei
| feet like jumping-ia jack by the dreaded
| roll-call, they waddle to the cloak-roon
! to escape being put on record. That
| about the size of it. The average visito
who frequently comes from long dis
! tance, and regards himself fortunate il
arriving early at the Capitol to get from
seat in the spectators gallery, listens a
| first with earnest attention at every pro
ceeding, and wonders in the innocence o
his heart if he could ever learn how to dc
| it so as to become one of them.
| As it gradually unfolds its tiresome ant
self-exposing form, the doleful platitude
and bungling SMILES which CRATE OF
even his ear, over the most microscope
nonentity, begins to weary rather thai
| entertain him.
| He soon associates it with similar scene
at home in town meetings when tn
| bucolic heart is sorely exercised over tha
troublesome local problem as to whethe
unmuzzled dogs shall be permitted to rul
at large.
When the so-called debate enthuses, th
| debaters toot their toot-horns to the re