Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1899-05-09
TUESDAY EVENING. MAY 9, 1899

Perforated, but We opine that some OF
those who profess q consuming desire
to improve it, by changing the
mode by which its members are chosen
would be only too happy to become six
year members of that body. The SEN
ate would then undergo wonderful
transformation in their eyes. 1t would
be case OF presto. change. The COM
mon every day grub would put on his
wings and become a lovely butterfly,
the admiration of all beholders. Talk
10 this reformer then against this august
body Of which he has just become
member (but only to reform it, and he
would say: ''You know nothing about
it. nv dear sir. The Senate is a great
body of patriotic and intellectual States
men. am member OF it myself and
know it to be fact. The Senate is su-
perior TO what it was in its palmy days.
You must not allow yourself to be in
iuenced by this vulgar clamo- and mis-
representation" So this reformer
would crate and pro-rate, that is, If ne
could only get there. All talk or
schemes thenceforth for changing the
mode of senatorial elections would be
10 him like last years birds nest.
The Richmond conference and It's lofty
programme OF public virtue would be 8
mere back number--a good stepping
stone for office, but no longer needed,
and somewhat inconvenient as q topic
for handy reference. He would be
afraid of having it used against himself.
Some of these current criticisms upon
the Senate doubtless have partial JUS
tifcation. In crisis of political and
social decentralization, following war OF
crime and spoliation against the'South,
and a long series of corrupt republi.
can administrations it would be
strange indeed If the Senate
did not to some degree reflect
the change in public morals. After an
era in,which Grant, Hayes, Arthur, Gar
field. Harrison, Colfax, Belknap, Beast
Butler, Alger and Hanna have been the
chief actors on the political stage, we
cannot expect the Senate to be made
up OF angels. The Lord be praised
that it is no worse than it is. But how
about the House of Representatives
Does it keep up the old standard. Look
at the Credit Mobilier scandal, the soil
ed doves of the republican church, the
echoes there OF Northern hate and NAL
ice, the panderers to the great railroads,
the tariff 6arons and the money kings, to
Lombard street and Wall street, the cor
rupt instruments of the great gold
trust; the carpet bagger5 and scala
wags, the perjured wretches who stole
the Presidency, the men who sacrificed
honor, conscience and their constitu'
ents in order to grovel at Cleveland's
feet and do his bidding. Is the body
that conniged at the corrupt bond sales
of Cleveland's regime fit spectacle for
gods and man to applaud? Hardly.
How was it that a vulgar tyrant in the
House could lord it over that body for
years and years, pack the committees
to suit his caprice or interest, put the
three Virginia election cases in the
keeping Of a man known to be preju-
diced and INSCRIPTIONS, and yet not
be called to account for it? How was
it that the Infamous scandal OF the beef
contracts was allowed to pass last winter
without committee of investigation !?
What secret motives were behind this
failure of the House to do its duty and
strip of the whitewash of the Presi-
dents hirelings ? How does it happen
that the administration must be handled
with gloves? 1t is true that not only
republican but democratic members of
Congress have been running in con-
slant stream to the White House and
the executive departments, capin hand,
begging for Offices and patronage not
only for their political supporters but for
members of their own families? With
such things going on, how can we ex-
pect any political virtue from the House
of Representatives. Look, if you please,
at the spectacle of man wearing the
uniform of the regular army and pre-.
tending also to be free representative
OF the American people Is it necessary
30 have bill of sale made out and wit
messed? Take that present scandal,
greater by far even than the Infamous
Alger beef contract-an engineer officer
OF the army convicted OF defrauding
the government by millions of dollars,
the finding of the court-martial pigeon
holed by the President, everything
fixed up so as to have the statute of
Limitations apply, and not single step
taken in the House of Representatives
to bring out the facts. All, gentlemen
When the House begins to arraigu the
Senate for delinquency, is it not the old,
old story, when the pot blamed the ket-
tie for being so very black. No, gen.
tlemen! Honors are easy between your