Year: 1869

rigid title Of ''citizen." which marked her
stern effort at pure republicanism.


We have for the past three years been
settling the war-stirred elements and finding
where we stand as the result of our great
revolution. So soon as the good sense of the
nation measured political swords with the
usurpers of power it spoke through that
body-the House Of Representatives which
is in closest sympathy with the people, and
took the first step-the repeal of the Tenure
three branches Of government to their proper
positions. The Senate, however, has failed
to recognize this action Of the sovereign ele-
ment, and consequently stands as an oil
garch;cal body, defiant and disposed to cling
to the power which has very naturally centred
in it, but which it only clings TO from the
natural love Of power. There are, be-
sides, certain auxiliary causes which
induce the Senate to cling to its
position, and these are the influence of rings
of harpies who, pushed like scum to the sur
face in time of commotion, have naturally
clustered around the body which possesses the
strength to prevent them from again sinking.
These make the United States Treasury their
objective point, and prosecute their siege with
an obstinacy which, if it has no other merit. is
compliment to American tenacty even as
displayed in the worst element among us. In
the Senate we find men who are most tho
roughly under the influence of these rings !;
nay, who are believed to participate in the
schemes of wholesale plunder aimed at the
public revenue. The operations which have
lately taken place in Wall street in gold and
United States bonds are the best proof of
this, and the railway schemes which were
lately thrust before Congress like an avalanche
only swept by without great damage owing to
the public disgust at the system of plunder
which they represented.


There now stand before the nation two rival
systems struggling for the mastery people,
as represented by the newly elected President,
and the Senate, with its absorption of power
and its corruptions. Which will win be-
comes a very important question with the
people. If the former is successful we shall
return to the quiet and prosperity which 80
boldly marked the period just previous
to our civil war; if the latter triu mph,
then shall we enter the condition
which precedes further political over
turnings. The Senate, clinging to its power,
will indicate that the people are discontented
with the form OF government as inaugurated
through the old constitution, and are prepared
to adopt new and different principles, adapted
radically to the times and demands of the
nation In the broader scope which opens rs we
survey the field of America and what il
promises. If the coming battle between Grant
and the Senate be not won by the former it
will be a good proof that the constitution Of
the United States was only suited to our de-
velopment as people while we We're in the
crude process of national formation By par
ticles, and that these particles. uniting for
general action must have different funda-
mental law for their government. We there
fore look with great interest to the first month
of the coming administration, for ii will be
pregnant with great results to the people Of
the United States. II Grant exhibits his solid
character here as be has elsewhere, he, Us
the representative man, backed by the people
who elected him, and their representatives ii
Congress who support him, will overturn the
great ring, the Senate, and start upon the road
TO our future with government less inclined
to wreck us by radical action.