Year: 1877

GAtrd OeSSlOn OF congress.


~ accordance with the call of the


resident, Congress is now convened


1n extra session. 1t has met under
circumstances that require but a
|prlef sitting, and the sole and speedy
|trapsaction of the business for which


WA members were summoned. There


M 70 need for prolonged debate or


l3H pEotracted discussion of ex trane.


9'l7 issues The whole country under


sIantissfhe needs of the occasion, and


s''e people expect of their representa-


<zyes such wise adjustment of the


nqlng difficulty as shall harmoni
|t'i'siy adjust the relationsbetween the
rtmeflts and the public service.
sNFhen the needs Of the Army have
Ma pfoperfy provided for, nothing


VIII remain to be accomplished by


the present session. This question


has been so long considered and is so


thoroughly understood, that its ad :
Justment can occupy but little of the


time of experienced and patriotic


men.


There will be attempts on the part


Of certain partisans. no doubt, to
sieze this occasion to forward their
own selfish purposes. The Presidents
Southern policy has been severely
criticised by the Radical wing of the


Republican organization, and his


bold practical movement in behalf
ofCivil Service Reform has antago-
nized those who carry into politics
the destructive idea that to the VIC
tors belong the spoils of political
victory. Those who hold such ideas
will be only too glad of an opportu-
nifty to air their Indignation, and
will seek all methods to make an
assault upon the Administration
But it must be borne in mind by the
thoughtful leaders on both sides that
the people have heartily approved
at least up to this point-the policy
of pacification and the attempt to re-
form the civil service. The recent
visit of Mr.. Hayes to both Northern
and Southern sections of our common
country have demonstrated that old
methods of political warfare have
passed away, and that the masses are
anxious for nothing so much as the
restoration of the suffering industries
and stagnant commerce of the land.
WY o~7r.~ s...-s ssasS~A P~IiuIouo yIluo
fairly initiated shall be carefully tried,
and that it shall not be nipped in the
bud by factious opposition. IfCon-
gress shall again awaken the quarrels
that have distracted the country in
the past, it will be held to a strict re-
sponsibility for such suicidal course.


But the present session of Congress
has nothing to do with political
questions, as such. 1t is summoned
for specific work. 1t has to provide
for thepayment ofthe men on whom
the people rely for defense against a
foreign or domestic foe. Already we
are shamefully in arrears of debt to
our brave defenders, because a mere
ly political antagonism stood be-
tween our manifest duty and our leg
islators. There may have been some-
thing by way of excuse in the
manner in which the army was used
in former years for the humiliation
Of our Southern brethren, but this
excuse has been taken away. There
is no longer any complaint from the
South, but they enjoy the same priv
ileges that are accorded to the people
of the North, and the Army is now
addressing itself to its proper work.
On the borders of Mexico and in the
passes of the Sierras it is
the aggressions of hostile
forces, and it sorely needs to-day all
the nursing care that can be bestowed
upon it. Under these circumstances,
the one thing to be done by Congress
is to vote the necessary supplies and
then adjourn. This is what the peo-
pie demand and will expect. TO en-
gage in such heated political discus
sions on other points as will embroil
the country again, will bring down
upon the members of the National
Legislature such popular rebuke as
will abruptly shorten many promis-
ing political careers.


Probably an attempt will he made
to cut down the army, as we'll as to
decrease its expenses. Against the
latter nothing can be said, provided
it can be demonstrated that such re-
trenchment is a true economy. But
public opinion is scarcely prepared
for any curtailment of the small
handful of soldiers that is dignitied
by the title of an Army. General
Mcclellan, General Sherman, and
other eminent commanders, have
openly expressed their opinion that