The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1858-12-24
Why Cur Foreign Claims are not Settled
trrsts TINT are Drnggfng Us 10 Revolution.


| Why ur Foreign Claims not Settled
| t"rsss TINT arc Dragging Us 10 Revolution.
The prompt settlement of the Spanish claim;
| upon tn, Governor of the State of Tamaupas
for spolations of Spanish subjects at Tampico
| has very naturally given rise to the question;
| which are in every ones mouth: Why are MOI
| the claims Of our citizens settled with equa
celebrity Why does not our government ac
with energy at least equal to that of the effett
power of Spains
There is a settled conviction in The public
mind that our government does not bestow that
attention and care upon the numerous individual
questions that continually come up in our foreign
relations which great government ought "a
bestow. Our position as one of the four leading
nations of the world is everywhere acknowledged
in political sense, and yet our citizens in many
| places abroad do not receive the consideration
which is often bestowed upon the subjects Of the
| minor Powers. This is a great truth, and great
evil for us. If we would preserve our moral
position as great Power, we must pursue
the course which belongs to a great Power.
Nothing weakns so much our influence abroad
ms neglect and carclessness in guarding
the rights of our citizens. Individual cases are
suffered to accumulate until by their own weight
they have broken down all respect for us, and
then great exhibition of power has 70 be made
| against some particular country to restore due
respect for our national character and individual
| rights. Millions are then expended, where. had
there been proper display Of energy and power
in the first instance, the simple visit of some ship
of war would have been eli that would have been
required.
There is cause for this great wrong--one that
can only be remedied by probing it to the core
The task may not be an agreeable one, but like
in that OF The physician, health should b. sought
regardless Of the ictor from the hideous sore.
This cause lies in the impossibility of inducing
Congress TO take up The questions and to confer
upon the executive branch Of the government
the necessary power TO act The spectacle that
i presented in our Congressional sessions il one
that stinks in the nostrils OF the whole country.
Tire i frittcred away with an incessant wrang.
ling that il disgraccfil to delibcrativc Assem-.
by. Language that would be expected from
only the lowest rips Of society Is continually
heard upon its floor. Scoundrc and liar arr amoag
the frequent epilicts applied by members to each
other and when their lungs tire with vitupera.ye
repetition, isticun fight ia the asles aud open
space before the Speakers chair is brought in as
q relief Ont Of doors the scene Is M better.
Canes are broken over each others heads, brick
bats are thrown, and pistols are not unfrequently
rcsorted TO. These are the daytime occupations
Of the members. five cous ~ follow them into
their nightly haunts scenes still more disgusting
would meet our view. The riot and filth OF the
roaring dcbauch would be the most venal aud
from that through every act Of unbridlcd license,
ending in the gambling house or the brothel
| Tbcir courses q life would disgrace the occu.
| pants Of our penitentiary, while those Of our
New York penitentiary at least have the merit
of earning their living by their labor, which i
more than can be said OF the members of Con.
| gress.
In this disgraceful picture no distinction Of
parties can he made All are alike In their
! blackguardism, corruption and rascality II i
! rot the discussion of the public business that
gives rise to these scenes but II is the ccnstan,
/ quarrclliug, intriguing, cheating and lying that
are carried on for private and political pur.
| poses Every man has bis clustering and
shoulderhtting partisans at home to reward or
! defend bic own views Of personal advancement:
his particular political clique 10 advance, aud
some ambitious aspirant for the Presidency to
help force upon his party With soinc the mo.
| tive is power; with others money; v''h others
again, fear Of exposure: while not few are only
obcying their own vile instincts In this way
the power Of The country i weakened, The rove
hue squandcred by millions, the government dis.
| eraccd, and the people plundered. The President
may do hi duty, but unsustaned rs he Is by
| Congress, he can do nothing. lie has not the
| power TO act; and we have already seen, even In
the last session, how impossible il il to get Con
| gress TO do anything effective. The request Cor
| power in the cases Of our Central Ameri-
can and Paraguayan difficulties was first refused
and The last only granted at tho last moment. IN
fact, every man, instead ~ bcing actuated BY d
| sincere desire to advance The interests Of the
! country, seems TO be under constant fear that
| somebody may get chance to do something
| that will make him prominent before the
people.
There is no remedy for these evils but 10
bring into the Presidency some man whose ser.