The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1858-12-24
Why Cur Foreign Claims not Settled
t"rscs that are Dragging Us 10 Revolution.


| Why ur Foreign Claims not Settled
| t"rscs that are Dragging Us 10 Revolution.
The prompt settlement of the Spanish claim;
| upon ths Governor of the State of Tamaulipas
| for spolations of Spanish subjects at Tampico
| has very naturally given rise to the questions
| which are in every ones mouth: Why are not
| the claims of our citizens settled with equal
| CELEBRITY? Why does not our government ACT
with energy at least equal TO that of the efetc
power Of SpainS
| There is settled conviction in 3he public
mind that cur government does not bestow tina,
attention and care upon the numerous individual
questions that continually come up in our foreign
| relations which great government ought to
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 great truth, and great
evil for us. If we would preserve our moral
position as a great Power, we must pursue
the course which belongs to a great Power
Nothing weakAs so much our influence abroad
as neglect and carelessness 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 10 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 al 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 be sought
REGARDLESS Of the fotor from the hideous sore.
This cause lies in the impossibility Of inducing
Congress 20 take up the questions and 70 confer
upon the executive branch Of the government
the necessary power TO act. The spectacle that
i presented in our Congressional sessions l. one
that stinks in the nostrils OF the whole country.
Tire i FILTERED away with an inccssant wrang.
ling that Is disgraccful to dclibcra,ivc assem-.
lily. Language that would BE- expected from
only the lowest rips Of society i continually
heard uponit floor Scoundrcl and liar ar among
the frequent cpithcis applied by members to each
other; and when their lungs tire with viuperatiyc
repetition, iisticun fight in the aisles aud open
space before the Speakers chair is brought In as
d relief Ont OF doors the scene Is no better
Canes are broken over each Others heads. brick
bats are thrown, and pistols are not unlrequcntly
rcsorted TO. TheFc are the daytime occupations
Of the members. five copSiF Goliow them into
their nightly haunts scenes still more disgusting
would meet our view. The riot and filth Of the
roaring dchauch would be the most venal aud
from that through every act Of unbridled license.
ending in The gambling house or the brothel
Their courses q life would disgrace the occu-
pants Of our penitentiary, while those Of our
New York pententiary at least have The merit
Of earning their living by their labor, which is
more than can be said OF the members Of Con-
gress
Ia this dsgraceful picture no distinction Of
parties can Ne made. All are alike In their
blacheuudism. corruption and rascaliiy. T. l.
rot he discussion Of the public business tha,
gives rise % these scenes but ii H. the constant
quarrclling, intriguing, cheating and lying tina,
are carried on for private aud political pur-
poses. Every man has bis clustering and
shoulderhitting partsans at home to reward or
defend bic own views Of personal Advancement:
lie particular political clique to advance. aud
some ambitions aspirant for the Presidency to
help force upon his party. With some The mo
tive Is power; with others, money; VITA others.
again. fear Of exposure; while no, lcw are only
obcying their own vile instincts In this way
The power " tho country is weakened. the rcyc.
nue. squandcred by millions the government Dis
rraccd, and the people plundered The President
may do his duty, but, unsustained as he IL by
Congress, he can do nothing. lie has not the
power 10 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 for
power in the cases Of our Central Ameri-
can and Paraguayan difficulties was first refused,
and The last only granted ct the last moment In
fact. every man, instead ~ bcirg actuated by a
sincere desire a. advance the interests Of the
country, seems 10 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 to
bring into the Presidency some man whose ser.