Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1864-04-18
THE DANGER OF THE Ho1-R

The country evidently has more 10 fear lust
now from Congress than from the rebels in
arms. The Government is prepared with mil.
itary fol- &c TO crush the rebellion in the course
OF the coming campaign. Never before were
ITS means in the field, and about to be brought
IN the field, so ample; while the rebels must
fight the campaign Of this spring with hardly
more than half as efficient strength as that with
which they began the spring campaign OF last
year.
The territory from which they can draw sup
plies is now so Giro ums cribed as that they NAV
he said to have lost full half of that so neces.
Safy adjunct TO ensure success which was
under their control on the 18th of April last
Other things being equal, under such circum.
Stances il would be next to impossible for the
rebels 10 make formidable war after the open.
ing OF the approaching summer.
But Congress stands seriously in the way OF
the success OF our country's arms. The ma.
jority seem bent on playing into the hands Of
the rebellion, as well as into those of the oppo-
sition, who hesitate not 10 aid the rebellion in
tEeir work of making political partizan war
fare for the control of the Government. The
weakness of the Government now lies in the
depreciation of its currency and securiies-in
the accumulation of its war debt. That is un.
der the control Of Congress; yet the majority,
through fear of buncombe, seem determined
not to apply the necessary remedies
There are but two in number hea ver gener-
al taxation, ana restraint upon the local and
State banks from flooding the land al libitua
with paper I ever destined TO be redeemed. 1t is
ber issued for tie most part, wholly at the
pleasure OF the issuers, without any other
security for its ultimate redemption than such
as hiss been foukd to be a mere mockery on
sYSry occasion when the never failing finan-
Ciai ash has followed the oft-recurring undue
expansion Of the currency. The local and
State banks are active political workers, and
members OF Congress-or rather many OF them
elect tn iegislate under their duress, though
knowing that in so doing they are aiding them
20 Ferpetrate W hClesale robbery of the masses Of
their constituents. That Is, in preference TO
lesislating to strengthen the credit of the
Government in this hour of its sorest need and
trial since the close OF the revolution.
With due increase of individual taxation,
ard effective legislation to make the Govern
rnsnt issues the currency Of the nation, and at
he same TINE 10 guard the public against the
,thfrwise eventual certain general reputation
~ h. State and local banks aided BY statute
d.ly rur ishiDg gambling Ia gold while that is as
~ pre- sent hie h crime against the general puh-
lac interest, Congress can, in thirty days, bring
iia value o. the national issues up to within
h!Tly Per Centum of the value Of gold: thus
is sNing the necessary cost Of carrying on the
= IT enormously, guarding most effectively
is"lrs, he success Of the plans OF the sympa.
th7zers with the rebellion to wrest the control
CT The Government from those W no are bent on
PUTTING Down the rebels by force of arms, and
Ft the same time guaranteeing the country
against much OF the otherwise certain univer.
AL financial mashiug and crashing thlp is to
follow AT the close of the war If Congress
1871 al this session 10 strengthen the public
credit by due taxation, and duly to guard the
rights and interests Of the community against
The power OF the local and State banks to issue
IrTsT collars never designed to be redeemed,
hey will simply invite the success of the Cd.
rositcn in the fall election, it matters little on
What platform the latter may elect to profess
10 stand; as so signal failure TO do their duty
VIII amount 10 a proclamation OF the utter
III Illness OF the current Con gress ionai MAJOR.
lN 10 b. longer trusted with what should
~ their share OF the work of restoring the sn-
rrfmaey OF the Government throughout the
land