The national Republican., 1867-11-26
"RETRENcuMENT AND REFORM

Iho WOrus OF our chptiOn viii constitue N
rallyipg cry Of the leading members Of congrs'
Of all parties and factions during the prsssn
session. Persons who have claims against III
Government, however just and moritorious. an
lobby members" whose business II Is to induc
Senators and Representatives to be liberal Il
voting away tho peoples money, may set thsi
hearts at rest that they will not make thoi
everlasting fortunes out Of tho fortieth Congress
Economy must rule the legislation Of the hour
The people demand II, and IL Is policy fol
their representatives not only to yield 40.
quiescence to the popular will, but also
to bo active in manifesting n desire to 'rstrenob
and reform" in every department Of the Govern.
uent. The reports Of the heads Of the several
departments to the President, and the Prssi.
dents message to the two Houses Of Congrsn, In
December, will all point to reduction Of the
public expenditures
The Indian war for the past year has cost the
Government over one hundred miiiI0n dollarI
This single Item" must be met by taIation-A
burden now almost too enormous for the people
to bear. 1.-THE example set by General GRANT,
10 reducing FORCES and eIpen'cs since ho has ad.
mini,terod the Affairs Of the War once, be fol.
lOWeu IN every OlueT DThnCu VI tno uONoInWoutI
enough will be saved in one year to meet the
cost of the Indian war. "A penny saved is -
good as penny earned, and much bettor than
II wrung from the pocket Of tho poor man BY
taxation.
There are many ways in which the public
debt can be paid without opprcs'ing the poor.
Last year rings were formed TO lobby Con-
gress for the purpose Ofreducing the tsI on many
articles of Iuxury-the rery eldss Of Particles that
hbWH be tar,d highsH-while all articles that
enter into tho consumption Of the poorer classes
should be taxed as low as possible.
A largo class Of Manufactured articles, upon
which immense fortunes have been made, are
taxed much less than they ought to be, because
Congress has been induced BY lobby sssnts and
rich manufacturers to reduce the taxes upon
thsm. Congress should go outside Of all ''rinss',
tax all sorts of luxuries three times as much a.
they are now assessed, and then make II State
prison offence to adulterate liquors. BY this
means the public debt would the sooner be paid
pth less burden upon the poorer eia'ss', and
drunkenness would be diminished one half. Let
those who desire to drink pay for It and pay
wH.
Let those who have the money to spare insist
upon a stimulus, II they please, but let 1t be
pure and less injurious. Most drunkenness
come Of drinking poisonous liquors, not p"r,
liquors, A man may drink enough whisky Il
make him drunk, but If 1t Is pure 1t will MOI
poison hi, system and lead to the dsliriHn
remenS. Pure liquors, whom drank alone, never
produce headache. Drunkenness and death
comes Of cheap, adulterated liquors. Let Con
gress provide against their manufacture and sale
and then tar pure liquors heavily and make n,
rich pay for their diI'ipatiOn or stop 1t. Which
ever way the result of such legislation turns, Il
will bo for the benefit Of humanity.
It is a fact that the eyes Of all our people srs
apon Congress to wait for tho man who vii
strike out boldly on tho whole question Of re
trenehment and reform, resisting all jobs insti
tuted to rob the Treasury, add present the sub
jeet Of the finances in such clear light that al
the people can soc and understand which Wa.
We are drifting, whether upon the shoals an'
quickssnds of bankruptcy and repudiition o
towards the haven of redemption and nationa
honor. Let that man step forth, and the psopi'
will follow him.