The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1868-03-10
HARD TIMES AND WORSE COMING.
What a Radical Says Of Radi-
cal Rule.


Ward, O wealthy and extensive owner OF
steamers on the northern lakes, and OF the
radical persuasion in politics, was made
chairman. Mr.. Ward being an influential
citizen, was directed By the convention to
petition his radical friends in congress for
relief from the burthens of taxation that are
now expressing the people. This he has al
ready done in several communications, but
without response; congress having been en-
gagged in reconstruction for the benefit of the
niggers and the radical party. The rump
now having entered upon its summers job
of impeaching its own president, it is not at
all probable anything will be done before
next winter to relieve the people, and Mr..
Ward will have to address them again. We
commend Mr.. Wards letter to all republi.
cans, and especially those who will not read
anything but radical documents. We think
it would do them good:
To the Hon. the Chairman Of Committee on
VGys and Means and on appropriations
Of the House Of Representatives and Of
the Senate Of the United States:
While the people look with commendable
satisfaction at your efforts TO economist in
printing, and some other directions, they still
see large avenues of waste that, to the tax
payer, who is monthly visited by the despot
ic and memorable tax gatherer, seems not
only needless, but wicked, when the depress-
ed and prohtless business of the country is
considered
They see thousands of men paid high
wages for mere mythical services in the
several navy yards of the United States
when the common sense of the people tells
them they are not needed, even if they gave
willing and adequate services for their com
| pensation-
| They see great navy making mock
| display in Europe al an enormous expense
to the taxpayers, distributing gold to Euro
pean nations, while our own country is il
a state of semi-bankruptey and they be
lieve that fifteen Or twenty small cruisers il
| Chinese and other foreign waters would b
ample to protect our largely diminished com
merce ON the ocean.
They see acres of ordnance, anchor, an
other naval supplies to meet the wants o
| an adequate navy in time of peace for 4
years to come, while this same class of SUP
plies are constantly aGgmenting through tn
| anguid operations of 10000 listless, half eu
ployed mechanics.
They see a large feet of revenue cutter
on the lakes and the sea-coast, the service
of which are so chimerical that no man ca
designate any valuable use they have bee
to the government adequate to the cost {
| keeping one of them in commission, if W
except the boarding and wrecking tugs ker
for that especial purpose at our principe
seaport towns. THE collectors of custom
at Detroit, Mich, and at Boston, Mass cor
firm this statement
They see an army vastly in excess of til
wants OF the government kept in the sever.
northern states, whose only present valu
consists in eating up the industry of tb
people, and without any apparent prospe,
tive use to the nation.
Thew see a minister of state assuming tt
power of dictator, and pledging the natiol
al faith to his illegal traffic, in the purchas
of countries and islands that only entail i
| creased taxation, without the least hope
compromising benefits.
They see thousands of we'll paid officia
n OF all kinds and grades, living on high sal
: RES, who absorb the net earnings of from |
10 io0 industrious men each, who ought
have been dropped from the pay roll, as W,
done with other debris left by the war, whe
the war closed.
They see an Indian department and IL
e collection portion of the treasury departme
y reeking with corruption, and the officia
: who are often detected continued in off
: without punishment.
They see that, in the great commerce
: game being played by the nations of Il
earth, our people dig the precious meta
n from our mines, while the more shrewd a,
e cunning financiers of the old world pock
IS all the stakes, and are now securing mo
' gage on our domain by taking our bonds
compensation for the gewgaws and fiumm,
les OF fashion and folly, as well as for t
: more staple products OF their industl
: which, by statesmanlilse legislation on o
- part, would be secured to the industry of o
II own people, while it protected our bon'
y and our credits.
4 They see congress spending months
) proftless debate, while the great elemer
is of national wealth are paralyzed, and I
people cropping in the dark, but seekil
70 light that congress, in it's superlative wisdo
70 fails to shed on their future hopes. Th
~ demand active, practical and effective leg
1t lation, and they yet hope that republic,
m congress will not have to boast that the
N expenditures. in some directions, are mo
= mo. tue corrupt waste of the hated admin
, tration of James Buchanan. but that IN.
!, expenses shall have been brought to 4
II lowest limit compatible with the simplic;
of true democracy.
pfl In short, the people find their taxes a,
's burdens far greater than that Of any 9th