The national Republican., 1868-12-29
ECONOMY,

We do not know, for q certainly, that the
remarks attributed to Gen. Grant in con-
versation recently, said to have transpired be-
tween himself and several members OF Con-
gress, to the effect that the Pacific railroad
enterprises should not be allowed hereafter to
take dollar out Of the Treasury OF the United
States in the shape of bonds, but that fhey
should be carried on by private capital, as
sisted possibly by land subsidies, are cor
rect or not. We think, however, II Gen.
Grant did say Just this he said the right
thing. All attempts OF this nature, which
must, OF necessity, deplete the public treas
ury and thus increase our already enormous
debt, must beimet and defeated. There 10 no
other course left for US, II we be wise, which II
is safe to follow.
Every man must see that the most rigid
economy is the invariable rule, and that no
other policy can be thought OF until the coun.
try is in more healthy condition financially.
II is useless to beg and to beseech, for self
preservation is the frat law of nature, and 1t
applies with tenfoid force In times like these,
when the nation is struggling with mighty
load of debt, which, unless provided for, may
siak It In irretrieyable ruin.
We do not doubt that Gen. Grant said just
these words. 1t is characteristic Of the man
and 10 an earnest Of his axed and unshaker
purpose to make his administration an eco
nomical one. In this determination he will
have the people with him.
There is one patent fact that stsrcs cvory
man In the face, however, and Ills so plain ,
fact, and II obtrudes itself so conspicuouslJ
before the public gaze, that everybody mus
see IT. we mean the frauds which are practicet
upon the Government by corrupt officials, BY
which the Treasury Is robbed Of millions
What we might give to railroads iu the SHAPE
of bonds or land subsidies, might be set dowr
as mere bdgaieiieS, when compared to the
enormous frauds OF the whisky and tobacco
rings, whose stealIngs within the last few
years may be counted by hundreds OF millionl
OF dollars.
1t is to these practices that President Grant
administration must put an end, as well ns tn
giving Of bonds to Pacific railroads. II n b
important that this lsst-named method OF lie
pleting the Treasury should be stopped, 1t
even much more important that these giganti
frauds should cease, and at once.
We say, therefore, without attempting I
prognosticate in respect to the Cabinet c
President Grant, we are conHdent that a
Cabinet ministers, and all eads OF bureaus an
all officials who shall serve under the incom
ing Administration, will be held to rigid ae
count; and we are sure that men will be sD
very names and characters will inspire publ
confidence, and will give assurances that th
affairs OF the Government will be admins
tered with q rigid regard to economy.
Such men we have insthe ranks OF the Re
publican psrty-men who voted for Grant AM
Colfax-no latter.dsy converts, who make nc
cessity the occasion for supporting Mr.. Grant
administration. There are plenty of suel
who will come In and claim the spoils, as the
word 1t, which they are fond OF saying nov
belong to them because they give In their ad
hesion to the new Administration. They hATD
done this because they could do no better
We denounce and repudiate all attempts Il
put into the Cabinet, OF at the heads OF bu
reAus, or into Official positions anywhere, mel
who arc not true and tried Republicans. Hon
est men, capable men, we must have, ant
within the Republican fold these men can b.
found. We object, therefore, to the assump
tIons put forth by the late Seymour and Blair
tics that to them, because they now yield
Jolong a portion OF the Offices, one or TIVE
places In the Cabinet, and SO down along II
that proportion.