The national Republican., 1869-02-05

theirs, nave tnus I'D the puDnc |
service ofthem. They appear to have gone as
Mrs. Perry, the so-csllcd "washington wo-
man"-though having no identity whatever
with washington-did year or so ago, into
some other business. As an institution, this
female lobby grew out Of the incidents, ifnot
the e1igencics, Of the war; for 1t was not
known here previous to 1860. II 10 as gen.
orally, as sincerely hoped that 1t will take Its
final departure with the exodus Of President |
johnson on the 4th prorimo.
wAsTHD-As EXPLANATION.
Those In Washington connected with the |
press are awaiting the Official publication Of |
the examination Of Mr.. Frederick P. Stanton
before the House committee investigating |
tho Alaska-paymonts matter with no little |
interest. The allegations giving rise to this |
investigation, 1t will be remembered, en-
braced sweeping charges against the integ-
rty of these gentlemen as class. The tes-
timony so far taken entirely exonerates them
as a class from any such suspicion. 1t is
clear from this testimony that not q single
professional writer for the press In Washing
ton or elsewhere received q dollar Of the
Russian gold-not one. As Mr.. Stanton yes
terday testified that he vas applied to by
some ono Of the press gang for some of 1t, on
the ground Of his alleged influence with Sen.
ators and members and his alleged control
Of the press men here, Il Is not wonderful
that the rest want the Integrity Of what
they write concerning public affairs vlndi-
Gated by the publication OF the proof from
Mr.. stanton's lips that neither one of them
selves Is the man who approached him.
A SOUTHERN CONGRESSIONAL CHANCE OF
FRONT.
Ten years ago, and almost from the COM
mencement Of the Government to that time,
the Senators and members from the South
were the most inhexible opponents Of lavish
expenditures by the Government. They
were, indeed, Its most persistent and en-
phatlc economists. A white crow was hardly
rarer that Southern member given to giving
from the national Treasury to all who made
demands on 1t. The war has apparently
changed all this, as those who now repre-
sent the South are as apt to vote for Jobs as
any others from any quarter. They are
among the loudest and most earnest friends
of appropriations for railroads.
The Institution Of slavery kept the South
quite thirty years behind the rest of the
country in the matter Of railroad construc.
ton. In fact, until slavery disappeared
not one man in ten In the South knew til,
value and Importance Of railroads to coun
try. Suddenly, all the whites at least, o
: that section, are reauzlng that without then
1t must long continue 10 lag behind the res
OF the Union; and, as q consequence, the,
are clamoring for them, not only In theil
local papers, but at this point, as no Others
ever before clnmored for increased railroad
facilities. Hence the exertlons Of Southern
Senators aud Representatives for Govern
ment aid for the construction Of dozCr
such works in various parts Of the South
1t is clear, however, that they will have t.
await the entire pacihcation Of their section
before q dollar or an acre will be accorded
them by Congress. Every one of thel
schemes are meritorlous per "j are eminentl!
necessary to the due development of the rs
gons they are designed to traverse. But
the condition OF the national finances is not
propltious for such expenditures, more cs.
pccially where all citizens Of the United
States are not equally sure Of enjoying al
their rights alike.
THE soUTH's FINANCIAL PROSPECTS.
The South, by the by, Is Just now growing
rich faster than any other section of tn,
Union. That Is, so far as the profits of 1t,
people from agriculture are concerned
"Cotton is" certainly "king" again. Now
legitimately, all rejoice to know that thi
: season it puts heavy profits in ready casl
into the pockets Of Its growers. The plant
crs Of Alabama, for instance, are said to hav,
much more money at command than ever be
fore, according to the number of acres the,
have cultivated. Upto 1860, their purchases
of slaves, In advance Of the receipts of tn,
proceeds Of their crops, kept them deeply II
debt. That Is, with their lavish persona
extravaganza. As, now, they neither bu!
slaves nor throw away money In ostentatiou
display, they are actually accumulatlng rea
wealth faster than any other agrlculturlst
: on this continent. As a class, they arc ye
poor because year ago few Of them ha
| together. In ten short years they will b
nabobs again, In the extent Of their avail
able means, which will go into railroads
= mining, manufactures, banks, &c, &c. L
the course Of the next decade, the countr
will witness such material improvement a.
dreamed Of.
THE ISAUGURATIos BALL.
: hear that some twenty gentlemen o
means have guaranteed the payment Of tn
expenses of the proposed Inauguration ball
a very necessary step, In view Of the fact tina
more or less for 1t have been heavy loser
through the failure of the sale Of the ticket
to realize sufficient 10 cover the cost OF tn
ball. On this occasion none Of the NAL
gender are to be Invited guests, except tn
President and the Vice Presldent-Grant ant
Colfax. As dead heading" caused most o
the deficiency Of receipts heretofore, thi,
proposed reform will probably hold tn
guarantors Of the approaching ball harmless
GREATLY NEEDED REFORM.
While both House and Senate are 30 com
mcndably endeayoring to economlze In max
ing appropriations for general purposes, i
appears strange to observing men here tha
they wholly fail to look closely to their owl
contingent expenses, which, as officially
d. published, exhibit more or less extraordi
nary payments of the public money. Th'
recently exposed payments for Patent ofic'
supplies are nothing to them. | have NJ
doubt that full million per auuum can bC
, very properly saved to the Treasury by suct
reforms In the contingent expenses of the
two Houses Of Congress, as glance at tn,
publications referred to above immediatel.
suggest.
The HANNIBAL AND ST. JosBPH RAILRoAl
l. Il.