The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1869-01-16
GRAN,r Oh RETRENCnMENT.
y telcgraphic dispatch dated De,


au interview ON the subject of subsidies to
another Pacific Railroad, that no matter
what may be said about the prospective benz
efits we may derive from such road, it is
too long to wait, and we should make the
best possible use of our present resources,
without Increasing tho burdens of our debts
by urging expensive risks, which are hazard.
Gus. Sc0,e of the congressman witS whom
he had tkc interview were astonishcd et the
fraSkness of his views, while others pledged
Ain their support.
Some people are very easily "aston-
ished;" they are "astonished" at very
little things. Some Congressman, it
seems, are "astouished" that General
Grant has notion of adopting n Pol
icy of Retrenehment and Reform
We are not as.onished ut this at all
for none, we presume, will deny
that the country needs such Policy;
but we area little surprised that
General Grant should believe that
very much may be saved by refusing
any more land-grants for railroad pur-
poses He begins at the wrong place.
The policy of granting alternate
sections of the public lands for rail-
road purposes, was first inauguratcd
in Illinois, under the lead of Stephen
A. Douglas. Congress, after n very
thorough discussion and warm oppo-
sition, granted alternate sections for
the construction of the Illinois Central
Railroad and this policy worked so
we'll in that State that it has been ex-
tended to all the new States and Ter
ritories in the Union. 1t has been
found to work admirably. Although
the Government gives away one-half
Its land on the line of the Railroad,
yet the value of those lands which it
retains is so enhanced that it loses
nothing; the country through which
the road runs is built up and develop
ed; individuals and entire commune
ties are immensely benefited in
deed, everybody is benefited by the
land-grantp policy, and nobody injured.
1t is a unique policy. No other with
which we are acquainted works like it
at all; and it is one which gives gen
eral satisfaction to all classes of pco.
pie. Why, then, should Gen. Grant
desire to abrogate this policy? If it
works well all around-if everybody
likes tiff it benefits the Government
as well as individuals and entire com
munties-why attempt to kill it Off?
We had hoped that public lands
would be granted to aid in building
~'another Pacific Railroad" We want
to sec the Northern Pacific Railroad
built because the route over which
twill run is far better adapted for a
Railroad than the Union Pacific; be.
cause it is shorter; because the coun.
try through which it will run is i'm
measurably better, and hence the road
will come nearer being selfsustaining
and because it will prevent the Unior
Pacific Road from becoming a gigan
tic monopoly.
Can it be possible that Gen. Grant
has been bought up by those III th'
interest of this Road? lie opposes
further land grants for railroad pur
poses ostensibly on grounds of econo
my But is that the real reason ?
During the last fiscal year, as we learI
from the Report of the COMMISSIONS
of the General Land Office, the Gov
ernment received only about $685.
from the sale of public lands-a yer,
small sum when compared with tn
amount now annually expended il
carrying on the Government. Som
of our '.loil" men steal that much ar
nually.
If Gen. Grant Is really desirous &
inaugurating Policy of RetrencT
ment and Reform, he ought not to bt
gin at the public land department c
Government. IF he really desires t
aid his down-trodden and distrcsse
country, let him use his powerful il
fuence in breaking up the "Whiske
Frauds" whereby the Government
cheated out ofmillions on millions e,
cry year; let him go for Tariff fc
Revenue, instead of ofProtection, wher,
by hundreds of millions of dollars al
nually flow INTO the pockets of tn
manufacturers that, under a Revenu
Tariff, would find their way into til
vaults of the e. S. Treasury. Il
him kick dishonest officials out of 0
flee; and let him discountenance tt
extravaganza and corruption now :
prevalent in every department. of Il
Government ;-and he will thus sa,
hundreds of millions every year; bl
we hope the Land Grant PoIicy, ,oftl
United States will not be molested.
Ezmzzzzzz-uzszzszzzz
A BASTILE DESTROYED.
Fort Lafayette, in New York ha
Dor, was recently destroyed by fire.