The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-06-29

should yet be binder than blind if we did
not see that innumerable dangers must attend
a sudden change of relations which have been
naturally established and 50 long maintained
II is one thing to abolish laws which inju-
riousy affect the material interests of married
women--it is quite another to attempt the
repeal of natures ordinances.
SOURCES OF STRENGTH IN THE
CANVASS.
From the NJ y. Times
1t is fortunate for the Republican party
that the general policy of Congress, and the
course marked out by General Grant for his
administration, furnish precisely those
elements of strength which most readily COM
mend themselves to the favor of the people
While the more thoughtful of the Democrats
are engaged in the almost hopeless task of
weaving their party from its worn-out ira
ditions, and inspiring it with an appreci-
alton of new issues, the Republican may
confidently point to what they have
accomplished, and what they are doing,
as evidence of ability to satisfy the re-
quirements of the country. These require
ments we take mainly to be, the introduction
of honesty and purity into the administration
of the Government economy in every branch
of the public service, the improvement of the
public credit, readjustment and large reduc-
ton of taxation, and the earliest possible
Enough has occurred to show that on each
point the popular wish is reflected in the mea-
sures of Congress and the work to which the
administration, during its brief existence, has
faithfully applied itself.
To estimate properly what has been effected,
it is necessary to keep in mind the condition
to which the rule of Andrew Johnson had re-
duced public affairs His conflict with Con-
gress entailed other evils than those connected
with reconstruction. The entire service of
the Government was demoralized. Expend-
lures were kept up to the war standard long
after the exigencies which had occasioned
them had passed away. Corruption pervaded
every department The revenue service was
largely in the hands of imbeciles and knaves
Organized fraud turned into private channels
streams that should have found their way
into the Treasury. Thus while all forms of
expenditure, civil and military, were main
tanned on an extravagant scale, the collection
OF the revenue everywhere suffered from
the operations of swindlers and thieves. In
tegrity seemed to have been banished from
the service where it was most needed, and
the revenue service became scandal to the
Government and a source of constant and
ruinous loss
The advent to power of General Grant
wrought an immediate change. Congress
had performed it's share of the work called
for with an energy against which outgoing
secretaries had peevishly demonstrated The
appropriations were largely cut down. The
army was greatly reduced and a plan in
augurated which will reduce it further. The
navy was shorn of its costliness! And effec-
tive means were adopted to carry the same
practice OF economy into every department..
All that was possible in this direction may
not have been accomplished by Congress,
but nearly all was done that seemed to be
expedient until the results of earnest co-ope-
ration on the part of the Executive had been
| fairly tested. period less than four months
| is too brief to develop these results fully.
| But it has sufficed to bring about great re-
| forms, and to justify sanguine expectations
as to the working of Republican admins
| tration.
General Garfield, in a speech delivered the
| other day at Columbus, sketched some of the
more striking characteristics of the four
months effort First, as to the revenue. It's
collection has been transferred to capable and
honest men. The rascally "rings" which too
long controlled it have been broken up, and
reforms have been brought into play with
immediate advantage to the Treasury.
| Although the first three quarters of the fiscal
| year yielded but 1886, 200, 600, the current
| quarter will yield not less than $40, ,000 600
or 800, 000 600 more than was received in any
single quarter under Johnson. The whisky
tax exemplifes the changein detail. In May,
| 1000, the COuu InduuIacGur6 gave 10 Iue
revenue but 81, 800, 600, whereas last month
it produced $4, 500, 900, with thirty-six col
lection districts yet to be heard from. An6
every branch of the revenue service exhibits
| proportionate improvement. With the reve
nue. thus rendered more productive, we may
confidently anticipate material reductions il
taxes next session.
Turning to the expenditure side of the ac
count, General Garfeld's statements are
equally suggestive. During the first thre,
quarters of the present fiscal year the ex
penditures amounted to $256, 600, 900, or al
average exceeding $S5, 200, 900. On the othe
hand, in the current quarter they will not ex
ceed $50, 600, 600, or 1926, 900, 900 less than il
any other quarter of the year. Not only
then, will the Congressional appropriations
reduced as they were, meet the wants of tn
Government under General Grant, but ther
will be a surplus of some $37, 900, 900, am
the nuisance of deficiency bills appears likel
to be avoided for the first time in years
Meanwhile too, the reduction of the publ
debt goes on, and the Treasury management
though not absolutely free from defects, com
mands degree of public confidence whic
best testifes to its integri ty.
These are considerations which taxpayer
will appreciate. They are evidence of a.
intelligent performance of duty on the part c
Congress, and of zeal, judgment, and inteG
rity on the part of the administration Th
Democrats may invent new issues, if the
can. The Republican party, in the discussio
of national affairs, may point with wei
grounded satisfaction to what it is doing j
the matter of economy, and to the foundation
1t is laying for the measures of relief whic
trade and industry unitedly demand II