The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-01-27
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 27, 1859.
General Grants New Campaign.


been expressed in the most pointed and pos
tive manner. With that practical gooo sens
for which he is preGmiuently distlnsulSnv", 40
has discovered the vital point IN "h'Ou 'DV
A,oorioan people are most deeply interested,
o,,1 ir rasoJvipe to throw himself into tho
breaob against extravaganza and corruption,
g. hos GIVEN a new proof Of his resstless
opargv and undaunted courage. The combat
may be prosaic; it may prove far less plotu
esoue than the struggle between st' george
and the Dragon; aud it may excite little OF the
breathless interest awakened by the serrled
array of hostile armies, the assault OF 1ortS'
the dashing charges of troops OF caVaIry' the
impetuous attacks Of regiments OF infantry, OF
the discharge Of death dealing missiles from a
mark of artillery. But it is essential 10 the
welfare of tax-burdened people, and victory
IN this new field OF action Will be
IA useful and as glorious as the
CONQUEST of the Rebellion. 1t Will De no
holiday task to vanquiSh the advocates and
abettors Of extravaganza and corruption VINO
throng high places as well as low ones,
and who are, unfortunately, to be found
within the ranks of the Republican party as
well as among Its adversaries. The heavy
expsnditures caused by the war have swept
away old-fashioned ideas of economy, and men
now talk as coolly of subjecting the nation
TO new burdens amounting in the aggregate
to hundreds Of millions of dollars, SIS If such
sums were mere bagatelles. 1t seems to be
taken for granted that, inasmuch as the
American people have proved their ability to
sustain the unprecedented burdens which
were suddenly thrown upon them, there is no
limit to their capacity for endurance, aud no
good reason for avoiding any public expendi-
turs which promises TO prove useful at
future period, or in certain remote oontin.
gsnCies. The existing debt, rightly con-
sidsred, is the strongest OF all arguments
against spending single dollar that can pro-
perly be retained in the national treasury;
aud yet men of influence are not wanting who
deal with national finances in the spirit
displayed by careless and improvident debtors
who act on the principle that they are already
so hopelessly involved that it makes no prac-
ticsl difference how many new obligations
they contract, nor how feeble are their efforts
to pay their old debts. They remind us OF
character in one of Anthony Trollope's novels,
who is member of the British Parliament,
distinguished alike for utter disregard Of his
pecuniary obligations, represented by notes
and bonds, and for his extravaganza in per-
sOnal expenditures. As his notes fall due he
leaves his good d-natured friends who endorsed
them 10 provide the means of payment as best
they Oan, amiably pleading poverty, while he
never lacks sufficient ready cash to pay cab
hire, to attend the most expensive places Of
amusement, to wear the most unimpeashab!e
gloves, to eat the best dinners, and to drink
tue most famous wines. His conscience is
never disturbed by the embarrassment aud
misery he causes the dupes who obliginsiy
went through what they were
assured WAS the mere form"
OF endorsing his notes; and when be thinks At
sill about the ruin he has wrought, he excuses
himself with the reflection that it ID SO utterly
impossible for a man with his habits and
means TO honestly meet his obligations, that
all attempts in that direction would be stu
pidly quixotic.
IN the Congress Of the United States plans
for the resumption of specie payment, are oc-
cssiOnally considered, and now and then some
member has the hardiheod to contend that the
promises Of the Treasury should bs faithfully
redeemed; but while these and similar discus
siOns are of comparatively rare occurrence, the
consideration of new plans for expending the
public money seems to be perpetually in
order, and we are apparently no nearer firm
financial basis in 1869 than we were in 1860.
The President cannot control Congress. lie
can only recommend such measures as ne
deems iust and expedient, and veto
those which he aisapproVes' bu'
the value of the restraining influence
of a popular and powerful Executive thrown
uuequivocally and unreservedly in the scale
of economy and honesty cannot be over
estimated. Good men of all parties will bC
encouraged and bad men of all parties viii
bs rebEked, by such an example. Genera
Grant will not be able to purge the Executive
Departments, especially those charged Will
the collection of the revenue, without severe
struggle. A thousand subterfuges will bt
rssorted to to clog his action, and enemies L
real reform, entrenched in masked batteries
will confront him at every step, but we believ,
that in the end he will force his way ever
through this Wilderness, especially If he i
Oheersd in the conflict by a consciousness tha
the American people are at his back, keenl.
watching his progress and applaudiDg ever.