Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1871-11-29
The F'Orfy-secOmd COmgsess-Hs
.Ues. 0tud Measures.

way oflogislaiion this winter. Never
before in the history of our national
legislative body has IL been so weak
in instruments by which great m cas-.
ures are perfected, and never before
has so much of the perfection of wis.
dom in legislation beet required. The
credit of the country is excellent, in
spite of blundering financial manage.
ment but a wise, comprehensive,
statesmanlike measure is needed to
make that credit tell in favor of our
industries at home and our commerce
on the seas. As financier, Mr.. Bout.
well is failure; but, unfortunately,
the administration and Congress arc
dependent upon him for financial ideas
and guidance. Mr.. Sumner is neither
friendly to tlubparty in power, though
he is himself Of that party, nor is he
the,man TO put the country on solid,
gold paying basis. Mr.. Sherman, the
Chairman of the Finance Committee
of the Senate, is tariff tinker-only
this and nothing more. Mr.. Morton,
who, ifanybody, is the oracle ofthe ad.
ministration, is too much of politician
ever to become statesman. Mr.
Trumbull ranks very high in a certain
school Of politics, but he is positive
only in his lack of every positive
quality. This makes up all of tho
Senate who can be looked to, however
remotely, for legislative relief in the
present crisis and they are the men
upon whom depends, in great meas
ure, the hope of the immediate future.
In the House, Dawes, Garfield, Kel-
ley and Shellabarger are the leading
lights of the republican party. Gen
eral Butler is kicking around on the
outside of the party pond, trying to
teach in various ways the party ducks
how to improve their swimming
ground. But there is no more to be
hoped for from the five Representa-
tives than from the five Senators.
Neither of them can be compared to
the five wise and the five foolish vir.
gins, for they are all without oil in
their lamps. And yet important meas.
ures affecting taxation and the in.
terests ofindustry aud commerce force
themselves upon the country and Con
gress, though the ability TO deal with
these questions is wanting Ameri.
cans complain that they cannot build
ships or compete with other nations
in the trade OF the world and Con
gress responds that it does not know
how it is. The American merchant
finds, in spite of steam and tho cleo
trio intercourse of the cables, that
exchange in London tells fearfully
against him year after year with
millions of gold lying idle in the
Treasury or dolcd out in Wall street
as an Eighth avenue grocer doles out
eggs TO his customers in a scarce
season. But Congress, busy as it is
with taxation and the tariff, the duty
on coal and the duty on iron, can find
no way to make greenbacks as good
as gold and an American acceptance
in London equal to British accept.
anco in New York. Mr.. Boutwell,
docs not want specie payments any
more than country storekeeper dc.
sires fall in the price of prints
Congress cannot step in with grand
and comprehensive scheme which will
bring the precious ores out of their
hidden vanlts to revivify every branch
of industry and trade, because Con.
grcss knows only the law of small
expedents. Nothing comes Of ii all,
and nothing can come of it till dol
lar is q dollar in fact 40 woll 40 IN
name, and till payment of the national
debt becomes u possibility, not by be.
ing taken out of the mouths of the
people at the expense Of sweat and
toll, which leaves the nation poorer
at the end Of the year than at the be.
ginning, but by the overlooking and
redundant wealth of an energetic and
prosperous nationality. 1t is not the
statesman who can perceive this who
will prove himself great, but he who
can sweep away the necessity for
such measures of small. minded succor
as the repeal Of that grand achieve,
ment Of American craftsmanship
known as maritime reciprocity, or
smaller attempts to make the volume
of the currency sclfad djusting, accord
ing TO the wants Of the people, by a
policy which shall mako golden eagles
flow in the same channels as golden
soverigns, will make for himself ever.
lasting fame, and of his countrymcn
happy and prosperous people,
This is the great thing for Congress
to accomplish, All other schemes are
only part Of this. Tinkering at the
tariff may lead TO warm discussions
between ardent but superficial protcc.
tionists, and not less ardent and super.
fetal revenue reformers. The repeal
ofmaritime reciprocity may inspire the
hope that the golden age of American
commerce, when the American sails
whiLened every sea ard tho American
flag gladdencd every port, is about to
return once more. Efforts to make
the volume of the currency sclfad,
justing, according to the wants of the
people, may provoke a smile among
men who know that paper is paper,
whether it is called one dollar or a
hundred but they can ouly give us
new loan bills, with fresh syndicates
and fresh failures. And yet, in spite
of bulls and bears and Boutwell, and
laundering Congressman, q green.
back is worth in gold nearly the faco
of the figures printed upon it, because
it represents the energy and wealth
and credit Of tho nation. 1t is only q
step from the deprecated currency OF
to day to the gold values Of to.mor.
row but it is a step which, If taken,
will make the draft Of the New York
merchant equal to the draft of the
merchant in London and Liverpool
and lift the American people out oi
the slough of despond To take this
step is the mission of the Forty second
Congress but without this there is
no necessity whatever for a Forty soc
ond Congress.
| II uonld ha a hntniliai;no unaoi n al.