The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1873-12-20
CONGRESS- TAKES IT'S HOLIDAY
RECESS

hECESSy
Congress has taken its two.weeks
holiday, in spite Of the third estate-the
public press--which lifted its voice against
it. Would that its clarion notes had
been sharp and emphatic enough tc
shake the national Capitol from base t.
dome Of that imposing structure. In the
present financial condition Of the country,
two-weeks recess should not have been
thought Of moment. The people of the
United States are suffering loss Of not less
than million dollars day, for the want Of
means to move their surplus products, and
set the wheels of suspended industry again
in motion.
In such an emergency, something be.
sides Indifference to the national veal is
demanded. Prompt and energetic action.
in the right direction and with view to
immediate and adequate relief, is what the
people want, and what they have right
TO expect; and, our word for it, they will
hold their public servants, in whose hands
they have placed the constitutional power
to extend relief, to most strict and
rigid account in the premises. i
It is no time to fatter ourselves with
the idle illusions of hope. The pres
sure of the financial panic is not lifted the
weight that bears down our suspended
industries IS not lightened the paralysis
that has stricken our manufactures and
trade is not alleviated !: the simeon that is
sweeping our commercial coasts has not
abated its fury the ship Of state, which
is driving rapidly on the financial breakers,
has no Palinurus on board with skill to
outride the storm I; a general panic has
seized upon the crew, and its officers pro-
pose grand carnival in the midst of con-
fusion and threatened death! Did ever
human faulty further go, or human mad
ness further reach ..5-,,. /,
In heavens name, summon some man
of nerve and brain to the helm, before
the financial ship of state is utterly and
hopelessly stranded. But, first of all,
clear the deck and rigging of the Wall
street Sirens, who would charm the ears
of the people with the delusive song OF
"stringency curing stringency." Get rid
of these sea-nymphs, or rather sea-mon.
sters, if it is a possible thing. If not, recall
the fact, aud profit by it, that, when
Ulysses came near his destined coast, he
stuffed the ears of his companions with
wax, and tied himself TO the mast until
they were beyond the sound of these
rapacious singers. The Argonauts were
more fortunate, for they had an Orpheus
on board whose musical skill excelled that
of all the Sirens, causing them to throw
themselves into the sea with fate that
all deserve, who would rob the people
Of the golden fleece of industry. There is
more genuine reality. and symbolic truth
underlying this old myth to-day, than
there was when the Argonauts sailed
past their home, with Orpheus to render
upavailing the charms of those Stympha-
liam birds. These same malign birds Of
prey have their present perch in Wall
street, and if our Ulysses would only
apply the wax to the ears of our Con-
gressmen, and lash himself to the mast
in imitation of his old-time namesake.
there would be some hope of delivery
from the financial exigencies in which
the people are placed.
But there should not be another hours
delay in the remedy to be applied. 1t is
no time for carousal when Rome is on fire.
IL is no time for a two-weeks holiday
when every material interest of the country
is languishing nigh unto death, for the want
OF the proper stimulus to activity. The
people want the money that Congress could,
in one hours time, have authorized
TO be issued for their use. They
want it to move their pro-
ducts, to cheaper their transportation,
to start up their industries, to invigorate
their manufactures, to emil, en- their COM
merce, to give back their accustomed
thrift and vigor. Shall our Congressman
listen to the song of Wall street, or must
they have their ears waxed by the people
till they are properly deaf to the voice of |
1t is for them to answer in
the next twenty days, or stand amenable
to thorough acaring by the people, to the
extent Of both head and ears. We sounded |
The timely note of warning. Let those
who would cure the bite of a mad dog by
another and sharper bite of the same
fabd animal, cease to prescribe their
financial nostrums for the people.