New-York tribune., 1873-12-20
QUESTIONS OF THE DAY.
VIEWS OF THURLOw WEED ON PUBLIC
AFFAIRS.

DEBT-SPEClE fANhENlc-HONESIEAD
LAw-vIRGINIus QUEsrIoN-slR l. LORRAINE
COMMUNISTS AT COOPER INsTITUTE-sUG-
GEsTIoNs To WEALTHY CITIZENS, ETC.
70 IAe editor Of The Tribune.
SIR: A writer in The Albany Erenino Times makes
two OF three corrections of the newspaper remnis-
eences which you so kindly published few days
since Francis Adincourt of Troy published The
Formers Register, aud not The Northern Budget
supposed. i remember the establishment of The
Altaay Republican, by Samuel r. Brown, though in
writing from memory it escaped me. The Republican
must have been short-hved, for in 1914 Mr.. Brown
was publishing paper at Auburn j worked IN
his office as journeyman from the 1st of December,
1918 until early in February 1914 when / left Au-
burn to make pedestrian journey to Cooperstown'
Ii is true, the Albany writer remarks, that Jona
than Bunce was publishing paper at Peterboro',
Madison County, early in the year 1872 but It's pub
hcation ceased before the end of the year
The paper then published at Batavia by Mr.. Blod-
get was The Cornuoopid and that published in Onon-
daga Valley bv hlr. Redfeld was The Register, and
not The Gazette as l erroneously supposed cannot
remember that Mr. Alden Spooner commenced the
publication of The Star in Brooklyn as early as 1870
although knew him successor to Mr.. Holt in The
Nee- York Columbian and afterward editor of The
Brooklyn Star
Mr. John Bigeow furnishes The Neuburgh Journal
WlIh the copy Oh lIOm tno ldNC
MIR. Flagg giving his early typographical expert
ence together with a very beautiful tribute to the
services and character of the deceased statesman
learn by letter from Judge Allen of the Court of
Appeals that Mr. Redheld is not the only surviving
member of the Senate of 1924. The Hon. Alvin
Bronson of Oswego, now nearly 80 years of
age, is living and III the enjoyment of
reasonably good health. Mr.. Bronson was
not only an upright but useful Senator. As mer-
chant his thoughts had been good deal occupied
with the subject of finance and bis experience and
practical views enabled him to render good service
10 the people of the State. Much important legisa-
= tion upon financial questions emanated from tle
Committee in the Senate, of which he was Chair
man. 1t would be well for our State if we had many
such men as Alvin Bronson in its legislative halls.
am aware of the propensity. or. as some say, of
the privilege, of old men, to declaim against modern
wrongs and abuses. ought also TO be aware of the
slight regard paid TO such croakings. Yet cannot
reason or persuade myself out of the conviction
that changes in reference to public affairs have
not been in the right direction. The class of
public men by which our Government and
institutions were inaugurated, and those who for
the thirty or forty years Immediately succeeding
occupied the executive, legislative, and judicial de-
partments of the Government, gave their thoughts
and their time to the enactment and execution of
Those men have passed away. And where
are their successorsi Where to look now for
the wisdom which inspired and guided Congress in
the earlier and better days of the Republic To say
nothing of the more distinguished men whose names
are familiar to every household, where shall we look
for successors to John Sargent of Pennsylvania,
Elisha Whittlesey and Samuel F. Vinton of Ohio,
Truman Smith of Connecticut, John Davis OF Mas
sachusetts Gulian c. Verplanck and Victory Birds
eve of New-Yorki Without impeachment of the
motives or intentions of the leading Rep
resentatives in Congress at the close
of the Rebellion, i confidently assume
that they signally failed 10 render the service which
the emergency demanded. i will content myself
with referring TO the failure 10 consolidate the Ma
tiona Debt and 10 reduce the rate of interest from
Fix 10 five per cent. This, had the question been
wisely matured aud the proper time and clrcum-
stances been considered might and would have been
accomplished; thus relieving the Government ana
people from one-sixth part of their annual burden
The Government once enjoyed in its public domain
a source of enduring and inexhaustible wealth
Under the enlightened policy of the early admins
1rations the debts, both of the Revolution and of
the War of 1872 were not only paid from the pro
ceeds of that domain but in 1886 the surplus accu-
u,nlated was 80 large as TO cause much
.olicitude in Congress and among the people
There was danger, il was said to the Gov
ernment from an overfowing treasury. Inc
temptation to corruption was too great Ihat
surplus was finally divided pro rata among the
States and to avert what was considered so finan-
ciallv dangerous modern wisdom invented schemes
by means of which the public domain has been
squandered or rendered valueless. The Homestead
law popular deusion, has utterly disappointed
the expectations of its advocates. Those to whom
farms were given decline or neglect to accept them.
n tha bnndrpdS of thousands expected TO
seek homes in the West few indeed have
wended their way thither, while most
Of those who have gone would have valued their
lands more highly if they had paid the Government
rrice for them Spectators, therefore, rather than
actual settlers have prOhted by the Homestead law
Grants of lands to encourage the construction OF
railways la wise policy properly restricted sdherng
in all cases TO reservation of alternate sections have
become a great abuse. Land. grants, instead OF
being concessions to develop the resources OF the
West and promote the welfare OF its inhabitants
have been sought and obtained by adventures.
These grants are now best known and best de-
ecribed as Land grabs" The result OF modern
leQisaton therefore is found in the squandering OF
a domain which, properly cared for would have
pa,d the annual interest, and ultimately paid the
debt incurred consequence of the attempt 10 over
throw our Government and divide the Union
am rejoced that movement'has been made In
Congress in favor of the resumption of specie pay
mepts There is neither pretext nor excuse for any
longer necleeting this great duty. With all the
contriyanees TO aggravate the premium on
rold that premium has scarcely risen, for
come time, above 10 per cent; and but for
New-York bankers and brokers the rate Of gold
usance could not have been kept up even to that
pont An old man who remembers how Joyfuily
geld and silver were greeted when they took the