The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-03-26

paper / regard NTH amazeme,a and. anriety
''and, in my judgment, such an issue pould
''be detrmea and shame. ''-CHARLEs
SUMNER
The measureless gravity of the present situ-
alton seems to be utterly lost upon our igno-
rant, infatuated representatives in Washington.
For in that wild, unreasoning mob law spirit
which has usurped the place of craftsmanship
and reason there is no absurdity that is not
apt to be committed, no lie that may
not be voted truth. If anything could
inspire concern for republican institutions
it would be the course of the recent
debate on finance and the astounding
vote in the House on Monday. Here is
question affecting the security of oil business,
the wholesome prosperity of the country, and
its credit in foreign lands. Yet it is discussed
with the fippant indifference Of dicers over
their games. We look back on the rolling
waste of rhetoric called ''debate" with amaze
ment and sorrow. Where is that gravity
which statesmen should feel in matter Of
such mighty moment that earnest inquiry
for truth, seeking the common welfare,
the careful study OF the lessons and prece-
dents of history? For if ever debate de-
pended for its honest fruit upon the prece-
dents of history it was the debate on finance.
The annals of nations are full Of
pregnant and unmistakable lessons. They
shine out of the past like the
stars IN the darkness of the night
The practical wisdom of the ages as seen in
fha IF
the ripened and purified experience of Gen.
turtles, ripening and purifying with every gen.
Grafton, and creating monuments of wealth
and capital and credit that dominate even ar
mics and statesmen-all were before Congress
to illuminate and strengthen the debate, and
bring wisdom out of counsel Yet all has
been thrown away, publicly condemned and
despised by demagogues who represent the
ignorance Of raw Western and Southern COM
munities despised and condemned because
they have not the energy to know the truth or
the courage to make it known.
Ii this was poor, barren country, encom-
passed with the snow and desert Like Russia;
if it was the overhanging edge of vast tropi-
cal forest, where nature had usurped the
dominion of man and stifed civilization in its
luxuriant embrace like Brazil; if it was
nation reeling into the later stages of imbe-
cility, Incidence, misgovernment and SEN
suality like Turkey if, as people, we were
struggling against centuries of misrale, in the
shape of poverty, brigandage, bankruptcy
and chronic civil war, Like Spain, we could
understand the temptation to these shameful
expedients. But we are young,
earnest, self-reliant, aggressive nation,
proud of what we have done, of
what we mean to do, of the manifold
blessings Providence has bestowed upon us.
We look back over one century Of national life
and SEE that we have advanced from sparse
and precarious colonial existence to be recog-
nized and feared among the great Powers of
the earth. All Of this in one century, which
is to people what decade is in the years Of
a mani What may we not expect, looking at
California, and the Mississippi, the great
lakes and the two seas, and the daily increas-
ing majesty OF our imperial power? Certainly,
if any nation had the strength, the will and
the high, unbending purpose to overcome the
financial misfortunes of the war, it would be the
Republic OF America. We have all the power and
every encouragement to do SO. Our misfortunes
only require for their overthrow the strenu-
GUS effort of united people. But we have had
misfortunes before more disastrous and bur-
densome Like men we met them and like
men we struck them down. Now when we
are called upon by sentiment of honor, akin
to that patriotism which nerved us through
the bloody penance of war, to redeem and
save our national credit as we redeemed and
saved our national unity: we have Congress
which deliberately votes that the nation is too
weak to be honest and too poor to protect its
credit
For this is the meaning of the recent de-
bate, confession of cowardice and inca
pacity. On one side is the road to solvency,
straight, difficult, narrow; on the other side
the inviting path to imitation and irredeem-
able currency, with temptation and danger,
with traps and pitfalls, Black Fridays, fuctua-
tons in gold and other values speculations and
unusual chances to make money" And SO
tempting are these "chances'' that our Con-
gress cannot resist them. Many of our legis-
lators have abundant and varied gifts. They
know (no one better than Mr.. Morton, for
instance) that this cant about 'cheap
money" and "a poor West and South and
relieving the burdens of the people has no
foundation in logic or common sense. They
yield to diseased public sentiment, senti-
ment tainted by gambling, like those foolish
statesmen of the South, who claimed to be
for the Union and yet debased themselves
before slavery, men like Stephens and Hun
ter and Breckenridge, who truly believed in
the Union and saw the wickedness of seces-
sion and it's certain misery, and did not dare to
speak the truth. They paltered with the pub
lie opinion of slavery as their successors now
palter with the public opinion of gambling
adyenturers and spectators Instead OF