National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1874-02-25
CONGRESS YESTERDAY.

After weeks of fruitless debate the Senate
has returned to the point from winch IL
started. The adoption of the Merrimon
proposition has only served to confound
those in favor of more money projects, they
seeming i'll at ease when an extra share OF
power is allotted to a combination Of pow
crful corporations. How to counteract the.
apparent unguarded step is now the prob
lem, and at the same time reserve the bal
ance Of power to their own hands. It Is
this that calls anew for discussion after the
reservoir has been completely exhausted,
and compels fresh contest from the same
old starting place. Mr.. Schurz opened the
campaign yesterday with q speech that is
worthy of commentator, not SO much for
the new propositions or ideas it contained
as for the sparkling and rhetorical compost
ton in which it was framed. As an argu-
ment it was but repetition of what has
been frequently well said; but clothed in
brilliant language, and rendered with dra-
matte effect, it repaid attention, and created
a p.easurable sensation among the auditors.
That it was intended as feature is evil
denced from the careful and deliberate man.
ner in which it was arranged. 1t was a
written argument, partially committed to
memory, and directly aimed at the people
in general more than the anticipation of
securing immediate results from the Senate
ITSELF The position assumed can be COM
pretended in single phrase when Mr..
Schurz is stated to he ''hard-moncy" adj
vocate. Of course, this frebrand in the
midst of a settlement favorable to expansion
could not be passed unanswered. Mr.. Nor
ton took up the glove 50 flashily Haunted,
and attempted a reply dictated by the
remarks of his opponent. No previous
preparation was had, and in consequence
the earnest combating of views expressed
assumed the place of language beautifully
and effectively arranged. But aside from
the intrinsic merits of either speech, the
scene yesterday may prove the prelude to a
more lengthy discussion, which, of course,
will terminate in barren results. The opin-
ion is now growing that the original resolu-
ton should be early returned to the COM
mittee, and that proper digest of the
views expressed should be made, and bill
reported in consonance with the prevalent
temper of the body, subject however, to
what can be justly deemed the best inter-
ests of the country. In the House the
Mondays business of q call of the States for
bills was enacted, and after it was COM
pletcd the revival of the Thanking abuse
proved the entertainment of the day. As
this discussion proceeds, and the adherents
of substantial reform bear down upon those |
who would risk the public condemnation,
the chances of the Packer bill become less |
brilliant There is an evident belief that
sume method might be devised which would |
prove beneficial to both constituent and
member, but the narrow compass permissi-
bic makes one doubly secured lest innumer-
able errors may befall one single advance
step, no matter how virtuously made. This
conduces to increase the opposition to the
revival project, and the daily acquisition of
strength on the part of the opponent makes
it almost certain that this session will not
bear the stigma of a revivifed perquisite
which has proved the cause of so much evil