The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1874-01-08
THURSDAY. JANUARY 8, 1874.
CONGRESS &C.

idea OF what congressman learned from their
constituents at home during the recess.
The Bankrupt law, it is developed, will be so
amended as to take the unfortunate debtor
out Of the mouth of the sharks in which the
present law places him, and give him a
chance for his life and for the preservation
of his honor, or, at least, require that a
majority of the dollars held against him by
his creditors shall decide before he is forced
into involuntary Bankruptcy. This will
materially wipe out the chances for persecu-
tive prosecution, and viii place both debtor
and creditor moro in the light of honorable
men towards each other.
Again: the day demonstrates that the
people do not desire any more tinkering with
the tax laws, in shape Of readditions to the
burdens in that way, already almost tool
hard to be born. Per consequence Of this
coffee and sugar will remain on the free
lists, ana whiskey and tobacco viii
remain as they are, the most burdened Of all
our industries that the where withal may be
raised to maintain the financial credit of the
Government On the contrary, it is plainly
the idea of people thrifty and prosperous
because of economy in the management of
their business affairs, that instead of adding
to it is time for Congress, and all having
hand in the management of affairs at Wash
ington, to think Of taking off some of the
taxes low insisted upon.
Again, the day demonstrates that the
people look for rctrenchment in all the ex
penditures of the Government, as the very
best means of certainly making both ends
meet The experience Of private life
would serve as an excellent guide for those
in public life: when the dollars grow scarce,
spend less Of them, and thus always keep
within range of the purse. We are living
neither under an empire nor monarchy.
Ours is republican form of government,
and the more simple and economical it is
carried on the better it will be for us ALL
Flash and tinsel are necessary adjuncts both
to a monarchy and an empire. Without
these to tickle the masses those heavy gov
ernmental structures which burden down
Europe would hardly hold together for
day. The King lives above the subject, and
the subject stays with him upon mere suffer
ence-always an unconsidered and secondary.
but never an independent being. Honor,
honesty and love of country are the powers
which hold up republic. Nothing for
mere show is required to make it firm as the
everlasting hill. The President lives with
the citizen as man with man-brother with
brother. His Office gives him no preroga-
tive over the voter who cast the ballot which
elected him on the contrary, it makes him,
for the time being, the mere servant of his
fellow citizen, and amenable to him through
Ehe ballot-box for every dereliction of duty.
Extravagance IN the government begets ex-
trayagance in the people, and these un-
checked lead to bankruptcy, not only fnan
cially but morally as well. The people see
this, and hence Congressman assembled at
Washington, On Monday, impressed with
the well grounded belief that if Congress
and the administration desired to retain the
love and admiration of the people, retrench-
ment and reform, economy and simplicity,
must be the watchWords.
Again, the day demonstrates that currency
tlnkering is not a favorite dodge with the
masses of the people. Bankers, spectators,
railroad managers, and corporations gener-
ally may demand an unlimited imitation OF
the currency, but the people look with a
jealous eye on all such lodges to meet the
bloated views Of the times If instead Of
being added to the currency was cut dowr
one-half and the business Of paying interes
on deposits was wiped out, we would see
dawn of prosperity such as we have not
seen for years because our eyes have beer
blinded by printed figures which did not rep
resent the truth. Our crushing evil al
present is too much of the representative
and too little of the reality of money, and if
instead of coming to the rescue in Septem
Der last, the government had quietly set stil
and permitted the balls to keep on knocking
down the financial tenpins, until the Van
dcrbuilts and Goulds and their hosts Of
specuatlng- pauper compeers had beer
knocked into irretrievable bankruptcy, We
should now be opening upon an era which
would prove the foundation of wealth solid
and lasting as time. Our ideas have all
been by far to large to make it safe fol
Government to pander to them and the day
will be blessed one for all when return to
specie payments rcscues business from its
acquired gambling propensities and brings it
back again to its legitimate channel. The
people want no tinkeriDg with the currency,
save in SO far as may be necessary to secure
its prompt reduction in volume, and thus
hasten return to the circulation Of gold and
silver, and to the days of honest dealing.
The day was also the precursor of still fur
ther demonstrations, as will be seen as the
session of Congress proceeds Let US hope
that the end of the session will show. ia
acts of wise legislation that the wishes of the
people as demonstrated have been needed
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