The daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1873-1877, 1874-03-21
HON. 8. s. cox ON ECONOMY
HE DENoUNCEs THE NAMBY-PAMBY
ECONOMY PRACTICED BY THE
HOUSE.
And Warns Members that Scarcely q Man 0.
Elmer Of the Old Parties vii be
Reelected.

On Tuesday, the 18th, the Legislative
Appropriation Bill being under considera-
ton, Hon, S. S, Cox, of New York, ''hove
in" few remarks, as follows:
Mr.. Cox.-Sir, when this debate began
there was no idea that it would take parti-
san turn, or such an economical turn as the
gentleman from Pennsylvania Mr. Kelly
has given toit. The gentleman from Penn
sylvania must have heard, however, that
recently the people have been more
or less Influenced by something that has
taken place in this House and
country. 1t is not imitation that has had a
peculiar influence upon them; that ques-
ton is yet to be fairly tested in this House;
that matter is going leisurely along, and
nothing is being done about it all the bust
ness of the country waits for our action on
that subject 1t is another sort of infa-
ton that refer to. The swelling of our
expenses. There must have been some
reason why the people of various States,
East and West, last fall showed their feel
ings so plainly about the dominant party.
And why did the people of the State OF
New Hampshire-which is honored by
being represented by the gentleman upon
my right Mr. Parker speak so signif-
cantly about our politics Why have they
given us their judgment? Gentlemen
contemn ii, do they? As they complain
of our efforts here to economiZe, so they
complain that the people are beginning to
be thoughtful and economical Why not
heed their lessons on the subject?
MIR. Chairman, the human mind has nc
idea of the detestation, nor human Ian
guage any mode of expression adequate tC
express the thorough contempt of the peo-
pie to-day at the shilly- shally, namby-pam,
| by, wishy- washy economy pretended by this
House. Laughter We hear a great deal Of
noisy grinding, but no meal. Laughter.
That is Persian metaphor. 1t is wise
one. 1t is from the East.
| We hear economy preached here all the
time; but because some gentlemen, Messrs
Holman and Speer on this side, aided by
one honorable exception on the other
my friend from Vermont Mr.. Willard
undertake by their amendments or re
marks to challenge comparison between the
economical years 1860, 1862, 1868, 1866, anC
the present and recent lavish years, not OF
population, (although there we met them,
but on the definite salaries of officers, mes
sengers, and other employees of the Sen
ate, then they sneeringly say it is such :
little matterl Laughter.
| Little drops of water
/ | would remind the Sunday school schol
ars on the other side, laughter l.
| Little drops of water,
Little grains of sand,
Make the mighty ocean,
| And the pleasant land.
Great laughter
Sir, infinite nature proclaims and illus
trates to gentlemen, through all the stel
lar spaces, that. compared with constella
tons, you are all infnitesimal atomies, es
pecially on the other side of the House
laughter that, compared with the noun
tains, as well as the stars, you are each an,
all infinitely and inefably little. Renewe,
laughter. You do not knowIhow SINAI
you are until you look up at the Sierras, tn
Himalayas, and the Alps Great laugh
ter.
When, Sir, we make our point on
large principle, though it may be On
small sum; when we undertake to shoy
how to begin to build, after the manner @
nature, grand economies out of small, the
we are tainted that we are saving at tn
spigot only. We are thus tainted by men
bers on both sides. We are voted agains
by members on this side. almost in body
Our party will take notice why we ar
voted down, and who by, in our attempt
make this Government pure and economical
Oh! yes you 60 home to your state, cor
gressiOnal and county conventions, and COZ
coct and write out bold. inspiring resolve
that it is the duty of all men to practic
economy in public administration
and then go you'll will not say snea
through, but serenely go-through the tie
lers and laugh at our practical attempt:
while you vote down economy. Laugh
ter. But when the yeas and nays are cal
, ed, Mr. Chairman, they are then for ecor
. omy. Laughter.
/ do not belong to-dayto any side of tn
: House. Laughter. l am not particr
larly in utilization in that side or this;
, am an eclectic philosopher. Laughter
/ pick out gentlemen like the preser
Chairman of the Committee of the Whole
Mr.. Woodford, and many of the distir
J guished gentlemen before me, some O
this side and some on the other. and max
? my party. That is my party for tn
House. Outside of it, am at home
the bosom of my democratic constituent
7 Think you the people do not understand il
) gave you notice there was meaning
, New Hampshire Laughter. There
bigger meaning coming from thrift.
steady Connecticut; and there will be
still greater meaning among the grange
e who are to come hereafter. understar
from accurate sources--from gentlemen wi
come here from the West, and who unde
< stand western politics, and their impuls
2 and movements-that not single ma
: scarcely of either party in this House fro
: there will ever come back to it. Laug
C ter.
Here the hammer fell.