Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1874-03-19
A Record Undimmed.

In the years Immediately following the
war there was undoubtedly more or less
Of reckless legislation. So far rs the ex-
penditure of money and the granting OF
land subsidies to railways were concerned,
such state of things could not have been
prevented in any country under the SUN
where the same causes were brought into
operation, or the same state of things ex-
listed But after all that has had to
contend with the Republican party has
an excellent record in the direction of
economy and good management of the
national finances. 1t is now passing
through severe ordeal in the way of in
vestigation, but so far rs results have been
foreshadowed it will come out triumph
ant. While there has been less flourish
OF trumpets, there has really been more
of jealous, rigid scrutiny into ex-
penditures since the present Congress
assembled than in any during the past
thirty years. When the growth, progress,
wealth and growing interests of the ma
ton are taken into account, there has
been more looping off, more of real re-
trenchment than has been wrought by
any of its predecessors. Such care and
prudence as the Committee ON Appropri-
atoms have exercised have never been sur
passed. Not only is it actually reducing
he appropriations very largely, but it is,
by its action, indicating the directions
and the points where still further reduc-
tions can be made by Needed changes in
the laws. Some of our establishments
made so by the WARFARE larger than they
need be in time of peace, and the action
of this committee has been such rs to
show why and where they can be re-
duced.
Not only has this committee and the
Ways and Means devoted their best efforts
to securing economy in the public expen-
ditures, but the standing committees OF
the House upon expenditure, In the
various departments, have also been en-
gagged in a rigid search after something
which has justified the extravagant
charges of the Liberal and Democratic
papers. Far from finding anything that
is flagrantly wrong, so far as the Admin
istration is concerned, these efforts are
likely to result in.its triumphant vindi.
cation. And yet we believe that the Dem
ocrats or Liberals have wideawakc rep
resematives on every one of these commit
tees. Certainly, with everything open
to their inspection, these astute gentlemen
would not remain silent were one TWEEN
tieth of the charges of their papers true.
On the contrary, they would raise their
voices very high if there were anything
to howl about. This is peculiarly the
era of detraction and abuse. Since the
war that portion of the press which lives
and has its being upon mere sensation
has been compelled TO keep it up" If
there are neither wars nor rumors Of wars,
resort must be had to something else.
The next best thing with which To pro-
duce excitement and make their papers
sell is wholesale denunciaton-either of
individuals or of the party in power.
The malice of the Liberal press was rem
dered all the keener from the fact that
their great organs, which had become
pulled up with insolent pride, found them
selves utterly destitute OF any following
whatever, when they struck their colors
and started for the enemy's camp twas
a new, novel and a most unwelcome ex-
perience to realize that even the masses
of the people had arrived at "A point where
they did their own thinking. The work
of building up a new party having 80 sig
nally failed, the next thing in order was
to tear down that in power
No impartial observer can fail to have
had the most convincing evidence that
for many months past the abuse of men
in high positions, and of the Admnistra'
ton for its alleged extravaganza and cor
ruption, has been dictated by the purest
malice The work of finding fault is
vastly easier than searching out facts ard
giving them to people for what they are
worth. But happily, the investigations
now going on, in which the opposition
have large part, are demonstrating that
the Administration is an honest one; that
it is carrying on the Government justly
and economically, and that it deserves
the fullest measure Of respect and conf
dence at the hands Of the people. 1t is
fortunate that these searching invcstiga-
tons have been instituted, and we hope
they will continue until there is no branch
of the public service-no nook or corner
in any Of the departments-which has not
received the most thorough scrutiny
Here and there irregularities may be
found, expenditures may be discovered
which can be dispensed with, but the re-
suit can only be to strengthen the people
IN their favorable judgment OF the Ad-
ministration and the party which is re
sponsible for its existence.--Chica9o IN
ter-Ocean