Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1874-04-10
Congress.

If one were to judge, from the denunci
alton heaped upon Congress, of the char
acters and qualifications of the members
of that body, and of their devotion to
their public duties, he would set them
down as not only a very inferior set of
men, but wholly actuated by bad and
criminal instincts. That portion of the
press which calls itself independent"
and " liberal" but which never fails to
demonstrate its independence and liberal
ity by exhibitions of narrow, carping
criticism, base personal selfishness and
sensational denunciation of all who stand
in its way; which arrogates to itself the
possession of all the culture and brains
in the country, has taken upon itself the
work of holding up the present Congress,
individually and collectively, to public
ridicule and contempt. By turns its
members are denounced as corrupt
and imbecile, while scarcely measure
has been proposed or introduced
which has not been reflected to
the public through the same jaundiced
vision. Now, what are the facts to offset
this " liberal" view of our lawmakers?
Manifestly they are of nature to justify
entirely opposite opinions and conclu.
sions. Aside from those Congresses
which had to meet the iesues of our
great civil Wal, ana the subsequent re-
construction of the Southern States, few,
If any, of its predecessors have been COM
PEELED to grapple with as momentous and
perplexing questions. None has ever ad-
dressed itself to the work which it found
upon its hands with more real earnest.
ness, and judging from the results
achieved, and those which may with con.
fidence be predicted, with more of genuine
ability and craftsmanship. 1t has taken
time and much discussion to arrive at a
settlement of these great questions OF the
day, but progress has been continually
evident to every one who had a wish or
care to see it. The statement of a few
points will afford the reader who has a
desire to judge correctly with some data
for properly estimating the Forty-third
Congress:
1. 1t has been freer from the manipula.
tion of the lobby than any of its predeces-
sors for the past thirty years. Nothing in
the nature of special privileges to any
class has found favor with it, or is likely
to, during its continuance. This is a
great point gained-an isolated fact in the
history ofrecent Congressional legislation.
2. 1t has, by large majorities in each
branch, distinctly avOwed its determine
tion to adopt measures which will give
financial ease and business security to the
country. While its action, through the
passage of distinct measure, has not yet
crystallized into permanent form, this
emphatic indication of its probable course
in the near future has already afforded a
vast and most visible relief TO every
branch of business throughout the nation.
Confidence is fast resuming its sway, and
business will resume its accustomed
courses the present spring with more OF
life and vitality than it has felt during
the past two years.
8. The House, after long discussion,
and the most thorough examination and
scrutiny, has passed bill looking TO an
eventual settlement of the transportation
problem, which has so vitality affected
every interest of the country, but more
especially Of the West. 1t has taken this
action not inconsiderately, as if impelled
to "do something" by popular and un-
reasoning clamor, but in broad, compre-
hensive, and statesmanlike spirit, which
looks judicially upon every interest as
entitled to its equal measure of justice.
A. 1t has done noble work in reducing
the appropriations. Those reductions
promise 10 amount TO at least $15, 900 900
to $20000,000 Expenditures for the army
and navy have been especially reduced,
while tits in contemplation to diminish
the military forces so that still further
reductions can be made in the future.
The public expenditures have never un-
dergone such thorough care and scrutiny.
This fact, viewed In connection with that
other fact that the country Is growing
with such unexampled rapidity, whereby
new duties are constantly devolved upon
the public administration, show record
in favor of governmental economy which
has never been surpassed 1t is well TO
consider it fully.