Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1874-03-13
A Record Undimmed.

A Record Undimmed.
In the wears Immediately following the
war there was undoubtedly more or less
of reckless legislation. So far as the cx-
penditure of money and the granting OF |
land subsidies TO railways were concerned, |
such a 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-
isted. But after all that 1t has had to
contend with the Republican party has
an excellent record in the direction OF
economy and good management of the
national finances. IL Is now passing
through severe ordeal in the way of in
vestigatiou, but so far as results have
been foreshadowed It will come out tri-
umphant While there has been less
flourish of trumpets there has really been
more of jealous, rigid scrutiny into eX-
pendtures since the present Congress
assembled than in any during the past
thirty years. When the growth, progress
wealth and growing interests OF the
nation are taken into account, there has
been more looping of, more Of real
retrenchment than has been wrought
by any of its predecessors. Such
| care and prudence as the Com
4
cised have never been surpassed. Not
only is it actually reducing the appropri-
ations very largely, but 1t is, by its action,
| indicating the directions and the points
where still further reductions can be made
by needed changes in the laws. Some OF
our northumberland SO by the war
are larger than they need be in time of
peace, and the action of this committee
has been such as to show why and where
they can be reduced.
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 expenditures, in the
various departments, have also been en-
gagged in 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
istraton is concerned, these efforts are
likely to result in its triumphant vindica-
tion. And yet we believe that the Demo-
Gratis or Liberals have wideawake repre-
sentatives on every one of these commit
; tees. Certainly, with everything open
to their inspection, these astute gentlemen
would not remain silent were one-twen-
tieth of the charges of their papers true
|
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.n 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 denunciation-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
G their great organs, which had become
| pulled up with insolent pride, found them
e selves utterly destitute of any following
@ whatever, when they struck their colors
t and started tor the enemy's camp. Itwas
t a new, a novel and a most unwelCome eX
perience to realize that even the masses
t of the people had arrived at a point
Y where they did their own thinking. Tho
r work of building up new party having
t so signally failed, the next thing in order
t was to tear down that in power.
No impartial observer can fail TO have
had the most convincing evidence tha
e for many months past the abuse Of mcr
r in high positions, and of the Administra
| ton for its alleged extravaganza and cor
4 rupllOn, ndS OcCn ulCldlCu ny inc pUICS
a malice. The work of finding fault is
n vastly easier than searching ont facts am
+ giving them to people for what they are
/. worth. But happily, the investigation,
now going on, in which the opposition
have large part, are demonstrating tina
the Administration is an honest one; tha
it is carrying on the government justly
and economically, and that it deserve,
the fullest measure of respect and conf
dence at the hands of the people. II i
fortunate that these searching inycstiga
!, tiOns have been instituted, and We hop,
they will continue until there is no braucl
. of the public servicc-no nook or COrHc
u u in any of the epartments-which has no
u received the most thorough scrutiny
Here and there Irregularities may b
found, expenditures may be discovcre,
S which can be dispensed with, but the rC
/ suit can only be to strengthen the peopl
); in their favorable judgment of the Ad
It ministration and the party which is II
r sponsible for its existence Chjcag
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