National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1874-12-14
THE REPUBLICAN, OPPORTUNITY
CHEAP Observation-Disclosures LATE
RICHMOND CONVENTION - INDORSE

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CHEAP TRANSFORMATIONS LATE
RICHMOND CONVENTION - INDORSE-
MENT OF SENATOR WINDOWS RE-
PORT-THE NATIONAL REPU BLICAN'S
POLICY COMMENDED - THE SOUTH
AND WEST UNITED.
The following article is taken from the St.
Paul Press of the 10th instant, one of the ablest
and most influential Republican papers in the
Northwest:
The proceedings of the Cheap Transportation
Convention recently in session at Richmond, Va,
were not given the space or the prominence in
the Associated Press dispatches which their i'm
portance warranted. The spirit and temper Of
the convention set forth in the correspondence
Of the Washington REPUBLICAN, which we pub
lish elsewhere. 1t is a significant circumstance
that Mr.. WINDOWS scheme Of water routes be-
tween the East and the West received the en-
pha tic and overwhelming Endorsement of the
convention IN opposition to the freight-railWay
project which was ably presented as a competing
candidate for the favor Of the convention.
X. NJ. 7. Hunter, the WellknoWn Democratic
Senator from Virginia before the war, Endorsed
Mr.. Windows entire scheme Of internal i'm
pTovements with unqualified emphasis, and in
sisted that it was so fair and equitable to all sec
lions Of the country and promised such useful re-
suits to all sections, that It should receive uni
Yersal indorseRRnt. There is no doubt that In
this Mr.. Hunter speaks the general sentiment Of
Southern statesmen OF all shades Of political
opinion. Indeed,
THE SOUTH AND WEST
are practically united in favor of the policy and
Of the special scheme Of internal improvements
which Mr.. Window has urged upon Congress in
his very able report on that subject, and New
England and New York are not far behind. The
eager, enthusiastic and general support which
the recommendations of that report have re-
in the interval Which has elapsed since its pub
LEGATION shows that the public sentiment Of the
nation is not only fully prepared for but earnestly
demands national policy Of internal improve
ments on a scale adequate to the pressing and
rapidly growing commercial necessities of the
country, and TO the early and complete utillZa-
ton Of the magnificent apparatus Of internal
commerce with which nature has interlinked the
various sections of the Union. The Republican
towards the adoption Of this policy cannot now
afford to hesitate or to draw back.
RITIs TO WIN IN 1915
It must be by a bold, vigorous, progressive
adaptation Of its craftsmanship to the pressing
eXlgencies Of the epoch; first by providing for ar
early return to specie payments, and next by
cOuTageOusly graphing with and solving the
great problem OF cheap transportation between
the different sections Of the country which the
national prosperity and especially the prosperity
Of the agricultural classes, SO vitality depends.
Presidential campaign on these issues; if it shall
offer to the capital Of New England and New
York the guarantees Of stable values and secure
investments implied in the restoration OF the gold
standard, and to the agriculture and manufac-
lures of the West and South emancipation from
the burdens of railroad monopoly aud free COM
unite all sections Of the country in policies at
once so conservative and so progressiye-sO reas-
surfing to the moneyed interests and so stimulat-
ing to the industries of the country. II
THE PRESENT CONGRESS
shall, before adiourning, have the courage and
the wisdom to do these two things: adopt the
recommendations Of the President concerning an
early return to a specie basis, and of Mr.. Win
dom's report for the Improvement Of the great
natural water routes between the West and the
seRbOard, there can scarcely be q doubt that 1t
would at once revive the PROSTATE industries of
the country, impart confidence to the capital of
the country, in place of the timid and feverish
uncertainties which now hoard it in vast super
abundance at the money centres, and thus set it
for investment in legitimate business and indus
trial enterprises and induct the nation into new
era of solid prosperity. We understand that Mr..
Window intends to press the measures recon-
mended in his report last summer as soon as the
surveys are in, and It is to be hoped that the Re-
publican majority Of Congress will not miss the
opportunity TO boldly and heartily identify the
Republican party with policy which is vitalto
the material development OF the country, and to
the prosperity Of agriculture and its inter-de-
pendent industries.