The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1876-09-16

alton shall be only for Revenue.
REFORM IN PUBLIC EXPENSES.
Reform Is necessary in the scale of Pub
tic Expense Federal, State and Munich
pal.
Our Federal taxation has swollen from
90 millions gold, in 1860 to 45O millions
currency in 1870; our aggregate taxation
rom l54 millions gold in 1860, to $50
millions currency, in 1870; or in one de-
cade, from less than SIS per head to more
than SIS per head. =,
Since the peace, the people have paid
to their tax gstherers more tnan thrice
the sum of the national debt and more
than twice that sum for the Federal Gov
eminent alone.
We demand a rigorous frugality in
every department, and from every officer
of the Government.
THE PRoFLIGATE WASTE OF PUBLIC
LANDS.
Reform IS necessary to put stop to the
pronigate waste OF public lands and their
diversion from actual settlers by the par.
ty in power, which has squandered 200
millions of acres upon railroads alone,
and out of more than thrice that aggre-
gate has disposed of less than sixth d.
rectly to tillers Of the soil.
THE SHIELD OF AMERICAN CITIZENSHIP.
Reform Is necessary to correct the omis-
sions of Republican Congress and the
errCrs of our treaties and our diplomacy
which have stripped our fellow-eitizens
of foreign birth and kindred race recross-
ing the Atlantic, of the shield OF Amerl-
can citizenship, and have exposed our
brethren of the Pacific coast to the incur
sions of race not sprung from the same
great parent stock, and in fact now by
law denied citizenship through naturali-
zstlon as being neither accustomed to the
traditions of a progressive civilization nor
exercised in liberty under equal laws.
We denounce the policy which thus
dscards the liberty-loving German and
tolerates the revival of the coolie trade in
Monaghan women imported for immoral
purposes, and Monaghan men, hired to
perform servile labor contracts, and de-
mand such modification of thu treaty
with the Chinese empire, or such Ir'isla-
ton by Congress within constitutional
limitations as shall prevent the further
importation or immigration of the Mon
golian race.
sECTARIAN STRIFE AND SECTIONAL HATE
Reform IS necessary and can never be
effected but by making it the controlling
issues OF the elections, and lifting it above
the two false issues with which the office
holding class and the party in power seek
to smother it
|. The false issue with which they
would enkindie sectarian strife in respect
TO the public schools, OF which the estab-
hshment and support belong exclusively
to the several States, and which the Dem
ocratic party has cherished from their
and is resolved to maintain
without prejudice or preference for any
class, sect, or creed, and without contri-
buttons from the treasury to any.
=. The false issue by which they seek
to light anew the dying embers of sec
tional hate between kindred peoples once
but now reunited in one indi-
visible republic and a common destiny.
CIVIL SERVICE.
Reform IS necessary in the Civil Ser
vice.
Experience proves that efficient, econ
omical conduct OF the governmental bus
mess is not possible if its civil service be
subject to change at every election, be
prize fought for at the ballot box, be a
brief reward of party zeal, instead OF
posts of honor assigned for proved COM
potency, and held for fidelity IN the pub
lie employ; that the dispensing of patron
age should neither be tax upon the
time of all our public men, nor the in
strumeDt of their ambition. Here again
promises falsified in the performance, at
test that the party in power can work out
no practical or salutaly reform.
OFFICIAL CRIMES AND MIsDEMEANoRs.
Reform is necessary even more in the
higher grades of the public service.
President, Vice President, Judges, Sena-
tors, Representatives, Cabinet officers,
these and all others in authority are t:
peoples servants Their offices are not
private perquislte; they are public trust.
Wien the annals of this Republic
show the disgrace and censure OF Vice.
President;
A late Speaker OF the House of Repre-
marketing his rulings as pre-
siding officer;
Three Senators profting secretly by
their votes as lawmakers;
Five chairmen of the leading commit
tees of the late House of Representatives
exposed in jobbery;
A late Secretary of the Treasury fore
ing balances in the public accounts;
A late Attorney. General missppropria-
ting public funds;
A Secretary of the Navy enriched or
enriching friends, by percentages levied
Oft the profits OF contractors with his de-
partment;
An Ambassador to England censured
in dishonorsble speculation;
The Presidents Private Secretary bare
" escaping conviction upon trial for
guilty completely in frauds upon the rev.
enue;
A Secretary OF War lmpeached for
nigh crimes and misdemeanors;
The demonstration is complete that the
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