Northern tribune. [volume] (Cheboygan, Mich.) 1875-1885, 1876-08-26
GRANTS MESSAGE ON THE RIVER
AND HARBOR BILL.

President Grant has not at all times
performed his duties in such manner as
to keep himself free from criticism. His
late message regarding the river and har-
Dor bill, which we printed last week, has
brought upon him the wrath and indig-
nation of the Democratic party. AT first
even some of the friends of the admins
tration thought it was OF doubtful policy,
but as the Presidents position becomes
to be understood more fully, its wisdom
is acknowledged, not only Republicans,
but by Democrats as well. A little study
into the subject shows why. the harbors
ON the great lakes, the great national
thoroughfare, was limited in amount to
a few hundred thousands of dollars out
of five millions of dollars appropriated
by their bill. The Same study also shows
what we of the lake regions can expect if
the Democratic party comes into power,
that is if We can Judge the future by the
record that party has made during the
past session of Congress. The first act
of the dominant party was the appoint
ment of Hereford, of West Virginia, a
state without single harbor, lighthouse,
or an inch of coast, TO the chairmanship
of the committee of commerce. To
this committee was referred all the bills
relating to harbor Improvement. The
result of this was just what might have
been expected. Bills were introduced
and reported upon favorably for the i'm
provement of a large number of insignif-
icant and unheard of rivers in that and
other southern states, such as had no
national importance whatever, and many
of them not even state Importance,
while the interests of the really maritime
states were neglected.
Such improvements can only be classed
as private Improvements, and should not
be made at the national expense. More
than any other state in the union Michi-
gan feels the effect of this economy"
Michigan had to be cut off with a half
allowance that these little rivers of the
South might be improved, and all IN the
interests of Democratic economy. The
President plainly informs tLe;e raiders, for
they can be called nothing else, that these
private improvements cannot be made at
public expense. This is i'm the interest
of true economy. 1t will not help the
lake regions this season. We will have
to be satisfied with our small apprOpria-
tons, and look out that next year
there he no danger of a repetition of the
same tictics. OF course the Presidents
message made many of the Democrats
exceedingly angry, and they furiously
denounced him in the House, but
the country will approve of it
when it fully comprehends its import.
Even in the House, when the message
was being denounced as an impertinent
document, Mr.. Holman, one of the leaders
of the Democratic party, stood up boldly
and remarked that the doctrine of the
President was sound and had always
been the doctrine of the Democratic par
q ty. But Mr.. Holden was only one, the
majority of his party were against him
because a majority were from the south
If the Democratic party come fully into
power. we can expect nothing but con
tinuance of such river and harbor bills a
the ore produced at the last session o
Congress.