Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1876-05-17
Party Cxpedieney and Treasury Grabs.

to the Republican party, and yet not
so blindly democratic as not to dis
Germ the danger to the country Of
that party getting control of national
affairs:
The house committee on Missis-
sippi levees held meeting on yes
terday to decide as to the expediency
of appropriating $3,l00,000 during
the present session for the purpose
of making temporary repairs upon
the evees. 1t is frankly admitted
that the question is purely one of
party expediency. A Washington
telegram says that "tho democrats
'are divided as to the harm to the
party the passage by the house of
'such bill would cause. The chances
ARE, however, that the committee
will decide to bring it into the
'house this session, the only question
being that of expediency;" that is,
party expediency. SO it seems that
the question which presents itself to
the confederate mind is not whether
money ought to be appropriated from
the national treasury for such pur-
poses. The question is already de-
cided in the affirmative. The only
question is whether it will be safe
for the party to take upward Of three
millions from the treasury for tenn
porary repairs of levees before the
presidential election.
Here we have an illustration of
exalted craftsmanship. The confed-
crates have all along made great
ado about economy. They have been
promising to save anywhere from
twenty to fifty millions year, and
TO this end they have been pairing
down the appropriations most indus
triously. But it seems that all this
is for political effect and nothing
else. During the present session
there must be a great show of econ
omv, because president is to be
elected next No; ,mber, and in the
meantime party capital must be man
uiactured. Party success is the
first great thing to be considered.
After that has been achieved it will
be time enough to make the money
fly, aud fly it viii, most certainly.
Meantime the confederated spoil
seekers must possess their souls in
patience, II so be that is possible,
"rhe south" is unmistakab,y very
eager to get possession of the public
treasury. 1t wants u great many
things that can only be obtained by
means of money appropriated from
the national treasury, and contrib
uted in taxes by the people. 1t
wants some two hundred millions in
one slice, in the shape of indorsed
bonds in aid of n railroad to the Pa
ciac. II wants about as much more
in the same shape to aid in the con-
structiou of half dozen impractic-
able canals, more or less. 1t wants
upward OF sixty millions more for
the purpose Of rcfundine the cotton
tax, and enriching hungry specula-
tors in cottou-tax claims. 1t wants
probably not less than fifty millions
more for building Mississippi levces
the appropriation now proposed
Of three millions and more, be it
noted, is for temporary repairs. 1t
wants nobody knows how many mil
lions more to pay all sorts ottrumpsd-
up claims on account of services
alleged to have been rendered sixteen
years ago or more, and property al
legged 10 have been taken or DESTROYED
during the pro-slavery rebellion.
These claims, nearly all of which are
presented by people who did all they
could to destroy the union, and who
have already cost the nation untold
cannot aggregate less than
fifty millions. Five hundred and
sixty millions is moderate estimate
of the amount demanded by 1.-The
south" 10 satisfy old and bogus e. aims,
to "rebuild waste places, and other
wise to ''reconcile' those worthy peo-
pile who have already cost the nation
a round three thousand millions,and
who have given the country infinite
trouble ever since they stopped fight
ing in organized armies.
In view of all this. it is well to he
in advance that if the grand
descent upon the treasury is to be
postponed for few months, it is to
be postponed simply to make a sure