The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-09-22
The Cause Of the Present Distress.

We iiticfTtu DOtlliohr lFou 20 GEMS " -
The Cause Of the Present Distress.
II the Republicans had desired to restore
the Government to a peace footing after
the close of the civil war, the road lay
broad open before them, aud the task was
easy All they had to do was TO apply the
axe to the roots Of what may be called the
military system, recur to the expendi lures
OF 1850, with the necessary additions, and
start the work OF retrenchment That Is
what the country asked and exp ected, M
81 had right to do after the sacrifices
VIII oh had been mad c during the war.
The leaders and the managers who had
revealed on patronage, contracts, and job
berry for four years, had no idea OF relin
gushing their sources OF wealth. They
had become enormously rich by the war,
md would glndly have kept up the light
inr, which, while exhausting the blood
enc treasure Of the people, was a source
a. un'aiing profit to the corrupt oom-
Lina,ions III and out q Congress.
These sinister influences prevailed In leg
iala,ion. and instead Of rigid system Of
economy, such rs was at once adopted IN
Frnnce under n similar condition OF things
n vicious ingenuity was employed to Keep
M the expenditures to the highest possible
MONT. TO create offices, and to expand In
every direction. OF course the appropria-
lion. had to he reduced from the war
ting but no thanks to those in power.
for the country would never have sub
nitted TO the continuance OF such burdens
But this diminution was never honest or
xf all n
TO be oxtorted, and wherever one was
yielded, two at least ought to have been
obtained. This truth was demonstrated at
the last session by the facility with which
the House out of at q single blow forty
millions OF dollars and would have struck
a. nifty millions but for the logged and
bitter hostility Of the President and the
seaate, VINO finally succeeded in impairing
- $40 P~~s.S 49,. e.
10 the extent OF ten millions OF dollars.
The bowling Of discharged officeholders
The ontcry Of Rings deprived OF their nc
rus omed plumber the resentment of Of
ncal thieves aud their confede rates al
short appropriations. and the ly ing OF the
Administration about Gripping the ser
wee, only IN Fan that honest and resolute
nleu have commenced "a practical reform,
which cannot stop until the rotten and
prohgate system is torn up root and
branch. The close corporation that ha.
bean running the Government for sixteen
yclrs, and would never admit outsiders
g. IFS secrets or its dividends, Is very
mach disturbed at the actual situation
Rul la great deal more so at the outlook
winch plainly reveals that its days Vi
power for evil are numbered.
II makes the blood noun up with no
Ia iixnation TO think how the people o.
th.s country have been cheated, robbed
b.trnyed, and mis,ed during the last
eleven years of so-oalled peace. II tn,
saying of the last session alone. forceC
through by n Dem 1cratic House fresl
from the people had been app lied during
tho decade which closed with the depart
u. of the Republican majority from
tll: BODY, the state Of the co untry woul
lie far different from what it now IL.
|. aving out OF view entirely the mora
eff cts that would have resulted froI
economy III national affairs, instead OF til
reckless extravaganza winch has been
practice, the material results alone ar
well calculated T. excite the deepest fee
Ing al the profligtcy OF the party whic
originated, perfected, and carried on III
atroclous system 10 which we have re
forred. THIS ratio OF reduction In tie
years would have Welded capital o
three hundred millions of dollars ex clu
sive OF iutere II
Properly invested ana appli ed, the fun
thus saved from exfrlvagtnce or dishOu
esty would have enabled the Cove rnmet
t. resume paymen IN specie, would haS
adjusted all our financial troubles, wOul
have hnrmonized conn citing interests, an
would have made the people prosperou
instead OF being bankrupts aud weighe
down by oppressive burdens These al
palpable facts which cannot be dispute
Tley put the responsibility of the prescI
hard times on tho Republican party, NJ
they prove that retrenchment Is the sho
and sure cut to reform. In view OF IN
demonstration, which the plain people st
and know to be true. IL is no wonder Thu
there il distrust OF the men who brougi
Oh this prevailing distress, and loud an
general demand for change OF admin
tration, OF measures, and Of men.