National Republican., 1877-07-02
INTEPSAL IMPROVEMENTS.

The extent to which aid shall be granted
to internal Improvements is q subject which
will engage an unusual amount Of attention
in the next Congress. The constitutionality
Of such appropriations has long been unal
terably settled in the affirmative, and their
wisdom demonstrated by the benefits which
the country has derived from works like the
National road, the Illinois Central railroad,
the Pacific railroad and numerous other
Improvements made by the assistance Of the
General Government.
With the growth of the country new
fields for enterprise have been opened and
the constantly expanding commerce OF the
nation calls for new expenditures of public
money in making the improvements needed
for the proper development of that com
mcrce. Money judiciously expended for
such purposes is sure to be returned to the
public a hundrcd-iold by the increase of
national wealth. In view of the past policy
and experience Of the country, which upon
the whole has been beneficial II Is very
singular that just at time when aid is
asked for n number of enterprises of special
importance to the South II should be dis
covered that such appropriations are exceed
ingly impOlitic, and we are treated with
long datribes against the dangers Of rail-
road subsidies.
We can see no reason in the condition of
the country or of public sentiment for
changing the long-scttled policy of the
Government in regard to this subject. The
Republican party inherited the liberal doc
trines Of the old Wings in regard to aiding
public Improvements of national import
ance, and it is pledged to the policy by all
its platforms, as well as the practice of six
teen years. The liberal views which the
President cntcrtains upon this subject, rs
applicable to the special needs Of the South,
are strictly consistent with the teachings of
his own party, rs well rs in accord with the
dictates Of enlightened craftsmanship.
The condition of the South is such that
she has irresistible claims upon the nation
for aid for many improvements which are
necessary in order to give new impetus to
the depressed business interests Of that Sec
tion. The war almost entirely revolution
lied the industrial system of the South, and
the consequent business depression has
been prolonged by her political troubles.
The happy settlement Of those political
troubles, which has been effected by the
wisdom of the President, leaves the people
of that region at liberty to devote all their
energies to the restoration of their material
prosperity.
The most serious difficulty which the
Southern people have to encounter in their
efforts to develop the business interests OF
that section is the lack of the means neccs-
sary for making the internal Improvements
required for properly accomplishing that re-
suit II the means should be furnished by
the General Government that tan he accom-
plshcd in few years which the South
otherwise could not hope to see during the
present generation, owing to her impover-
ished condition. We think. therefore, TINT
the Presidents policy is wise one since il
would cause the South to increase rapidly
in population and wealth, and would at the
same time produce the most friendly senti-
ments there toward the National Govern
ment. Since both the doctrine and the prac-
tice of internal improvements by the Cen
eral Government are 30 firmly established,
why should we hesitate about continuing
the same liberal policy, especially in case
in which il promises to produce more be-
| netcent results than have ever yet been
witnessed?
We observe with regret that opposition tC
this policy of internal Improvements come.
chiefly from regions which have in former
years, directly Or indirectly, received libera
assistance from the General Government
for the improvement Of their commercial
| iuclltlCS. TOT eNhinpit, tnc NnClnIlht
Commercial is conspicuous for its opposition
to subsidies for Southern improvements
Whenever, however, any appropriation,
have been wanted for the improvement o
the Ohio river, or its tributaries, IT has beer
loud and persistent in its calls for aid fo
the benefit of the commerce of Cincinnati.
The opponents of this policy are seeking
to impress the public mind with the ides
that all schemes which contemplate tn,
making OF Improvements by Government
aid are necessarily wicked and corrupt
But the long-scttlcd practice of the Govern
ment ought not to be abandoned bccaus
in some instances in the past there has beer
unwise legislation on the subject. Profit
ing by the experience of the past there nee,
be no difficulty in so framing the laws as t.
fully protect the interests of the public
Nor need the policy result in any enlarge
ment of the public indebtedness or incrcas
the burden of taxation, for all the al,
needed could be afforded by simply ceasin
for time to pay of the public debt Il
rapidly rs we have been doing, and instea
thereof apply larger portion Of our pres
cnt revenues to internal improvements {
national Importance.