National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1878-02-13

ever been the history Of the internal Work-
ings of nations that plenty and prosperity
are the adjuncts Of industry, while idleness
and inactivity produce desolation and want.
The United States, after the close OF the
Mexican war put oa = new impulse. The
people were prosperous, for the reason that
the war was at the extreme Of our border,
and they were impressed with the ne
cessity Of increased means Of transit for |
people and property, and this necessity |
created spirit Of enterprise which led to |
the building of railroads and canals, involv- |
ing q demand for labor, and atfording EN-
ployment for the digger, the mechanic, and
the artizan, with fair reward in the way
of compensation. Then there was work and
pay for the people, and the country was
prosperous and happy. The peoples Of the
old world rushed TO our shores the Western
wilds became populous; villages and cities
sprang into existence the factory, the
mines, and the forge were all in motion,
and the country advanced rapidly in thrift
and wealth.
Then came the war of the rebellion. This
called to our shores q multitude Of emf
grants who were welcomed for the material
aid they afforded in filing the ranks Of our
army, operating our manufactures and till
ing the soil. After o fearful and bloody
struggle of years peace came and our
armies were disbanded, and more than
half million Of men were again precipi-
tated upon the marts Of business and trade
for subsistence, and in many instances with
title capacity for selfsupport The country
had been filed with widows and orphans,
whose claim for maintenance could not be
denied, while for every man killed in bat
tie il Is safe to assume that to-day there are
twice his representation in young men who
have stepped on the stage of action during
and since the war, with little OF no capital,
and perchance with widowed mothers and
orphaned brothers and sisters dependent
upon them for bread and apparel. These
are the most common incidents Of the pres
emit crisis, when there is parsimony OF
employment and its reward and redun-
dency of idle population.
The machinery Of our manufactures now
stands idle, for tho reason that the laboring
classes, who are the largest consumers OF
their fabrics, are without employment and
money with which to purchase. The farmer
seems TO have lost his incentive to toll
under the influence of the low prices that
his products command in market, or from
some other cause, and thus general stag
nation has settled upon the business mart'
of a great nation.
To add weight to this calamity, the rich
| have become parsimonions under thu
: shrinkage of values and heavy taxation
and inadequate returns for their invest
S ments. The poor are clamorous for labor
4 and bread, and rapidly verging, under a
}, spirit of desperation engendered by press
d ing hunger, to acts of violence and plumber
|, and yet, Congress, instead of entering
d upon the works of affoIding relief by wis
n prtise" 10 the business Intefests OF tn
v country, are pattcring over measures G
l. petty economy, under which bureaus Q
Is the Government are consolidated, clerks ar
d dismissed, salaries reduced, and the army (
% be raced, all Of which helps to swell tn
n ranks of bose who are doomed TO idleness-
'f the great American army of suffering dis
. contcnts-whose tents are pitched in Ian
u Of renowned plenty.
Is The Government is not, we fear, in thi
It pcrilous and painful crisis discharging il
o duty to the governed In wise and philaI
II thropic spirit, and with q view to anythin
(, like early and substantial relief. Its fin
duty is to revise our monetary system 80 q
y to furnish the people with currency {
81 uniform value for all classes, ss tho Const
T. tuition clothes il with power 70 do.
e should then pay its honest debts to III
to people where they have been liquidatcd
a. adjustment of the amounts, be they respe,
n lively great or small. This would At ono
release and put in circulation among tn
Is people more than fifty millions of dollar
ID 1t should then make liberal appropriation
W for the navy, the army, and IL
Ar public improvements, by which
le large army of idlers may be put I
At work and enabled to earn IN honest livel
hood. The dcfenses Of our coasts should |
put in proper condition and supplied wit
heavy armament as safeguard of peac
y Our rivers and harbors should be dredge
~ and made navigable for commerce Sc,
y, , walls should be constructed where they Al
. needed for harbor protection. Ship bull,
ing should be iOstercd that we may tai
" proper rank in the international CONNER,
Of the world. Roads should be opened all
built through our wilderness Territories, III
- der the charge Of our army engineers, an
" with an enlisted and properly paid force
= operatives, thus inviting settlement and il
>, creasing the area OF employment and its r,
d" wards.
J." In this way the Government has ii will
y" in its power to extend early relief to a SUI
> fcring, IL not starving people; infuse
spirit of enterprise throughout the businel
y marts of the country break up the paral,
sis that has settled upon the energies of III
" people, and set the wheels of future indu
:, try and prosperity in motion thrOughol
III the length OF an afflicted and dishearlene
= nation. The Government can acCOmplis
this much-but never under q spirit of col
- tentment which centres in cOnsciOusne
that seems TO impress the individual men
bers OF the controlling power that 80 Ion
as they are secure in position with liber
~ salaries there is no want or distress in IL