, 1878-03-02
Our Nashington Letter.
WASHINGTON. FeAI4, iS''

" "AShiNSfoNs &c t1'
EDITOR STATESMAN That influential and
straight forward democratic paper, the Bangor
lMsine) Commercial, is ably arguing In favor OF
o general reduction Of state expenses anu ai0P
ping off Of excresenees which grew with the
flush times from 1861 to 1859 There are simi-
lar movements elsewhere. A private letter
from Florida, giving much interesting info1nia-
ton as to that state under its present rtiers;
mentions general reduction In the state anu
county expenses for the past year In the
county in which the letter was written, the re-
duction in 1877 from the expenses of 1876. was
from $500 to $780, In other counties similar
reductions are noted The truth Is that the
government of the American people has always
been the most expensive in the world. win
the federal state, county and Eiunfcipai taxes
combined, the rate of taxation has been sucn
that only exceptional circumstances have en-
abled the people to stand the burden. Iney
are no longer able to do it l mention the
Florida case simply as movement in the ngnt
direction. 1t should be followed IN every
county in the country. States should 40 the
same Above all, the expenses OF the federal
government should he reduced They are AZ
the rate Of So per annum for every man, wo-
mar and child IN the country. This is the re-
suit Of continuing war after ~ IS over war
lint its wort financial effect Is ii tfe wild e1-
travayance it sagenders, and which does noe
disappear with the evil which caused 1t. There
il noble opportunity for the democratic ma.
iority IN the house to confer great benefits upon
the people and secure permanent ascendency
BY agreeing upon and insisting upon general
and large reduction in the expenses Of every
department of the government
There is considerable interest felt in Secre-
tary Sherman just now, independent OF his
course on financial affairs. He is the leader Of
of the Louisiana returning board from punish
ment. That he should have held office under
Hayes, and have supported a southern policy
which was distastefui to nearly every other re-
Publican leader, only to become hercer in his
radicalism than any of the others at this late
day, excites surprise. 1t is noted, too, that
the occasion Of his wrath is one in which he
personally has an interest he is one OF the
"yisitiny statesmen who counseled with Wells
and Anderson, and their legal conviction is a
moral convection of himself. 1t is believed
that, through his influence, countless old suits
of the federal government against citizens OF
Louisiana will be renewed and 4 season Of fed
eral bull DOING generally will be inausurated,
unless the state shall cease to attempt the
punishment of members of the returning board.
Ills VIII DE Il StIdiSc pioCecuihS, HiaShiueh -
Hayes was declared president because the board
was distinctly a state institution and not sub
ject to federal interference in any way.
Yesterday Carpenters painting of the sign
ing of the Emancipation Proclamation" was
formally presented to the United States, Mr..
Garfield making the presentation speech in be-
half of the donor, and Alexander H. Stephens
accepting it for the country. The speech OF
Mr.. Stephens, which was at times quite elo-
| auent, will have a wide circulation MIR.
Stephens was, more than any other southern
leader, outspoken in his declaration in 1861
and 1862, that the confederacy was founded
upon negro slavery, and he held that, so found
ed, it would develope higher civilization. 4
| speech of his on this subject, made at about
the time of his election as vice president of the
confederacy, read in connection with what he
| said yesterday would illustrate wonderfully the
| changes of both the material affairs of tine
country and the sentiments Of men. A pamph.
let containing these two speeches of very
able man, would have numberless readers
wherever the English language is spoken.