San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1878-02-23
WASHINGTON LETTER.
WASHINGTON. d. g., |
Feb. IA, 1878. J

That Influential and straightforward
Democratic paper, the Bangor, (Maine)
commercial is ably arguing in favor OF
a general reduction of State expenses
and looping off Of excrescences which
grew with the flush times from 1861 to
1865. There are similar movements
elsewhere. A private letter from Flor
ida giving much interesting informa-
ton as to that State under It's present
rulers, mentions a general reduction In
the State and county expenses for the
past year. In the county in which the
letter was written the reduction in 1877
from the expenses of 1876, was from
SO, 400 to $500. 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. With
the Federal, State, county and munich
pie taxes combined, the rate of taxa
ton has been such that only exception
al circumstances have enabled the peo
pie to stand the burden. They are no
longer able to do it. l mention the
Florida case simply as movement in
the right direction. 1t should be fol-
lowed in every county in the country
States should do the same. Above all,
the expenses Of the Federal Govern
ment should be reduced. They are at
the rate of 50 per annum for every man,
woman and child in the country. This
is the result of continuing war after
war is oyer. War always really I'M
poverishes people in the end, but its
worst financial effect is in the wild ex.
travagance it engenders, and which
does not disappear with the evil which
caused it. There is noble opportuni-
ty for the Democratic majority in the
House to confer great benefits upon the
people and secure permanent ascend
ency by agreeing upon and insisting up
on general and large reduction in the
expenses of every Department Of Gov
eminent.
There is considerable interest felt in
Secretary Sherman just now, independ-
cut of bis course on financial affairs.
He Is the leader of those who wish to
save Wells and Anderson, of the Lou
isiana Returning Board, from punish
meut. That he should have held Of
fee under Hayes, and have supported
a Southern policy which was distaste-
full to nearly every other Republican
leader, only to become fercer 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
visiting statesmen" who counseled
with Wells aud Anderson, and their
legal conviction is moral conviction
of himself It's believed that through
his influence, countless old suits of the
Federal Government against citizens
of Louisiana will be revived and sea-
son of Federal bull.dozing generally
will be inaugurated, unless the State
shall cease to attempt the punishment
of members of the Returning Board.
This will be strange proceeding, in
asmuch as Hayes was declared Presi-
dent because the Board was distinctly
Il State institution and not subject to
Federal interference in any way.
Yesterday Carpenters painting of
the signing of the Emancipation Proc
lamation was formally presented to the
United States, Mr.. Garfield making
the presentation speech in behalf OF
the donor, and Alexander Ii. Stephens
it for the country. The
speech of Mr.. Stephens, which was at
times quite eloquent, will have wide
Mr.. s. was, more than
my other Southern leader, outspoken
n bis declarations in 1861 and 1862
hat the Confederacy was founded up
,u negro slavery, aud he held that, so
ounded, it would develope a higher
civilization. A speech of his on this
ubject made at about the time of his
Election as Vice President OF the Con-
ederacy, read in connection with what
lie said yesterday would illustrate Won
Ierfully the changes of both the ma
r al aa.l tho