The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1879-03-15

and political schemes for the acquisition
OF power and place, regardless of the
business interests of the country.
The country is sufficiently afflicted by
reason of the frequency of our general
elections, causing in every instance a
very considerable disturbance in business
affairs. This might be endured were even
four years of succeeding quietude as
sured. But when Congress carries for
ward the disturbance, opening up new
contest as soon as former one is ended,
making its halls an arena for future
conflict, and shaping legislation to that
end alone, the public disquietude and
business perturbations are made per-
petual. The people suffer in order that
politicians may thrive. These things are
the bad beginning of bad ending.
They augur ultimate evil to the COM
monwealth.
Certainly there are some men, of both
parties, in Congress who view these ten
denotes with disgust, not unmingled with
alarm. But, unfortunately, they are too
few to withstand the torrent of party
aims and ambition that bears away all
considerations of the general good. 1t is
the Caucus, not Congress, that wields
the omnipotence of legislation. The
measures proposed by one party under
the dictation of caucus, is met by coun-
measures of the other party under
like dictation, and both directed to
merely partisan aims and advantages.
The substantial interests Of the country
are regarded AS of secondary importance.
Our laws are consequently inconstant;
repealed almost as soon as enacted. The
turmoil is incessant. Perfect quictude
for even the short period of four years
would be novel sensation to our people
Such sensation is utterly beyond the
experience of this generation.
That Congressman will rise entirely
above their party predictions can
scarcely be expected. But that they
should make them the paramount consid-
Grafton in Congressional service, is doing
injustice to themselves and wrong to
the country. The true business interests
of the American people lie infinitely be-
yond and above all party considerations.
The Congress that can not rise to posi-
ton equal to that is unequal to its duty;
and the longer its sessions the more mis-
chievous will be its work. Our laws,
which ought to be the simplest of all
great nations, are the most numerous,
the most complex, and the most change
able and inconstant known to any gov
ernnIent.
1t is this lack of stability in our legis-
lation that the business men of the coun-
try most dread. Such instability is the
banc of business. Congress would serve
the country infinitely better by doing
vastly less than they are prone to do
They tax their ingenuity to devise laws
that the people neither need nor desire:
and when enacted, they are most fire.
quently found to be more harmful than
beneficial TO the interests they were in
tended to serve.
The remedy, it may be said, lies with
the people. 1t may be so. But the rem
edy seems impracticable 50 long as nomi-
nations and elections are conducted |
through the instrumentality of party |
machinery engineered by cliques and
rings over which the people themselves
have but little control. That something
must be done to check these mischiefs
which are becoming 50 manifest in Con
gross, no man can doubt. And until
these disturbing influences are checked,
the business community will continue to
regard the sessions of Congress more with
feelings of dread than with hopes of com
fort and encouragement