National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1879-02-03

huonce upon the public domain, In our
humble judgment. this Government has
neither territory nor wealth 20 bestow upon
individual enterprises 1t should reserve
the public domain as It source of revenue
under sale to settlers and the public purse
TO reduce the national debt and conserve
the national credit We are at point
whore these principles Of action should be
adopted by the Government and strictly
adhered TO. Certainly the present Congress,
under its bousted policy of economy and
reform, cannot consistently open mp ways 20
the National Treasury or TO the public do
main that they shall be exhausted for pri-
vate ends
We are in favor of fostering and extend-
ing our commerce by liberal laws calculated
to incite and encourage enterprise, bat not
by gifts of money direct, for this Govern
ment at this time is not rich enough to be-
stow gifts, however desirable they may be
! TO those who solicit them. When it is free
from debt when the people are not severely
taxed to liquidate our national obligations
aud pay the interest thereon, when we owe
no man anything and hive surplus for
which there is no public use, then there
may be some justification in bestowing gifts
upon private enterprises; but until that
| point is reached let that door be closed and
carefully tiled. We notice in the Baltimore
| american an article on the subject of the
lobby schemes now pending in Congress,
| from which we quote as follows:
| But the tactics of the subsidy lobby will
/ bear very close watching. These astute gen.
| tlemen have not, ty any means, played their
1 last card. They have $3,OO0000 at stake aud
/ it is not TO be supposed that they are Civ
ing NIL their hard work gratis. Their noxt
4 move is likely enough 70 be the effort TO at
tach the subveniion 10 the Post Route bin of
! this year, and take care that il is not again
embarrassed by such an outside parliamentary
| question as hRmpered last years bill. They
are probably quito well aware that if they
were TO propose the subsidy measure. pure
aud simple, and upon its own merits as sep.
ate bill, 1t would stand tho very slightest
| chance Of adoption. 1t could not sustain dis
! cusson, and popular sentiment against such n
grant would act so powerfully upon Congress
that a majority would hardly venture to vote
for It, But the strategy of the lobby is to wait
until the closing days of the session, when
! confusion reigns on the floor Of Congress, and
business is being driven through at railroad
pace, and then endeavor TO carry their object.
The greater portion Of all the jobbery ofwhich
Congress is guilty has been perfected under
just such circumstances. In tho hustle aud
hurry members vote without knowing pre-
cisely what they are voting upon, and as at
that hour there are usually appropriation bills
pending that must be passed before the adj
lOnrnment, the iayOrite practice of the lobby is
to tasten TO some measure Of the kind Their
own projects, that would inevitably be de-
featcd If there were time to debate and expose
them and however much tho President may
disappreve Of the Objectionable legislation, bG
cannot veto one feature of tho bill without
killing the whole, and thus run the risk oil
leaving some department of tho Government
without funds.
Unless in the shortening days and hours
of this Congress it shall lose its head and
be taken from its understanding, no meas.
ure recognized ms subsidy will stand the
ghost of chance of success. The warning
voice of the Amricaa, therefore, may be op-
perfume and beneficial. Congress has {
plain duty to perform. IT should provide
amply for the current necessities of the Gov
ernment at the earliest practicable moment
carefully guard the National Treasury
against all jobs of plunder, pass wholesom,
+ and needful laws i'll the interest of goot
government and commerce, exemplify il
professions of economy in wise acts, ant
then die gracefully and honorably at the eX
piratiOn of its legal lease of life.