Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1879-03-01
THE nEeINNING o. TnE END.


Congress is now engaged in the
sort of work which always occupies
it towards the close of a session,
that of hurrying through the appro-
priations, which ought to have been
the most thoroughly considered and
best matured portion of its work,
but which has been thrust aside till
the last moment in favor Of debates
and contests which have nothing
beyond a party interest. Such is
the state Of things under which the
peoples money is voted away by
millions for schemes of no benefit
whatever to the nation, but squan-
dered in the interest of individuals
and communities which have the
advantage of the best managed
lobby arrangements. The hurry in
which it Is all necessarily transacted
precludeeven the most vigilant from
detecting selfish interests and elimn-
atiBg them from the national cOun-
seis, so that Jay Gould and John
Roach have Jared better ia the final
awards than the American people,
who are not represented in the
lobby. The Texas Pacific Railway
has failed 10 secure the aid Of the
nation, and the Brazil subsidy Is
carried. 1t is always when such 8
termination to a session Is COME
pleted that a feeling Of relief per-
vades the nation and we gladly
anticipate the time when our repre-
seatatives at Washington return
from their labors to enjoy the tran
guilty of social and domestic inter
course at home.
Senator Bailey and Col. House
have not taken a prominent position
IN the debates of the last two
months, and we honor them for
their silence. The factious wrang-
lings and bitter recrilninations
which have formed the staple of
Congressional procedure during that
time have furnished no field for the
statesmanlike abilities and high
toneI eiOquence of our distinguished
fellOw-citizens, and they have done
well in leaving to men like Ed
monds and Conkling, Blaine and
Conger the brawling defamation
elected by bills and resolutions
which have been introduced for the
expresspurposeofe volving sectional
irritation.
They have not been idle, however,
bat have watched their opportunity,
and whenever the real interests of
the nation have been at stake have
held themselves ready for a word
and a vote in season. Even last
week Col. Bailey eOntrived to get a
word in against the Brazilian sub
sidy. Our Senator has been from
the beginning an infiexible antag-
Onist to this scheme, and in all
probability he would have been
successful but for very subtle man
euvre of the favorers Ofthe measure.
They managed TO enlist the Louisi-
ana Senators in favor of the bill by
a proposal to run a line of steamers
from New Orleans as we'll as from
New York. The bait was too tempt.
ing and the Louisiana vote struck
the balance. Col. Bailey's vigorous
protest will not the less be appreci
ated though made in vain spite o
the able support of Senators Beck
and Bayard. Well, it will not ruin
the United States, and were it moi
for the principle it would not bt
worth a serious lamentatiOn, but
would even be remembered with
some satisfaction as having giver
occasion for the stern denunciatioI
of these three Senators, Bailey, Beck
and Bayard, the chosen champions
Of Tennessee, Kentucky and Della
ware.
You have done well, gentlemen
and now come home and receivt
our thanks for it; and then take
your time in devising better
resord for the Forty-sixth Congress
than the Forty-fifth has made.