Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1882-08-16
THE RIVER AND HARBOR BILL

Senator HOar Comes to the Front With q
Defense OF His vote-A Very L.ams Ex-
cuse.
= WORCESTER, Mass, Aug. 15.-Senator
Hoar has addressed letter to the people
of Massachusetts, giving his reasons for
voting for the river and harbor bill, and
giving also some views on internal i'm
provements. In opening, Mr.. Hoar
says: 1t has never been your fashion to
condemn your public servants unheard.
You will be glad to listen to the reasons
which have governed the majority of
your delegation, as well as large majority
in both houses of congress, in giving their
support to the river and harbor bill. No
representative of Massachusetts, could
have the slightest personal motive to do
other than his simple duty IN the matter.
The bill contained only an appropriation
of S371 600 to be expended within her
limits and this for objects so clearly just
and reasonable, they would have kept
their place if the bill had been reduced to
two thirds. If we have erred it has
been with q desire to do right. L
expect to satisfy you. We are governed
by honest, sound Republican Massachu-
setts reasons. In one thing, at least, you
will agree with me. Being convinced by
these reasons myself, if | had failed to
act upon that conviction from any fear of
personal consequences, should have been
unworthy of you and unworthy of the
respect of hsnest men. There is no son
of Massachusetts, who loves her more than
L do, but fully believing, after careful
consideration, that my duty to her and TO
the whole country required of me that
vote, L would not have failed
to have cast it for all the
honors and offices within her
gift. The. people get more for their
money from this class of appropriations
than from any other. These works are
permanent. They do not perish with the
using of the money which is expended by
the board of engineers. This board IS
made up of experienced army officers and
has the confidence of the country more
any other public body. No member of
congress or any body else can influence
the expenditure. The economy and hon
esty of expenditure of no dollar in this
has ever, so far as
know, been challenged. 1t
is absurd to say that these
harbors and bays are not to be made ac-
ceSSlble TO districts or towns or factories
in their vicinity, or that it is not proper
to exercise national authority to do it.
You might as well say while Boston har-
bor is national it should not be so dredged
that ships could go to its wharves
because the wharves are local..
There are vast spaces in this country
where the United States government has
been known for a generation only in the
character of a conqueror or tax gatherer.
1t is good that they should see this great
and benefcent power in its character of
benefactor, but it is also well that the
people in those sections of the country
who have been accustomed for half
century to look upon the national govern
ment with jealousy and dislike, and who
have felt its terrible power IN war and in
wasted fields and desolaIe homes, should
learn to associate its image with benefi
cent works which join them with great
system of national commerce, and on
which their prosperity and wealth are
hereafter to descend. Whether the
policy of this bill is to be popular in
Massachusetts this afternoon, or this
week, or this year, do not know, but
one thing do know, it is the line of all
her traditions and is sure, sooner or later,
to command her support.