The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1883-03-09


from these pages will read errors
that, il needed, will prove valuable.
From these lines they may also gain
valuable information upon which to
build Il superstructure that may make
for themselves u fame rs enduring rs
Washington, Lincoln, Garfield and
others whom the Nation loves 10
revere. They can glance back over
the works of the Congress that died
to give birth to the one which will
follow. and see that long stride for.
ward has been made To suppress
polygamy-n To slavery the worst
curse that ever called down the con.
tempt, and just indignation of liber.
ty.loving, God.fearing people. n
movement to eliminate from political
influences the service of the Govern.
ment, is u measure that, IL carried
out TO meet the expectations Of the
people. will live To bless the exist.
ence and asserted determination OF
the Forty-seventh Congress. The
tax and tariff bill, pre.eminently the
most important and absorbing mea,
sure that has come before our Nation.
al Legislators for years, while it is
not perfect nor yet what the masses
had expectantly looked for, is never
theless stepping-stone to the total
adjustment of the onorous duties
which have been and are being levied
upon the people in the way of taxa.
ton. and for the advancement made
| in this direction due credit will he
awarded. For the first time in "a
long series of years the letter postage
! has been reduced. and it is but the
/ torerunner Ofa penny postage law.
! In October next the new law goes
! into effect, after which date = cents
will cover the cost of letter transmits.
sion. These are among the measures
of moment that have been taken uI
and carried thr ough by the Congress
which expired on the 4th inst.
The people of the country now
have the record before them over
which they can reflect. No one will
question but what some very meritor
ions bills were killed, and while re
cognizing this fact the failure To di
vide. ana admit the South half OF
/ the territory of Dakota into the sis
! terhood of States, is not among the
least. twas prevented only through
4 the stern opposition and tiilibnstering
tactics reSorted to 10y the Democrats,
who will generally favor nothing
looking To the relief Of section OF
country that has smattering Of pc.
litical opposition to their aggrandize.
ment AMI advancement. For this
act they may live to repent. TO the
Republican party is due the credit Of
passing the civil service bill. The
Democrats, with two or three eXcep.
tionS, resorted to every device known
to parliamentary usages. to defeat
the measure. hut they signally failed,
and the people will place the credit
of this step toward the elevation of
! the public service to the party that
accomplished it. The legislation de-
sired for the more effectual suppress
sion Of polygamy, was also defeated
by the same party managers, and no
credit can he attached to the Demo.
cracy for any good that has or may
come from the provisions enacted to
efface the worst abomination inflicted
upon this country, and one which
causes the crimson flush of shame to
mount the cheek of the virtuOus and
undefiled.
The Republican party has assumed
a position on the important questions
that came before its representatives
in the Forty.seventh Congress in
beautiful contrast to that sustained
by the Democrats. The one has de.
Tended the rights of the people
passed laws that shall give at least a
moderate degree of relief; the other
so far rs within its power lay. has
denied. by its actions on vital issues,
that the people have rights which Il
minority in Congress are bound to
respect.