The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1883-09-20
TOO HAsTY IN EXPRESSION.

terviewed. He seems to be after con- |
gress doing but little when it meets,
and he thinks there is no use in TAX
ing up the tariff question, as the SEN
ate is Republican and opposed to
further tariff legislation. He is in
favor of cutting down the river and
harbor appropriations. OF course this
position will lose him the support of
much of the Eastern Democracy, while
he may thus win favor in New York,
that is if New York Democratic ia
terests be wholly devoted to New Y ork
city. The Southern states, along the
Atlantic and the Gulf seaboards, are
all anxious for river and harbor ap-
preparations, and they will hardly
present any enthusiastic supporters of
one whose policy would lead to
denial of such governmental aid,
as has been so literally given to
the Eastern states. Nor will the
people of the Mississippi valley
states warm up very earnestly in
Mr.. McDonald's favor, when his plan
would cut off that aid which is so much
needed for the Mississippi valley.
On the Pacific coast, too, there is
earnest demand for more improve
ment for waterways and harbors.
Some of the organs of New York De-
mocracy have lately antagonized
river and harbor appropriations. Like
all other appropriations they have
been much abused, but this is no ar
gument that they should not be made.
They are especially wanted along the
entire line of the Southern coast, from
Chesapeake Bay to the Rio Grande,
and along the Gulf coast they are es-
pecially needed to meet the growing
demands of trade. Of course New
York wants no such appropriations.
1t wants the entire country made
tributary to New York. and if the
mouth of every harbor on the Allan
tic and gulf coast, excepting that of
New York city, could be closed, it
would create such condition, and
the great metropolis would
speedily become the greatest
mart the world ever knew. London
would sink into insignificance beside
it. OF course, the New York De-
mocracy opposes the appropriations,
and Mr.. Mcdonald, in our estimation,
commits a personally fatal error when
he makes his position in this rela-
ton known. 1t has been said the
New York influence might, in the
event of Mr.. Tilden's failure, attempt
TO "bull" the Democratic market with
McDeland stock. Whether this be so
or not, an impression to that effect
has gone abroad, and Mr.. Mcdonald,
in saying what he thinks may give
him strength, commits, in our esti-
nation, a serious blunder. Certainly,
the Democracy of Texas can not be
expected to come to his support, when
he declares against our just quota of
federal aid in cleaning harbors
and making waterways navigable.
With its harborS properly improved
the productions of Texas would be
increased 80 per cent in values. 1t is
a question that comes right home to
our pockets and is therefore power
full moral argument. No state of the
Union has had so much money from
the federal treasury for public i'm
provements as New York, and, there
fore, arguments against appropria-
tions for such improvements come
with poor grace from the papers of
that state, and ought to have very
little weight. The treasury is full to
overlooking, and there is no better
way to dispose of a portion of the
surplus than to expend it in improv
ing the rivers and harbors of the
country. We want respectable ap-
preparations for Sabine and Galveston
and Houston and the mouth of the
Corpus Christi and other points,
and we are perfectly willing to see
other public works, in other states,
equally meritorious, receive such aid as
they need. Most assuredly we are not
ready to have the supply of money,
now so plentiful, cut off when it is so
| much needed. New York harbor has
had untold millions spent upon it.
Shall its Democracy shape course
for the party, antagonistic to every
other interest on the Atlantic, the
Gulf and the Pacific coast, and es-
pecially in the Mississippi valley.
Mr.. Mcdonald has been over-per-
suaded, we fear, into declaration
that will not find approval with De-
mocracy. With the party pledged to
ignoring the very great necessities Of
all these sections the enemy would be
able to handle most powerful argu-
ment against it. But it will commit
itself to no such policy, and Mr.. Nc
Donald will repent of his hasty ex-
preston.