Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1884-06-26

WASHINGTON LETTER.
Conscience in Politics and the New York Times
Tilden's SOllcitude-Railroad Statistics
Adjourned.
From our Regular Correspondent.

From our Regular Correspondent.
WASHINGTON, ID. c., June 20, 1884,
Conscience in politics is not only good
thing to have, but with great number
of people of both parties it is an essen
tial requisite in matters of party deal
ing. But when newspaper forsakes
the Republican party to lock hands with
the Democratic cadaver on account of
regard for its conscience, the jig is up
with it completely. The weakness that
begets opposition to the principles of a
great political party on account of the
particular person placed in nomination,
is manifest, but the weakness that fos-
tiers encouragement for the success of
Democratic principles Gf there are ANY,
and Democratic candidates, is beyond
human tolerance. Who is Blaine, that
he should receive exaltation as the en-
bodiment of the great Republican par
ty, whose principles, not men, have
dominated this grand free Government
for a quarter of century? If Blaine
should die to-day, would his death sol
ace the New York Times to the extent
OF renouncing its opposition? Not a
bit of it. This plea of conscience in
politics. with its concomitant of indie
pendence, is simply one of those springs
of noIitinaI action tbut ,bruct tbap,S alvae
forward either from motives of self ag-
grandzement or to come up with some
body, every month in the year. The
Republican party has been afflicted with
these conscientious newspapers, and the
men who mourned for conscience in pol |
itics, ever since it was organized, and |
it has outlived them all, and will con-
tinue to outlive them.
Mr.. Tilden has no intention of meas
uring swords with Mr.. Blaine, and |
herein he shows peculiar political sagac-
ity. Why the old fellow should go out
of his way to talk about the ''moral |
standards of the people," with the CT
pher dispatches SO fresh IN their mem
DRY, is ascribable to one of the political
liberties that politicians take with the
PRONUNCIATION of political literature.
Mr.. Tilden has the same old solicitude !
for the people and the Government that
he has harbored, cherished, nursed and |
fostered for half century, but with all |
of it he is not willing to just put in an
other four years even to save the coun-
try from the demnition bow-wows,
whittier Republican NAL administration
is Fastening it. Mr.. Tilden does not |
even give the Republican party credit
for the payment of at least two-thirds of |
the enormous national debtthat his party |
created, nor for any of the great re-
forms that his party promised and the
Republicans accomplished. 1t is not
likely that with so many leaders in the
party, all of whom have been accus-
toned to periodical drubbings the can
didacy of the unterriiied will 90 beg
ging, though as against Mr.. Blaine Mr.
Morrison seems to have special hank
ering to get wiped up.
Recent railroad statistics that have
been gathered contain some interest
ing information touching the growth
of our railroad system. 1t was in 1880
that the first twenty miles of road were
built, and between that date and 1850
there were 1900 miles in full operation.
or an average Of $50 miles per year.
In the next ten years, ending in 1860,
there were added u 900 miles or 2,169
miles per year, and since 1860, period
Of twenty-four years, there was further
added 12l ,813 miles or Il trife more
than 5000 per year. The capital rep
resented in the construction and oper-
alton of this great system is seven and
one half billions of dollars, (S7, 525, 43S,-
641.) and the effect of this capital in
the appreciation of other property is
represented ut about $4,000, 600.
These are pretty large figures, and they
are used with effect IN comparison with
the amounts appropriated by Congress
from the beginning of the government
to the present time for the improve
ment of the rivers and harbors of the
country, which all told aggregates $780,
100000! In other words, the railroads
that have sprung into existence in the
last forty years have cost thirty times
the total amount expended for rivers
and harbors from the foundation of the
Government.
If the House resolution to adjourn on
on the 30th instant should pass the Sem
ate. Congress would leave an infinitely
much larger amount of business unfin-
ished than ever before, while if Con-
gress should continue in session long
enough to dispatch the business already
laid out for it, there can be no adjourn
ment before the regular meeting in De-
cember. JUNIUs.
Clay'S Defeat by Polk.
The election hinged on the result in
New York, One hundred and thirty
eight electoral votes were necessary Ia