Audubon County Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Audubon Co., Iowa) 1885-1894, 1888-01-19

The surplus, which in the course of years has
accumulated in the National Treasury, has
been the cause Of much anxiety to the present
Administration. II appears TO me that so long
as the Union soldier is compelled to seek
refuge in the poor-housc or is found suffering
for want Of the necessariCs of life, the treasury
surplus should not create any apprehension in
the minds of patriotic men. No better use
could be made Of the savings of the nation
than to relieve the distress and administer to
the comfort of the brave veterans Of the
late war, who al the risk of health and life
preserved the existence, and asserted the su-
prCmaCy Of our Government. Furthermore
the patriotism of American heroes should not
he allowed to remain the cause Of this poverty
and misery Of their wives and children or
other dependent relatives. These have right
to expect that the country to which their sup
portcrs Offered and sacrificed health, strength
and life, will at least grant TO them what alone
is in its power to grant-CXcmpion from such
suffering as Is caused hy poverty and want.
By pursuing this course the Nation would not
only act in keeping with her own dignity, but
would SOW seeds Of hcroism and patriotic deyo-
ton TO bear precious fruit in ages TO come.
POSTAL TELEGRAPH.
The sentiment IN favor of the establishment
Of postal telegraph system by the National
Government is constantly growing. While
the telegraph is not likely to ever supplant the
mail, il cncroachcs daily upon its domain. 1t
has made itself Indispensable to modern jour
nalism and commerce. II has, together with
the railroads, shortened geographical dis
tances, aud il is the faithful sentinel that
guards the safety and thereby adds To the
speed Of the iron horse. AS a messenger for
purely social communications, the telegraph Is
as yet employed 10 Il very limited extent owing
to the shUrt-sightcd policy of the few men who
control the Telegraph system of the country
has by an extensive tariff placed It's benefits
beyond the reach of the masses. Successful
experiments have been made by other govern
mcn,s in the direction OF operating telegraph
lines in connection with their postal service,
and there is every reason TO BELIEVE that, even
wiiha materially reduced tariff postal tclc.
graph could within few years be made self
supporting in America. While il would con-
vert large part OF the surplus from the Ma
tlonal Treasury into safe and permanent in
vcstment, il would also extend the benefits or
the service TO the people and open 10 the cleo
trio spark au unlimited field for the full dcvll.
opmcnl OF lis usefulness.
STATE AFFAIRS.
The progressive spirit Of the people OF Iowa
has ever led them TO take advanced positions
upon all questions of progress an reform
which since the birth of our State have agitat
cd the Nation. The abolition sentiment at an
early DAY found fertile soil within our borders
When the hcrCsy of State rights threatened
the very life of the Nation, Iowa was In the
front rank Of the loyal States which came to
the rescue aud aided in asserting her suprcm-
acy. Devoted to the true spirit OF freedom she
led all the States in the Union in extending the
elective franchise to the colored race; and
and again in these later years she was one Of
the first In the sistcrhood of States TO abolish
within her borders the slavery of intemperanee.
But the work of progressive Commonwealth
is never done. The body polite, like every or
ganlsm Is subject to the law of evolution.
New issues constantly arise New ideas born
OF the spirit of progress, constantly battle with
the musty conceptions OF conservatism, preju-
dice and tradition; the gigantic interests, the
creation of our inventive age, are constantly
striving TO usurp illegitimate, as well as assert
legitimate rights. Although in republic 1t
Is the province Of the sovereign people to de-
termine the policy OF its government, il must
he left the public servants to execute the die
tates Of their constituency. In the execution
of conservative policy these agents Of the