The record-union., 1891-03-27
MEDIIATIONS EN- ROUTE.
How the Surplus Has Been Dis
posed Of.
Creditable Record Made by Harrison's
Administration-The People Who
Dealt With the Malta in New Or
leans-A Question of Citizenship.


While crossing the continental splendid
opportunity is presented for quietly and
calmly taking a retrospective view of the
late lamented Fifty-first Congress, and its
relations with the executive administra-
ton of the Government. This past Con-
gress has very emphatically established
this one important political fact, namely:
majority have the right and power to
control legislation regardless of the mi
nority-if they so choose. 1t has also
demonstrated another fact. that the peo-
pie themselves are safer and more COM
petent tribunal to appeal to in order to
redress alleged legislative wrong-doing
than for minority to obstruct useful and
necessary legislation during a session of
Congress. Whether the latter lesson will
be needed by the Republican minority in
the next House of Representatives re-
mains to be determined.
SOME ERRONEOUS IMPRESSIONS EX-
planned.
= That either party would plunder the
treasury, legislate in the interests of mo-
nopolies, or in any other way act con-
trary to what is for the best interests of
the Government, is the thinnest kind of
political debauchery, and wholly un-
worthy the serious consideration of an
average citizen.
This fact is illustrated by the simplest
method of reasoning, namely: All these
congressional plginleS as well as the
giants (the former being largely in the
majority,) all want to be re-elected-for
: life. A reelection to the average Con-
gressman is the focus of all his aims, am
/ bitions and livelihood. Should he vote
!. for any of the distasteful measures before
mentioned, the candidate on the other
side will surely tell it on him on the
stump, the local press will publish it with
large black display heads every day,and
the ultimate result is very easy to predict.
AT best he is accused of wrong-doing any
way and is compelled to run the CANT
let every two years of having it fraudu-
lently proven whether guilty or not
The old chestnut about the "soulless
corporation" the ''bloated bond-holder''
and that holy terror the railroad COM
pany," are not in the grand larceny busi-
ness-ln fact, 1t is not yet ascertained
whether they will be able to secure their
legal or equitable rights as human beings,
unless the people send to Congress u diff
ferent lot of brain tissue than has been
the custom of late.
History fails to supply a precedent for
that great political turn-down last fall.
Without ace, face or trump. the Republi-
cans are equitably entitled to a new deal,
according TO the rules of whist" but they
do not kick or complain, and nearly all
left Washington with feeling of sublime
confidence, or nerve, probably both, that
the result of the next Presidential cleo
ton would be complete reversal of the
verdict
Some prominent French writer said
that whenever new subject was ad-
yanced the people first denounced it, then
examined it, and then adopted it.
Whether the result of last fall grew out of
the Mckinley bill or Speaker Reeds rul-
lngS, they seem to regard that election as
the first stage of denunciation the peo-
pie are now examining. and when the
election comes off in 1892, they have no
fears but the final adoption will follow in
natural sequence.
Such sanguine complacency reminds
me of that very accommodating gratifica-
ton possessed by the average Christian
from the "Pennyroyal deestricks." He
reconciles himself to every misfit here,
through that happy but equally blind
consolation of being let in on the ground
floor in the great hereafter.
THAT HoRRID SURPLUS.
1t was claimed by the Democrats that
surplus of about $4,000, 900 remained in
the National Treasury when Mr.. Cleve-
land retired from the Presidency. No
one seemed to reason that such large
amount as that lying idle in the Govern
mental vaults was a damaging menace to
commerce and an unbusneSslike shrink
ing of the circulation. The Mckinley bill
has curtalled our revenues about that
much, and it is not likely to occur again,
unless it is worked up into political ad-
vertisement again Just before a Presi-
Dental election. In order that the people
may accurately know how that surplus
was utilized and not stolen, the following
statements will tell.
When the Barring failure in London oc-
Cured, on account of the immediate con-
! nectien OF Wall street, New York. with
the London money market, it threatened
this country with commercial disaster.
In order TO avert that catastrophe and get
this unwisely boarded surplus into use
ful occupation, the late Secretary Win
dom, on the 18th day of July last, bought
Sl5,OOO,0OO OF per cent. bonds. On the
2lst day of August S2l, 100000 of a per
cent bonds, and on the 30th of the same
month 0000, 900 more.
On the 9th day of September So, 900, 900
more were invested in purchasing and
per cent. bonds. On the 18th S3l ,000, 600
more. In short, he kept on purchasing
small lots offered from different localities
up to November 1st, when the panic
ended, making grand total of sos, ,O00, ,OO0
This method reduced the Government
Indebtedness just that amount and the
accommodating interest and prevented
financial crash in this country.
: Those political confidence operators
who shall tell in the next campaign that
Mr.. Harrison. or his Secretary of the
I Treasury. or the Mckinley bill, or the
last Congress, or anybody else stole this
money out of the Treasury, as has been
the custom heretofore, are simply lying
to their auditors if they vary this state
ment by 10 cents, or distort the uses
1.-The Government funds were put to in
any other way. There are those, how
ever, who like to hear the other kind of
yarn. This information, il must be un-
/. derstood, is not intended for the edifica-
ton of that class.
1t is also well to state while pur-
suing this line of thought, that the re-
duction of our revenues through the tariff
laws in force; the contemplated reduc-
tions from reciprocity; the increasing
pension roll and the naturally increasing
Government expenses as we grow larger,
will necessarily demand heavier govern
mental appropriations, and whether the
Democrats or Republicans are on the
outside" either who attempt to make
political capital out ofthose conditions is
simply dishonest.
ANOTHER DEAD SURPLUS.
Under Mr.. Arthur's administration
there were deposited in national banks
and other designated convenient deposi-
tories throughout the country, public
funds of the Government yielding no in
terest, simply an open account, amount-
ing to SIS, 100000.
During Mr.. Cleveland's administration
that sum was increased to $50, 900. Geo.
Had this latter amount been invested in
Government bonds it would have earned
Si,oO0,oe0 annually, and still been avail
able as security in case of a panic in the
commercial world-but it was not. it re-
manned IN the repositories and those
banks which had it ON deposit scooped in
that little sum as legitimate partv spoils
There was some little complaint about