The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1895-03-02
PROJECTS OF TREASON.

The New York Evening Post shows
excellent judgment in the selection OF
words when 1t styles this congress the
most "brutish" that ever assembled.
1t passes the understanding of ordinary
men to comprehend the delight OF its
members In pure malice; in the destruc-
tive side of legislation. Inability to
legislate constructively is not surpris-
ing, because not unusual. But we gen.
orally feel justified in assuming that
men OF all parties, while they may be
utterly mistaken in their choice OF
methods, mean well. We can say OF a
man with some confidence that the
mere fact that he is an American citi-
zen assures us that he would not de-
liberately desire to break down Amer
lean interests and ruin his country.
However mistaken his judgment ON
matters like the tariff and the curren-
cy we cannot conceive that he should
willfully propose to take action that he
knows to be utterly ruinous to the
country, any more than we can think
OF him as taking up arms against the
government in open rebellion
Yet this is the depth to which this
congress has fallen, according to the
Pioneer Press. Not only negatively,
but positively, 1t is arrayed against
the national existence and well-being
as clearly as II its members had raised
the flag Of rebellion and begun to levy
war. The refusal to act on the various
financial propositions submitted, thus
entailing a frightful and unnecessary
burden on the taxpayer was the mega
tive side. The positive side is found In
two amendments to the sundry civil
hill now pending. One Of these is pro-
posed by Mr., German, and provides
that no bonds shall be sold hereafter
unless they be sold after advertisement
to the highest bidder. Mr., German
knows that in the contract made with
the syndicate which foated the last
issue there was clause providing that
II should have the first option to pur-
chase any bonds that may be offered
up to next October. That was part of
the consideration paid for the gold de-
llvered in exchange for the bonds. 1t
is an obligation as binding as any that
could be made. The question Is not
now whether the insertion Of this
clause was wise or necessary or right.
The point is that 1t was inserted, and
that the honor OF the nation was
pledged to 1t by those who had author.
ity OF law for so doing. What Mr..
German asks OF congress, therefore,
is a public repudiation OF the pllghtcd
word OF this nation. He is willing, in
order to humillate and embarass the
administration, to brand the govern
ment Of the United States as liar,
in the eyes of all the world.
The other amendment OF like char
acter is fathered by Mr., Mills. 1t
proposes to repeal all those portions OF
the existing statutes OF the United
states which confer authority to issue
bonds upon the secretary Of the treas
ury. What possible object is there in
thlsg Solely to remove the last defense
OF the credit of this country. Mr.. Mills
knows perfectly well that the three
bond issues made by the treasury were
necessary to keep US from going to the
silver basis. He knows that no bonds
have been sold or win be sold for any
other purpose. He ought to know that
every civilized government In the world
confers upon the administrators OF its
finances some powers to protect them
against sudden danger when the legis-
iasure Is not at hand to act He would
cut away the only safeguard Of the
treasury. the only provision that has
saved the country. not only from the
silver standard. but from actual bank,
ruptcy: not only from paying lts cbil-