Mexico weekly ledger., 1898-03-17

The devil got well,
The devil monk was he.
The first two lines of this quatrain
are descriptive of the present predica-
ment of the Republican party. The last
Two are prophetic Of its conduct should
1t recover It is sick, perhaps sick unto
death. 1t is suffering from complica-
tion of diseases, but Dingleyism is the
one whose symptoms worry the ply
sicians most Just now. 1t is gradually
but surely producing an@mia, or, in
plain everyday language. starvation.
This the Republican doctors do not un-
They don't know how to cope
with it. There is no remedy in the Re-
publican materia medioa for it. The G.
o. p. has been sick frequently from
gluttony, but anBmia confounds the
Pretends TO Reform.
But, being sick. the old prostitute
pretends to repent. A new life is to be
led-a life Of abstemiousness and econ
omy. It is really comical to see Uncle
Joe Cannon and Mr.. Payne, 'the gray
haired mandarin ct id omne genus,
"play economy" for everybody knows
that their economy is only make be-
iieve. But they must make buckle and
tongue meet somehow. and as they dare
not issue bonds sin time of peace"
after all they said about &c. G., >" and as
the Dingley bill absolutely fails by
$S, 000, 900 month to bring in revenue
to administer the government, Uncle
Joe and his gang are pretending to cut
down the appropriations. Among others
they are socking it into the old soldier,
cutting of his supplies. holding up his
claims in the pension Office, holding up
his bills in congress. In fact, all the ap-
preparation bills are cut down until aft
er the election, when, having won OF
lost, the deficiency bills which will be
rushed through at the short session will
be amazing to see. Such is this boasted
Republican economically postpone
ment, q humbug, sham, fraud.
A Startling Fact.
In pursuance Of this scheme Of pre-
tended economy-good for this session
only and not q day longer-it Is now
given out fiat that the committee on
rivers and harbors, after incubating 70,
months, will report no bill at all. Thii
is an astounding proposition. Now, ont
of two things is true-first, either some
sort Of river and harbor bill is needed
this session, or, second, none ever Ii
needed. II the latter proposition is true
then untold millions have been squan
dered. But that proposition is not tru'
never was, never will be. River and
harbor appropriations are necessary ant
should be made when needed. Postpone
ment only aggravates the trouble ant
ultimately increases the expense. Th'
Republican chieftains who have com
manded that no river and harbor bill b
reported this session know this full
we'll, Nome better. But in order to tid'
over the fall elections they are perfectl.
willing to spend % hereafter where =
would suffice now. The appropriation
must be held down till after the eleo
tions, no matter how expensive the per
formance. How do the taxpayers lik
that?
Every vote that the Republicans ge
next fall by reason Of economy" vii
be obtained under false pretenses, an
ii dollars instead Of votes would lam
the benefciaries in the penitentiary in
| stead of in congress. But they are i
desperate straits and are grabbing at al
| sorts of straws. In some of these caper
they are Understanding the intelli
gence of the people to a degree that
absolutely amazing.
| A Difference with Q Distinction.
When Samuel J. Randall was speal
ar and Jim Mckenzie of Kentucky wa
q member, very amusing thing haI
peued. Mckenzie was brilliant, eli
auent, daredevil sort Of statesman wh
always carried his nerve with him. OF
day he arose and solemnly said, "Ml
Speaker, rise to question OF highei
privilege. !" Estate it. replied Randall
"I call up house bill No. -. making q
appropriation for public building Z
Paduoah, Ky.," gravely answered tt
audacious Kentuckian. "The gentl'
man Is trifling with the chairl" roare
Randall, white with rage. "That is I
question of privilegei" "Oh, Mr.. Speal
sr. the chair is mistakeni" said McKei
Eie, arguendo. 'That is question
highest privilege. involving member
riaht to his seat. If don't get the al
propriation for that custom house,
will never be reelected in this world.
McKenzie's superb impudence carrie
the day. Modified Randall and secure
the appropriation to build the oustol
house to re-elect him to congress, whie
10 did.
j saw and heard Mr.. Tongue of Or
Ron talk and toll for an appropriate
| for q harbor to make water deep enoue
over the bar to float him back to col
gress. It was a painful performance, 4
be squeezed in before by the skin OF b
!. eth. He tried every style OF oratol
had ever heard of--argumentativ