Year: 1874

people are oppressed and they know it,,
and this change came upon the same
principle that drowning min will
catch at a straw, and the result will be
the same; either the party will be sub
merged and go to the bottom, or they
must prove by their acts that they
have sufficient buoyancy to hold q
sinking country above the tremendous
waves and surges of this political con-
test. We have hopes for the best, but
our hopes are mingled with fears.
That the people generally will be
greatly disappointed we have no doubt,
and if this disappointment causes a
reaction, our last state will be worse
than the first. The people have been
greatly oppressed by the burden of
high taxes, and they are quite salts
fed in their own minds that taxation
will be very light in the future, per-
haps not greater than it was before
the war. To contrast the taxes we
pay now, with the taxes paid when
the Democratic party was in power,
has been the great hobby of political
demagogues. This was, perhaps the
most effective argument before the
masses, and if this does not prove to
be boomerang to the party in 1876
we shall be agreeably disappointed.
The reaction is what we have to
dread. The parties and the people are
all demoralized, and in such state
revolutions are quick and overwhelm-
ing. The people are restless under the
heavy, CALLING yoke of taxation and
are ready to throw it off upon any
terms. Yes, "any terms" They will
vote for any party that agrees Ito lift
this burden from them, but woe be to
that party that promises and fails to
redeem its promises. That taxa
tion can be greatly reduced by
judicious legislation, we have no doubt.
but that taxation can be Immediately
reduced to anything near what it was
previous to 1860 is preposterous. The
expenses of the Government must OF
necessity be greater now than then;
besides the national debt and annual
interest must be met. But that tax
alton can be reduced and corruption
lists kicked out of office can and ought
to be done; but have we the men to
do it? That is the question. Our old
statesmen that used to stand at the
helm and guide the old ship are all
gone or retired and their places are
filled by men brought to the surface
through accident, without qualifica-
ton or merit. The most critical eX-
animation of all the addresses and doc
uments emanating from Congressman
and Legislators for the past ten years
would fail to exhibit one man who has
risen above party prejudices and pre-
sented q broad view of the whole coun-
try and the wants of all the people


The school in which our modern
statesmen have been educated unfts
them for such broad views. The best
of them are nothing but political crit


les. They have been trained to detect


the faults of their opponents more thar


to look at the great wants of the ma
| ton. Place-hunters and demagogue:
| have been fighting for power, and
statesmen are not made out of such
material. Real statesmen, who know
the responsibility of position, assume
control with great trepidation. States.
men do not grow up like mushrooms;
it requires lifetime to make states
man. WEBSTER, CLAY and CALHOUN
spent lifetime in the study of the
great problem, and with them timid-
| ity increased with wisdom. Some arc
ready to ask if we have any such men
left. Yes; but they are not office
seekers. The office must seek them


If any such have been brought out in
this great revolution, they will make
their mark in Congress. The field is
now open for the greatest and most
successful craftsmanship; but the peo-
pie should not expect too much. II
will require time and great skill to
untangle the skein. Besides, the ma
jority of Congress are new men, and il
they are as wise as MOSES and as hon
est as SAMUEL they must have time tc
understand the situation before they
can accomplish anything for our re-
lief. Let us not expect too much.


TIE MAVnDhI No