Year: 1874

The Administration majority in the present
Congress are apparently pondering seriously
the question whether upon the whole, as the
present IS somewhat dscouraging and the fu-
ture looks decidedly squally, they had not bet
ter "grab and run.n We by no means intend
to speak irreverently Of these statesmen; we
would not willingly insinuate that their inten
tions are not entirely honorable or that they
are not all as upright and honest as the
"sincere and thoughtful statesmen" who lately
gathered ut Chattanooga and planted their flag
on the mountains of Tennessee. But we can
not mistake the temper of the leaders OF the
meaning of the advice which is poured in
upon them from all quarters, and dwelt upon
at great length by the organs with reference
to the prosecution Of great public works and
the initiation of grand scheme of internal
improvements. We would like to believe that
the country is insured against reckless legis-
lation in the high character Of our public
men, but the memory of the Salary Grab is too
fresh for that. The party in power has had
long career of success. Like all successful
parties it has become Overrun with adven-
turers and self-seekers, spectators and dema-
gogues, who follow the scent of plunder, and
manage to be in always at the distribution of
the spols. These are the men, not the mass
of the party by any means, who are consider
ing the temptation and the opportunity to strip
the house before moving out.


For we cannot put any other construction
upon the wild propositions which have been
broached in influential quarters to set on foot
great enterprises in the way of railroads and
canals at the expense Of the Government, upon
the plausible pretext Of furnishing labor to
the unemployed. and relieving the financial
distress. The impression prevails that the
President will seriously urge in his forthcOm-
ing message some great scheme or series OF
schemes of public works with this purpose.
In general terms he has recommended the
adoption of national policy of internal i'm
provements in previous messages. Doubtless
he will renew the recommendation now and
and back 1t up with the argument suggested
by the stagnation Of labor and the duty of
the General Government to do something for
the revival Of industry and the promotion of
trade. His previous recommendations were
wisely disregarded, the leaders OF the party
passing them over with quiet smile. Whether
the new outlook for the party and the possi-
bility that this may be last chance for jobs
will make any difference in the view to be
taken of the subject at the coming session,
remains to be seen. 1t is to be hoped that
there is enough of honesty and Of discretion
left in Congress to forbid the adoption of such
a policy. As a measure of relief it is nothing
but flat quackery, and its only effect would be
to increase the opportunities for dishonest men
to enrich themselves at the expense of the
Government. 1t is time the period of political
contracts should close, and the evil influence
of contractors in politics should cease. The
material advantages-it must be admitted they
have been great-which have accrued to the
country from the railroad building of the past
ten years are no compensation for the deteriOra-
ton in public morals and the decentralization
of politics which the system of subsidies and
Government aid entailed.


The Republican party viii have the oppor-
tunity during the next three months to pre-
pare the way for an indefinite extension of
the evils which its policy of Capitalization and
personal and paternal government has done 80
much to foster, or it may do something to
counteract such tendencies by wise and careful
legislation. If the leaders of the party are
sincere in what they say about the dangers to
which the rule of the Democratic party will
expose the country, they will have plenty of
work to do in the way Of removing opportunities
for mischief for those who come after them.
They cannot undo or set aside all the bad prece-
dents which have been established during
their supremacy, but they can at least refrain
from opening any more doors to corruption.