Year: 1870




people or of the republic in Its entirety, and
we see no statesmanlike grasp OF questions
bearing upon the mighty destiny of the nation.
That body is composed for the most part of
local politicians, whose vision does not reach
beyond the narrow limits of their districts or
States, who look only to what affects them
personally and who have no idea of the grow
Statemen look to the future and lay the founda-
tions for it in their policy, but these men can
see only the present and that merely in small
things. 1t is true there are gigantic jobs
brought before Congress and members under
stand these well enough. They are sharp
business men, so far as their own interests 60,
though not statesmen They seem to have an
idea that while they are taking care of them
selves the country can take care of ITSELF
Fortunately this is 80 to some extent; for the
wonderful resources of the republic and
industry of the people overcome, in great
measure, bad Legislation or the want of good
legislation. Still, the corruption, incapacity
and contracted views of our national legisla-
tors are demoralizing and must in the end lead
to serious consequences.


We look over the proceedings of Congress
from day to day, and find that nearly every
question that comes up has job in it-some
political and party job, some sectional or local
job in favor of particular locality or class, or
some job to put money into the pockets of the
members themselves and of their friends.
H, o;J hofo So
considered with regard to the country at large
or the general welfare. Take, for example,
the subjects of internal taxation and the tariff,
which have been discussed long enough to
wear them threadbare, and there are no large
views eXpressed-none of broad national
character. Each member advocates or
opposes propositions made according to
the effect they may have upon some particu-
lar interest with which he is identified or sup
poses heirepresents. There is no party policy,
even, on these subjects or any others-none,
except on the dead issues of the war and the
everlasting negro. But these last are about
played out. The people are tired with the
continual harping upon the war, for the issues
of it have been settled. AS to the negro,
nothing more can be made out of him polit-
cally, unless the ultra negrophobists can
propose method to scrub the black man into
a white one, and to change his Uranium, heels
and all his conformation, so as to give him
equality, physically, with the Caucasian race.
On the subjects of the tariff, taxation, funding
the debt, currency, national banks, foreign
oil md ofha <hnvo Sc
platform nor unity of action. There is even no
concert of views nor action between the So
called administration party in Congress and
the administration ITSELF


The proceedings in Congress and of the ad-
ministration for some time past, but particu-
larly within the last few days, show this want
of concert and unity and the selfish, narrow
minded conduct Of members The Sandwich
Islands treaty was rejected in the Senate on


Wednesday by radical Senators because it
opened reciprocity of trade and was against
the high tariff notions of these men, though it
was eloquently advocated by another leading
radical Senator, Mr.. Sumner, who, as chair
man of the Committee on Foreign Affairs, is
supposed to have most to say and the most
influence on all such questions. No regard
was paid to the action or wish of the admins
tration in the matter. The development of
our commerce on the Pacific side of the conti-
nent and the great interests that are opening
to us there had no weight with these high
tariff Senators and local politicians. The
debate on the Tax bill in the House on Satur-
day and the fight over Mr.. Schenck's attempt
to tack on tariff amendment to that bill
brought out in strong light the narrow sec
tional views Of members and the difficulty of
legslating on anything in broad national
manner In former times there was defined
party policy as well as party action on public
questions; but now there is none, except, as
was said, on the dead issues of the war and
the negro. Look at the conduct of
the Senate, which is overwhelmingly
republican, on the ST. Domingo question.
The administration, which was the choice of
and belongs to that dominant party, pleads
earnestly for the ratification of the st. Dom
lingo treaty, but has pleaded in vain. Then
again, on the other hand the majority in Con-
gress are no doubt favorable to some sympa-
thetic and decided action in favor of the
Cubans, but this has been doggedly resisted
by the administration. Take also, for exam
pie, the Funding bill, very important mea-
sure, and there is a perfect chaos of opinions.
On that neither parties nor sections unite, and
the policy of the administration, or rather of
the Secretary of the Treasury, is utterly dsre
garded


It is only where there is some grand scheme
to plunder the Treasury or the people, and


that measures slip through Congress easily.
When some gigantic railroad job, calling for
L e