Year: 1871

IN


We print In the HERALD this morning
general survey Of the work now before Con-
gress, with some estimate Of what will be
accomplished in the way of Legislation this
winter. Never before in the history OF our
national legislative body has 1t been SO weak
in instruments by which great measures are to
be perfected. and never before has SO much of
the perfection of wisdom in legislation been
required. The credit Of the country is excel
lent, in spite of laundering financial manage
ment; but wise, comprehensive, statesman
like measure Is needed to make that credit tell
in favor of our industries at home and our
commerce On the seas. As fnancier Mr..
Boutwell, is failure; but unfortunately, the
administration and Congress are dependent
upon him for financial ideas and guidance.
Mr.. Samner is neither friendly to the party in
power, though he is himself Of that party, nor
Is he the man to put the country on solid,
gold-paying basis. Mr.. Sherman, the Chair
man Of the Finance Committee Of the Senate,
is tariff tinker-only this and nothing
more. Mr. Morton, who, if anybody, is the
oracle of the administration, is too much of
politician ever to become q statesman.
Mr.. Trumbull ranks very high in certain
school of politics, but he is positive only in
his lack Of every positive quality. This makes
up all of the Senate who can be looked to,
however remotely, for legislative relief in the
present crisis and they are the men upon
whom depends, in great measure, the hope
Of the immediate future.


In the House, Dawes, Garfield, Kelley and
Shelabarger are the leading lights Of the re-
publican party. General Butler is kicking
around on the outside of the party pond, try
ing to teach in various ways the party ducks
how to improve their swimming ground. But
| there is no more to be hoped for from the five
| Representatives than from the Eve Senators.
| Neither of them can be compared to the five
wise and the Eve foolish virgins, for they are
all without oil in their lamps. And YET i'm
portant measures affecting taxation and the
| interests of indu stry and commerce force them
selves upon the country and Congress, though
the ability to deal with thes, questions is
wanting. Americans complain that they cam
not build ships or compete with other nations
in tho trade of the world; and Congress re-
spends that it does not know how 1t is. The
| American merchant fads, in spite of steam
and the electric Intercourse Of the cables, that
exchange in London tells fcarfnlly against him
year after year with millions Of gold lying idle
| in the Treasury or doled out in Wall street as
an Eighth avenue grocer doles out eggs to his
customers in scarce season. But Congress-,


busy as it is with taxation aud the tariff, the
duty on coal and the duty on iron, can find no
way to make greenbacks as good as gold and
an American acceptance in LondQa equal to Q
British acceptance in New York. Mr.. Bout
well does not want specie payments any moro
than country storekeeper desires a. fall in
the price Of prints. Congress cannot step in
with grand and comprehensive scheme which
will bring the precious ores out Of their hid
den vaults to revivify every branch Of industry
and trade, because Congress knows only the
law Of small expedients. Nothing comes of it
all, and nothing can come of it till dollar is


dollar in fact as well as in name, and till the


payment of the national debt becomes possi-


bility, not by being taken out of the mouths of
the people at the expense of sweat and toll,
which leaves the nation poorer at the end Of
the year than at the beginning, but by the
overfowing and redundant wealth Of an encr-
getic and prosperous nationality. 1t is not
the statesman who can perceive this who will
prove himself great but he who can sweep
away the necessity for such measures of small
minded succor as the repeal Of that grand
achievement of American craftsmanship known
as maritime reciprocity, or smaller attempts
to make the volume of the currency self-ad-
justing, according to the wants of the people,
by policy which shall make golden eagles
flow in the same channels as golden sove-
| reigns, will make for himself everlasting fame,


and Of his countrymen happy and prosperous
people.


This is the great thing for Congress to ac-
complish. All other schemes are only part
of this. Tinkerings at the tariff may lead to
warm discussions between ardent but superb
cial protectionists, and not less ardent and su-
perficial revenue reformers. The repeal of
maritime reciprocity may inspire the hope that
the golden age Of American commerce, when
| American sails whitened every sea and the
American flag gladdened every port is about
| to return once more. Efforts to make the
volume of the currency self-adjusting, ac-
! cording to the wants of the people,
may provoke a smile among men who
know that paper is paper, whether 1t is called
one dollar or q hundred; but they can only
give us new loan bills, with fresh syndicates
and fresh failures. And yet, in spite of bulls
and bears and Boutwell, and blundering Con-
gressmen, greenback is worth in gold nearly
the face Of the figures printed upon 1t, be-
cause it represents the energy and wealth and
credit Of the nation. 1t is only step from
the deprecated currency of to-day to the