The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1852-06-20

1851, 522S3O9i - i35, 1876 2,726396
The expenditure upon the army, navy, and ordnance
service was
In 1916 els5o2 III
Ia 1851 l513Sj6
Reduction 1923 29l
makabe fact, in view of the position anticipate our
administration and lis friends will assume Tor The in
creased and increasing expenditures for army and
navy Here is Great Brltain-wh her army not reduced
but increasing every year with her military operations
extending, and requiring, It won!d seem, greater ex-
pendtnre oI money; her naval establishment certainly
reduced, but Increased, at least by The addition OF
many steanships-st maintaining her rank and position
as military and maritime power; AID yet BY a wise
and economical reduction OF expenditure lor three named
branches-navy, army, and ordnanGe-n three Years TO
the extent o G3, 2S29l, nearly $40 100000 Ne,
on the contrary, without materially increasing army
indeed, greatly reducing It since l5S-without lncreas-
ing navy, and IN time o profound peaceare going
on, from year TO year, increasing our expenditures Tor
these branches. almost III the Iato Of geoneca pro-
greSslon
The letter goes on:
generals particulars, and look oil the details upon
which these broad statements established How have
the comforts Of the people al large, the condition OF The
masses OF society, been affected by these results The
sh life Nine years ago the entire consumption Of this
arrics in the United Kingdom was ao6S. .3i cwt Last
nine per Now, been computed, by careful in
vestgaton that about fourth o the actual consumers
of sugar tne variation in price would be no Object that
say, that purchaser out OF four signifies lte
whether sugar is 81. pound shilling. The remaining
three louh therefore, represent the class which is bene
ell by reductions OF consumption
specified shows that each individual OF this class able
70 buy and use twenty three pounds Of sugar 1851
sic OF nine which vas all he could afford ia 1912
Similarly, there consumed in 1871 53965 III pounds
pound. Of tobacco, IN place Of 2,Ols i46 pounds add
356 i6 pounds OF coffee, in place oil y GIG pounds"
We here find, Mr. President only the general facts
stated, which, confess were 10 my mind astonishing
but we find also what seems 10 follow very naturally,
and Is highly gratifying 10 entertaining my views,
that tile comforts and convenences OF life 10 The people
have Increased, Il no perhaps IN the precise rsio, yet
certainly IN connextOn wltb and doubtless a
quence OF, their relief from the burdens Of taxation
Indeed, | think 1t will be found by fair examination
that thIs increase OF benefits The people has exceeded
the ratio of their relief iron taxation, exhibited in
this statement And this not at all 10 be wondered al,
bat may fairly be assumed as the result OF the encour
aged hope, the aroused energies, and the stimulated in
dusTy OF people, by the prospect thus presented TO
them that their rights and their interests, as entities to
be respected and cared for have been last recognised
and that 10 future portion OF the profits OF their toll
10 be enjoyed by themselves, and may descend TO their
children, and not all co. formerly 10 buld mp strong
and sehdd government thiag apart from and above
the people.
SlI, these iacts-these reductions in the income and
expenditures of the British goyernmentnay be small in
the amounts OF money they express but 10 my mind
they among the most important. and significant, and
valuable OF all the signs o The times which now appear,
or have for years appeared, above the political horizon
OF the world. Mayaa eania doubtless great
achievement for the bold barons OF England and has
with as hule doubt done much for liberal government
there and with SO the repeal OF The laws
was the valuable triumph OF principle. But this reduc.
ton oi taxes and OF government expenditures, without
revolution and without violence but by the silent opera
ions of sound principle, and indicating IL does the
extended sphere IN which that principle recognised and
potential, ia TO my mlnd, repeat more important more
significant, and more valuable for popular rights and good
government, than either ga earia the repeal C the
corn laws or, indeed, OF any reform which England has
ever known.
In this aspect, Mr. President rejoice at il and as
philanhropst hail il the oay real harbinger have
from the other side Of The Atlantic Of the practical
recognition popular rights ADD interests as pedcaes oil
the powers OF government In this aspect is, indeed,
important, significant, and valuable, 10 the whole family
OF civilized man.
said also, that this reform in Engand made strong
appeal 10 u.s. American legislators, for reform in our
affairs not for change IN our form system oi
government, but IN lis afminiStrdioa For, SIR, how
does IL compare-or rather how does II eoatrdst-with
what we have done and are now doing confess not
only astonshment but alarm at that contrast espe-
ciay | alarmed at II IN view OF the difference in
principle and in what had cherished the belief the
difference 10 policy between our government and that OF
Great Britain. That difference, as undertook 10 den.
edte, consisted in government as made bg the people
aud administered for their sole and benefit, al the
niniHvm OF expense and weight those who bear for
protection, IN contradslnction 10 government made
foT the people, and administered for the use and benefit
OF the government ITSELF at the marinum OF expense and
weight to those who bear for control and not for pro-
/ lection.
Bu sir, however strongly This difference 10 principle
may prepondeaie in favor, that of the policy ~
the her scale What have already stated shows this
TO be so That is, while Great Britain has commenced.
and actually carrying ont, the policy OF lowering her
taxes reducing her revenues and curang her eNpend-
lures, and that too with palpabe anl striking benefits
to her people, we-ay, sir zoe ~ alarm, but OF aruh
say IT, ps-ate increasing oN taxes, augnennng our
revenues, and enlargng expenditures EalMging
did say nay cir, d)ubiing our expenditures every
twelve years And wherefore, and with what eifec
Am told that the in the extent OF our country
within the periods for which have estimated, has made
this increase OF expenditure necessary, or that - re
qsred by the increase OF our population Such an
answer IL neither satisfactory, in accordance with the
facts admit that the increase IN the extent OF ou
territory and of our population and the incidents OF thai
increase have called for increased expenditure But sr
The increase ia the latter moi IN due proportion
indeed is in enormous excess over Inst IN the orner
admit that the S3 900 900 OF 1928 even the S260O0OO
o lsl0, would be insufficient for necessteso blsyear
And IL ia NOT at the mere fact OF increase that ar
alarmed or OF which complain. admit the necessity o
an increase. II we will acquire and multiply, we mus
pay But sir IL is the ratio and proportion OF the increase
of expepdiue, above and beyond the necessary wants
our condition, with all increase OF territory anC
numbers, at which an alarmed, and Of which do com
ulain And that there good ground Tor such alarm ant
sucb complaint, | think the facts will show. What arr
those facts
No one will deny-ndeed, all must admt--ihat an IN
crease in the extent Of possessions and 10 the mum
her Of our population brings with Il the necessity Of som
Increase OF our expenditures But apprehend mat NJ
one will-certanly no one fairy--cann that sucl
iexpendures shall increase even puri pain, OF, ~ lh
same raio with our territory and population 10 DO $