Tama County Republican. (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1867-1872, 1867-07-05
Recklessness Of Government Expendi.
lures.

Time was when Americans conld Justly
boast of the economy Of their Governments
At an annual cost of ST. 900 900, or two dol
lars and half per capita, thirty two millions
OF population We're governed more benifcially
than the people Of any other country The
achievement was one at which European pub,
]icists wondered, and as the event has proved
one which we ourselves did not half appreci-
ate. Our people were prosperous and sclf-re>
liant. Their political traditions had taught
them to expect little from government. to look
with jealousy upon all central agencies, and
to trust rather to individual and local effort
than to the national government for the
achievement Of important enterprises. The
same rule applied to the State organizations,
as to the Federal; and thus the province Of
government being confined within narrow linn
Its, it costs us but little to be governed.
1t is unnecessary to remark how completely
within six or seven years, Ill this has been
changed The creation of a great military
result Of inducing the people to repose in offs
cial hands that power which formerly was
confined to themselves alone. In the eyes Of
the public, the Government almost appears to
be invested with the attributes of deity. ca.
pable of protecting them not only against a
public enemy, but possessed of u wisdom far
above their own, and to be trusted with the
regulation Of affairs which heretofore had been
considered beyond its province.
OF course opinions will vary as 10 the
wholesomeness Of this new tendency in our
national politics. Upon the question of its
economy, there can, however be no second
opinion. In proportion as ge increase the
functions OF government We extend its agen-
cies and extending its agencies we enlarge it's
expenditures; and when the rule is made to
apply to the State Governments, as we'll as the
Federal, 1t is apparent that this tendency must
involve large increase oftaxation. The war
has involved Us in debt Of 81. 600 900. 600
which requires an additional yearly payment
OF Sl3O.OOO.OOO. This it might Laye been
Supposed would have supplied Standing ar
gument IN favor of the most stringent curtail-
ment OF expenditures but our legislators ap-
pear to have concluded otherwise. They are
surprised at the facility with which the reyc-
nue. is raised, and hence concluded that there
Is no great necessity for economy. 1t was not
10 DC expected that Immediately on the close Of
the war, we should witness a return TO the or.
binary scale of expenditures; yet it is not
easily seen how, with strict regard for pub.
lie retrenchmcnt, the expenditures, exclusive
OF payments on account Of the public debt
should nave been more than six times tho
amount Of those for the year 1860. Such how
ever, is tie fact. as will appear from The fol
lowing comparison Ct actual payments Of 1866.
1860 1866.
Civil Service S 1862 S 1929. 1923
Foreign Intercourse 1.lG3.2O7 33s osa
Miscellaneous 20G58.OO7 27.43O. IA
Dept of the Interior 2o55.67o 1882 41e
War Department 1G4O9 757 284.449 7O1
Navy Department 115l4159 43.334lls
Total $53.SIS472 3S7. $50. 1873