The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1868-08-28

1erTeu In detail q long ll5t OF cnafgeS:-
You might lose your liberty, for human en-.
durance knows no limit but you cannot buy
more than you can pay for, aud you cannot pay
more than the extortions OF the tax. gatherer
can squeeze out of suffering people Freed.
meI's bureaus, military commissions, military
governments, the support of ten State Govern
mems, consttutit nal amendments, negro suf
tr8ge, md carpet baggers are pretty expensive
luXuries. Aud when they bring with them idle
hands, short crops, no home markets for our
Western products, and no articles for Eastern
suips TO carry to other nations, they are more
expensive sl1lli aud when yousuperadd 10 lnese
things high ariffs and high taxes an uncertain
supply of wo x, nigh price for all the necsssa-
Iies OF lle low price Tor labor, and an Increase
in the hours of labor, then these Injuries come
TO be so expensive that they are altogether in-
tUlerable."
Had Mr.. Pendleton desired to enlist the iu-
telligence rather than che ignorance of his
hearers, he would have supplemented his
enumeration of items with the statement that
a Republican Congress has wiped out several
of them. Thus the Freedmen's Bureau will
cease to exist except as an educational
agency, after the first of January next. Mill
tary Commissions and Military Governments
have already come to an end in seven of the
ten Southern States and will be withdrawn
from the remaining three so soon as they
comply with the conditions of restoration.
As for the Constitutional amendment, negro
suffrage, and ''carpet. baggers," they have no
proper connection with the expenditure except
as incidents of reconstruction, the value of
which must be taken into consideration when
discussing the question of cost.
1t is not surprising that the Copperheads
who assail every feature OF reconstruction,
and demand for Rebel leaders Instant and uu-
conditional restoration to the councils OF the
republic, object to expenditures incurred on
the reconstruction account. They were equally
opposed to expenditures on account of the
war. Could Mr., Pendeton be brought to the
confessional he would be constrained to ac-
knowledge that in his opinion the means en-
ployed to put down the Rebellion were alike
eXtravsgant and unconstitutional. The whole
expense of the war was, from his point OF
view, "pretty expensive luxury" 1t is the
sans with reconstruction. As he sees the
matter, every dollar spent in reorg anizing the
Rebel States on broad and loyal basis is
dollar wasted. He would have the Rebel regi-
mepts march trumpha1tly back to power,
under white mems governments, with the
freedmen condemned to civil inferiorily and
political bondage. Hal this been allowed, Of
course outlay for reconstruction would have
been unnecessary.
Obviously, however, any criticism Of expen-
diture which ignores the Obi.ct intenied To bs
effected is mere dsmagoguism. 1t is super
fetal, tricky, and discreditable. The country
submitted cheerfully to the cost of the war,
and having sustained Congress in its policy of
reconstruction, mnst be prepared to pay its
price. These are questions of principle, into
which figures do not properly enter. They
come in when we proceed TO discuss the capa-
city and integrity of the Republican party, as
the party responsible for the money aspect OF
measures resulting from the war.
Tie best evidence of the financial capacity
Of the party, and of the confidence felt in its
integrity, is furnished by the record of loans
negotiated, and by the general absence of
business disaster during and since the war.
tlnt tN,t ,,J, - llo
perience, Republicans may appeal for an
answer to those who taunt them with fnan-
cial teebleness or reckessness. In regard to
what has since occurred, the point to be de-
cided is whether the measures of Congress
have been marked by waste. Have tha high
standnrda of Expenditure produced by the war
and the condition of the currency been kept up
unnecessarily Has practicable retrenchm ant
been neglected, and extravaganza wantonly
persisted in Has there been no large reduc-
tion of appropriations?-no earnest attempt to
lessen taxation These are really the ques-
tions to be answered, and they are the ques-
tions which Mr. Pendleton diSingenuously
keeps out of sight.
The truth is, however, that with all its
shortcomings, Congress has pushed forward
the work of economy with result which only
needs to be known to establish the Republi-
can title to popular favor. The last session
was especially productive of amendment.
| The aggregate appropriations for ordinary
! expenses were reduced from $l46, 900, 900 to
| $9l ,000, 600. And internal taxes were abol-
ished which yielded upward of Sl67 000, 900.
| These two facts are alone sufficient TO prove
that there is no fOndness for expensive luxu-
ries-no neglect of the great duty which de-
wolves on the party in power as the stewards
of the people. AS Mr.. Sherman has we'll re-
marked, where appropriations for local i'm
provements, or other purposes not impera-
! lively necessary, have been carried, it has been
with the he p OF Democratic votes.
! Another fact which Mr.. Pendleton will have
difficulty in neutrallzipg pertains to the origi-
| nal responsibility for the debt and taxation of
! which Lie DOW complains. Both proceed from
! tine war. And the war was a national struggle
for existence, which was ieopardzed by a re-
! belliOn for which the Democracy is RESPONSE
BILE. II the popular pocket is to be appealed
| TO, then, as fairly it may be, it should be
! against the Democratic party-nOt in its favor.
So also in regard to the policy OF that party
on the subject OF reconstruction. Reduced
appropriations and reduced taxation are posi-
bic Only on the suppositOn that the Govern
ment has outlived its peril, aud that the peace
of the country will not be again disturbed
| The Democratic plan, however, covers mea-
! sures which, by reviving fierce and dangerous
/ conflicts, will render retrenchment im po ssible,
enbarrass the public credit, aud ueoessitate
more taxation to meet the increased eXpendi-
lures which trouble alwags brings. Ii the
people would save money, and re-tOrt as
| quickly as possible an era of prOsperity they
must reserve the Government from The hands
Of the Democratic party.