The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1868-07-10

The cost of the Navy Department i
the four years ending July l, 1869, vii
be, by Republican statements and esti
mates, Sll7 All ,S02; and this follows a.
expenditure of $3l4, l8S,742 during tn
war. In the four years before the wa
the navy csst only s62, ,9l0,534. w
then stood in the front rank of com
mercial powers. Our ships were OF
every sea and were to be found in ever,
port. American shipping is now by on
tariff policy swept from the ocean, bu
the cost of the navy is nearly doubled
The year ending July l, 1868, is tn
third year of peace.
But the War Department cost SIPS,
S59, ,494, which is more than it cost dur
ing the four years of Mr.. Folks term
which covered the expenses of the Mex
lean war.
Not only does one year of peace cos
more than four years of war then did
but the third year of peace costs NOR
than the second, for in the year ending
July l, 1867, the War Department speu
only S95, ,224,4l5.
In these statements we have givel
the Republicans the full benefit of thei
promises for the fiscal year ending Jul!
l., 1869, but we shosld like to ask few
questions. If S3s, ,68l ,013 is enough fo
the War Department in that year, VIII!
and how did YOU spend Sl23, ,65S, 400 thi
yeari If Sl7 500, 900 is enough for the
navy in 1869, why did you spend upol
it S43, ,324, I'LL in 1866, and S3l, ,034, oil il
1867 You have not cut down tn,
numbers of the army. Did you vast,
money this year, or arc your statement
for next year untruei
We ask Republicans to read the esti
mates for the future, for they show th'
proaigacy of the past.
If S500,000,000 of the money paid foI
military, naval and other expenses hat
been used to pay the debt, to-day tn,
credit of the United Statos would hav,
been as good as that of Great Britain
This rapid payment, and the proof il
would have given of good faith, would
Save carried the national credit to the
highest point. The bonds would be
worth much more in the hands of hold
ers, and yet the taxpayer would seen
better off, for the cost of government
would he cut down as its credit rose
We could put out new bonds, bearing
less interest, which would not have the
odioas exemption from taxation. Oul
debt would have been less, our interest
lower and our taxes reduced. The
hours of labor could be shortened.
What no,c lengthens the time Of TOLL
If we were free from any form of tax
alton, direct or indirect, six hours OF
work would earn as much rs ten do
now.
One hour more of work ought to meet
IL laborer's share of the cost of Govern.
ment, another hoar shosld pay his
share of the National debt.
He now works two hours more each
day than he ought to pay for the mill
tary and negro policy of Congress and
its corrupt schemes. 1t has just passed
law that eight hours make days la
Dor, while it piles up load of taxation
which forces the labOrer to work ten
hours or starve.
But the wise and honest use of this
S500,000,OO0 would not have stopped
here. When it carried our bonds to the
level of specie value, it would have
carried up our currency to the value of
specie.
The plan of making our currency rs
good as gold by contracting its volume,
carries with it great distress and suffer
ing. But if we lift up its value, by get
ting rid of the taint upon the National
credit it harms no one, it blesses ali.
Now our legal tender aud bank curren-
cy must be dcbascd while our National
bonds are discredited. They must rise
and fall together. They are all based
upon the National credit. Bank notes
cannot he worth more than the bonds
which secure them.
If then, the 500, 200, 900 had been duly
and honestly used to pay our debt, to-
day the taxpayers would have been re-
lieved, the mechanic, laborer and pen
sioner would be paid in coin, or money
good as coin, and would not be cheated
ont of one-quarter of their dues by false
dollars. The holders of bonds in savings
banks or life insurance would be better
of, as their securities would be safer and
worth more. There would be no ques-
tion how they should be paid, for this
question grows cut of the follies of those
in power, and will disappear when they
disappear from the places they now hold.
The bondholder would no longer stand
in an edious light. He would not be
charged with the taxation which has
been used to hurt, not to help, his claim.
If n wise, an honest use of the public
money would have done this good in the
past, it will do it in the future.
But the Republican party ut Chicago
pledged itself, by its nominations and
resolutions, to keep up its negro policy.
1t is impossible to give untutored
Africans at the South uncontrolled
power over the government, the proper
ty and laws of the people of ten States,
by excluding white votes, without mill.
tary despotism.
You cannot give to three millions of
negroes more Senators than are allowed
to fifteen millions of white men living
in New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Hi
mob, Indiana, Wisconsin, Iowa, Ken
lucky, Missouri and Michigan, without
keeping up great standing armies.
Without general amnesty, and the
restoration of the suffrage to all the
whites in the South, great standing
army must be permanent institution.
In order 10 curse the South ,oith military
despotism, negro rale and disorgdnised Ia
Dor and Industry, they cursed the farmers
of the North With taxation, the mechanics
rith more hours of toll, The laborers and
pensioners icith debased paper, the mer-
chant with a shifting standard, and the
public creditor with dishonored and
tainted national faith. Are these class
es to turn and to see how each can push
the burdens upon each other, or are
they to make common canse and dc
away with the curses of bad govern
ment 7 If the Republican policy pre-
walls, this struggle must begin. Either
the laborer or the capitalist must &c
down. Both cannot live under it. and
men must choose between. If, on the
other hand. the policy of selfish ambi'
tion and of sectional hate is put down
our country will start upon q new
course of prosperity, and all classes will
reap in common the fruits of good GOV
ernment.
The next election will turn upon thi,
question, can the Congressional party
4