The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1868-09-10
About Economy.

About Economy.
To the Editor of the Press:
The Outcry which the Democratic leaders
are now making about Republican extraya-
gance and the reforms which they propose to
introduce If they are intrusted with power is
no new thing. Economy has been the great
catch-word with the party from its crganza-
''on IN the beginning of this century to the
present time. History shows how these
vaunted reforms have worked in practice
| Ihe Federal party during the administra-
tion of John Adams had taken stems 70
create navy and to put the nation in a nos
ture of defense. To carry out this policy
they had to resort to taxation, causing an in
crease in the expenditures of the govern
ment. The Democratic party, or Republican
party as it was then called, considered this
needless expenditure. The people sanction
ed the idea by repudiating Mr.. Adams and
eiecting Mr.. Jefferson in his place. Mr..
Jefferson was no insincere decIaimer
ABOUT economy, as are some of those
| degenerate Democrats who at the present
day claim to be his disciples. He sincerely
Deheved IN the doctrine he preached, and put
1t into practice accordingly. Retrenchment
was inaugurated and expenditures reduced in
every department of the government. The
military and naval forces were reduced to the
loves. possible limit. The building of ships
OF war was stopped, and the plan of con-
structing navy of gunboats substituted in
its place. All this seemed very satisfactory
But time passed on and the usual perversi-
ty OF human nature kindled in Europe the
grandest conflict of the age. The combat
ants scorning the restrictions imposed by the
| rules of civilized warfare gave themselves I'D
10 any barbarous measure that seemed likely
to waste the resources or enfeeble the efforts
of the opposing party. Might, not right be-
came the only law. Our defenceess condi-
tion and timid policy invited aggression. and
our commerce was subjected TO whatever out
RACES either party thought it advantageous to
infict. England commenced the blockade of
the French Ports in 1904. Napoleon in 1906
| declared the British Islands in state of
blockade; and "all commerce and correspon-
dence with them was prohibited" The
British orders in council followed in 1907,
subjecting to capture and condemnation all
vessels tour own included) carrying on any
| traffic with the enemies of Great Britain.
Napoleon retaliated by an equally sweeping
decree against all vessels trading with En-
gland or her colonies
| Ii we had possessed a powerful navy, such
as we might have had, neither of these pow
ers would have, dared to perpetrate such out
RACES. As things stood we were as impotent
to resist as to prevent them. So an embargo
was resorted to; our ships were called home
and left to rot at the wharves while other
powers were left to divide among themselves
the dominion of the sea with the profits and
the glory of that commerce which riehtully
belonged to us.
After thus submitting to every indignity; /;
after seeing our commerce ground between
the upper and neither mill stones of British
and French aggression, and finally almost
annlhilated by our own embargo and nom
intercourse laws for the sake of peace and
economy, war came after all. The nation
false idea of economy had left US unarmed.
In its progress it deranged or finances, par
allied our industry and left US with debt
as great in proportion to our resources as our
present debt, to say nothing of the precious
lives sacrificed and the immortality engender-
I'd. To crown all, the war was closed with
out obtaining from Great Britain a formal
acknowledgment of our right. A sallen ac-
quescence was all that could be extorted
from her. A few millions expended in time
ly preparation, would, there is reason to
believe, have saved to us in peace, all that we
gained by war, while averting all or nearly
all the evils that preceded it.
Or If it had been found impossible to avert
war altogether, these preparations would
have enabled the nation to carry it ON more
gloriously and to bring it to a more speedy
and successful termination.
These facts are brought to the attention of
the public with no intention OF disparaging
the merits of assailing the motives of Jeffer-
son and Madison Their services to their
country and to mankind entite them to ad-
miration and lasting gratitude. What they
| did was no doubt done from the most patri-
otie motives. But that is no reason why we
| should repeat their mistakes, and events
which often teach better than the wisest of
human counsellors have demonstrated that
their policyrespecting foreign affairs was a
great mistake.
Let not the people then be captivated by
opsa .f
tisan purposes is sounded through the land.
All is not gold that glitters and that is not al
ways economy which looks like it. Economy
does not necessarily consist in spending a
very small sum OF money but in making ju-
diciously whatever investments are made,
however large they may be. Extravaganza
is not measured by the amount spent but by
the amount wasted.
lhe Republican party has spent much
money. But will any one who considers pa
trlotism virtue, say that money spent in
preserving the national existence, in sustain
ing the national dignity and in keeping the
nation faith, is not wisely spent? Is it ex-
| travagance to use the public money for the
promotion of education or for the encourage
ment of railroads and other improvements
Is it not on the other hand the most far
| sighted economy? IT so then the Republi-
can party has not at any rate been more ex-
travagant than any other party would be like
| ly to be under similar circumstances.
| Consequently nothing is to be gained by
putting the Democratic party in power. Its
leaders could not, if they would, practice the
economy they preach without breaking The
i national faith and sacrificing interests m
fnitely more valuable than the money they
propose to save. B.
| Letter from New York