The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1868-10-15
How Figures VIII, and Will Not Lie

How Figures VIII, ana VIII MOI Ai ls
Wboeyer.it was that first annunciated the
trn;sm that Figures cannot lie, must have
drawn his inspiration from sources OF social
honesty. long since exhausted of their sup
plies. There must have been, either a large
amount Of Arcadian simplicity, or of easy
credulity in social order, that could have
harmenized this truism with the habits and
practices of its population. If ever such
social order did exist, it would be well that
some diligent antiquary should attempt TO
fix the historic period. The study might be
made most fruitful one. IF successfully
prosecuted, we might then learn something
of the moral constitutions of a people who
loved truth too we'll to distorts it comeliness
or ,,aim its members. A comparison OF
these moral constitutions with the prevailing
ones of our day, would reveal the moral
needs that now exist; and expose the turpi-
tude and corruption of ideas by which wee
and falsehood are elevated to the dignity OF
virtue and truth. If we are skeptlcal as to
the probable existence of such social order,
our skepticism would find justification IN
the habits of a party that persists in making
f;,Isehood the rule, and truth the exception
of habitual action. Every day s experlent
convinces us that figures can and do lie as
plibly, as fearlessly, as unblushingly as ever
It was possible for words to do.
In proof of this conviction of ours we need
not 90 beyond the Statements OF our State
financessrecentiy made by the Radical party,
and disseminated, in the shape of circu-
lar, among the people Of Maryland. This
circular charges the Democratic party with
the most lavish, wicked and corrupt expen-
diture ofthe public funds. But these charges,
simply uttered in words, would prove to be
entirely harmless. 1t is only when they are
marshalled and embodied in figures, that
their capacity for fraud and deception IS re
vealed. We take the figures as we lind them.
We have not sought to verify their accuracy
by searching among official documents. we
assume that the committee to whom was en-
trusted the duty of collating these figures
and forcing them into certain resuitants'
made the best of their opportunity. The
rules of Interpretation will allow us to
construe them strongly against the party
using them, where they initiate against its
operations, and demonstrate the reverse OF
what is attempted to be proven by them.
The principal charge against the Demo
cratic party is that, in one year, it spent
Ss,els, 800. 80; and then, by sundry careful
manipulation of figures that "cannot he,
the authors of this circular make it appear,
that in one year the Democratic party spent
more money than did the Republican party
in six years! This would be startling re-
sultif true, and ifimpossible of explanation.
By a careful examination of these plastic
figures, we find that, for one item of expense
alone, the State has been compelled to ap-
propriate four millions Of dollars. This, ex-
traordinary sum was appropriated to liqui-
date the debt of heroic patriotism, contracted
during the war, and by the authority OF the
Republican party, then in power. The
soords of the circular specifically deny that
any such debt was contracted, and treat the
whole thing derisively; but in the figures the
litemnholds its proper place as charge
againstthe State for bounties. But this is
not the only mendacious trick these pirtu-
GUS figures are made to perpetrate. 1t IS
wellknown that, by our present Constitution,
the sessions of the Legislature are held BIZ
ennially. 1t thus became the duty OF the
Legislature, at its last session, to provide
for the current State expenses for the year
1869. This duty was performed; and the
sum Of 81, 1914, 4ss was appropriated to that
end. Now mark the alacrity with which
these figures range themselves to deceive
and tib. True the figures are indebted to
some congenial brain, some friendly, hand
for the combinations they are forced pre-
veal. Brains SO fertile in deception, hands
SO ready for fraud, moral delinquency SO
practised in treachery and turpitnde, were
easily found in the partylof sgreat moral
ideas.'' The appropriation for 1869 is
placed to the debt of 1868; and by thus
COMPRISING the appropriations for two
years into one, the fabricators of this circu-
lar make up that annual aggregate of Dem
ocratic expenditure which so horribly shocks
the moral sense and exalted patriotism of
Rad;cai;sr6 Tho ffoures are TINS made to