The Portland daily press., 1870-08-23
THE PRESS.
Tuesday Morning, August %, 1870.
Progress of National Exps ndiiure.


In order TO do full Justice to the position oil
the Republican party in regard to our nation
al expenditures it is necessary to take luii
survey of the past, for it is not the aose iule
but the relative merit of the Republican party
that is involved in the coming elections. Inc
true question is how does the Republican
party compare with other parties that have
ruled the country in times past. To show this
we have taken pains to ascertain from official
sources the rate Of national expenditure since
the year 1791 In only one decade that from
1900 to 1910 was there an absolute decrease of
expenditure, and this was due to the abnor-
NAL increase just previous caused by the
preparations for an expected war with
France This is evident from the large ia
crease of 321 per cent. in our national expen-
ditures from 1901 to 1900. The decrease dur
ing the next decade was 2S per cent. During
ing the ten years between 1910 land 1920 the
war of 1872 occurred, and in this period the
expenses of the government increased 80 per
cent. From 1920 to 1880 the increase in eX-
penditure was 21 per cent. the only case in
which the increase has not kept place with
that of population. 1t is curious and inter
esting fact that generally our expenses have
increased at least twice as fast as our popula-
ton, even under the heavenly influence OF
Democratic sway.
Between 1880 and 1910 the increase in our
expenses was 1875 per cent, while our popu-
~lation increased only 80 CT Per cent. During
the next decade the increase in expenditures
was 635 per cent, in population 35.S7 per
cent, From 1850 to 1860 our expenditures
increased 81 per cent, population BAG per
cent These figures, it will be observed, give
the increase in the ordinary expenditures
over and above what was paid out on account
OF pensions and the public debt. During the
fiscal year ending June 80, 1870, the ordinary
expenses of the government not including
pensions and interest on the public debt were
$l40,O00,000 in currency, or Sis, 100000 in
gold, reckoning gold at 120 which is about
the average rate during the year past. The
corresponding expenses in 1860 were $5S,S56,-
0)0, the increase being abont $56,295, 900 or
95.5 per cent, instead of 125 per cent. as stat
ed by the argus. Thus from 1910 to 1920
under Democratic rule aud with a three years
war; our expenses Increased 80 per cent.
From 1860 to 1870, not wholly under Repub-
lican rule, and with four years war surpass-
ing in magnitude and expensiveness anything
previously known in our history, our expeadi-
lures increased but 95.5 per cent. When we
consider the enormous expansion Of the pub
lie service during the war it is unreasonable
to expect it to shrink at once to its normal di-
mansions But this is not all. The Repub-
lican party is still at work reducing the ex-
penses. For the next fiscal year the appro-
priations for ordinary expenditures are but
$lJ5,315,O00 in currency or SOL ,5S2, 900 in
gold reckoning it at lis. This would exhibit
an Increase over the expenses in 1860 of only
55 per cent, or less than the increase under
Democratic rule in any ten years since $780,
These figures completely knock the bottom
out Of the Democratic boasting. Il viii not
do for people who live in glass houses to
thiow stones. With such record behind it
the Democratic party shows unparalleled
brass in decrying Republican extravaganza.
After going on in career of ever increasing
expenditure SO long as it held powor, disre-
garding the warnings of its ablest leaders, it
now turns ronnd and asks again to be intrust-
ed with power. Let the people study the
facts, and they will not prefer the Democratic
party unless it can show something besides
economical professions aud extravagant prac-
tees.