The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1871-10-20
A LITTLE ASSISTANCE.

We can judge of magnitude only
by comparison, whether that magni-
tude relate to size or numbers
When we stated yesterday, that the
expenses Of the Federal Government,
for the last two years, exceeded the
sum OF one billion two hundred and
eight-seven millions of dollars, few
persons have any adequate idea of the
magnitude Of the sum. The mind
cannot grasp it, any more than it can
comprehend space or eternity; and
hence the magnitude is diminished
from our very inability to compre-
hend it. In order, therefore, to assist
the mind in comprehending the mag
nitude OF the expenditures Of the
Government, we have devised COM
parison, which we here give:
1t was 1871 years, on the first of
January last, since the birth Of Christ.
Now the expenditures of the Gov
ernment Tor the two fiscal years, end
ing on the fiscal year Of June Both,
1870, largely exceeded in dollars every
minute Of the time since the birth of
our Savior That is to say, ascertain
how many minutes there are in 1871
years, since Christ was born, and it
will be found that the Government
has expended, in two years, many
more dollars than there are minutes
Of time in those years. The calcula-
ton is very simple. First, multiply
1871 years by 365, the number OF
days III a year; then multiply the
product by "a, the number OF hours
in a day; multiply this product by 60,
the number OF minutes in an hour -
and it will be found that the product
is 9S3 3.397 900 minutes. Now the gov
crnment expended, in the two years
named, according to the book sent us
by our neighbor of the Oregonid,.,
81 ,2S7 ,6So,s3o so. To show how
much the expenditures Of the Gov
crnment, in the two years, exceed the
minutes of time since the birth OF
Christ, We have only, TO subtract the
one from the other, thus
Money expended By Govern
tacnt 10 two ears..........-.sl,2s ,2s7 ,GS5, ,s3s 80
Minutes of lime since the
birih VI Cbrist..-...-.......... es3 ,3y7 600 90
5I .f.e s3u4 ,2ss, ,2ss 90
Thus it will be seen that the ex-
penditnres OF the Federal Govern
ment, in the last two fiscal years, ex-
cced the minutes of time since the
birth Of our Savior, by the sum OF
more than three hundred and four
millions and quarter. These facts
and figures may assist the mind oi
some IN estimating the magnitude OF
the expenditures OF the Government
under Radical rule. ls
But apply the same illustration to
our national debt. and it will be found
that we owe nearly three dollars for
every minute OF time that has passed
since the birth of our Savior Ii is
difficult TO ascertain precisely how
much our public debt is, owing to the
discrepancy between the statements
of the different officers connected
with the Treasury Department; but
we will take the statement of Mr..
Boutwell,, June 30, 1860 He says
that our debt then was S2,4S0,672,.
427 81. Now multiply the minutes
by 3, and it will be found that the
product exceeds our national debt by
less than 500 millions. And so this
comparison may assist us in compre.
hending not only the magnitude OF the
Government expenses, but also the
magnitude of our public debt. In
the face of these startling facts, our
neighbor complacently talks about
Republican economy" paying 2l5
millions of the debt in two years :
Such economy" as we have shown
that the Radicals practice, is enough
to swamp any people on earth, and
will result in general ruin and bank
ruptcy one of these days, or make u.
all the plactical slaves of those who
hold the Government bonds Oregon
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