The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1871-08-31

War and Navy Departments for some
two hundred and fifty and odd mill
lions, and which cost, in the shape of
war bonds still sloutstandiBg and un-
paid, lover one thousand millions, was
sold corruptly in order to be corruptly
purchased again by the same dishonest
officers of the Government. lEIsewhy
attempt to conceal the sales from the
public under the unmeaning title of
:" repdynsents," and keep them out of
the Secretary's report, which every
body reads only to covertly introduce
them into the Treasurer's report,
which nobody reads?
With regard to the postal revenues,
it would seem that in spite of the fact
that where ten years ago but nine
millions were annually received from
postage, now nineteen millions are
received, the Postoffice Department
cannot be made to pay for itself. The
expenditures in 1870 were retwenty-four
millions. The deficit in that year
pamountedsto five millions. But this
year it will prove to be still more
According tosthe estimates of expend-
iture transmitted by the Department
to Congress last winter, the postofice
deficit for 1871 will amount to no less
than nineteen milIfonsl In, other
words, while the ereRenues are expected
osafneunt TO twenty millions, the ex-
penditures are estimated at thirty
eight millions 1lpA
1t is almost impossible to rise to the
comprehension of sums so large as
those by which the present revenues
and expenditures of the Federal Gov
ernment have to be exhibited. A
stream of treasure continually. flows
lin and Out of the United States Treas
| ury vast enough to float or drain all
| the industries of the country. This
stream is tapped at every conceivable
point, and forty thousand corrupt of
ficials thrive upon the tremendous
drain which, this perversion of the
revenues occasions in, the resources of
the country.
N nation, however vigorous and
energetic,5 can long sustainso so exhaust
ing a process, and reform must come
speedily or never. Men are needed at
the head of affairs whose personal
history and party principles shall
pledge them to the work of reducing
this colossal system of taxation and
waste to economical dimensions and
until such men are elected to office
and where shall they be found outside
Of the. young and vigorous Democracy
of the West?-the people must be
content to bear in silence the 0ruinous
burden under which their industrial
energies are now ,stifed and crushed.
A7Ai--+ ----------sse--------
eiroA REAUTIFUL ILLUSTRATION.
before the departure of tho
lainented Herbert from India, he
preached a sermon which contained
this beautiful sentiment
"a Life bears us on like the stream of
a mighty river. Our boat glides down
the narrow channel, through the play
full lmurmurings of its grassy borders.
The trees shed their blossoms over our
heads the flowers seem to offer them
selves to the young hands; we are
happy in hope, and we grasp eagerly
at the beauty around us-but the
stream hurries OH still our hands are
empty. Our course in youth and
manhood islalong a wider and deeper
flood, amid other objects, striking and
magnificent. We are animated at the
moving pictures of enjoyments, and
industry around us; we are excited at
some short lived disappointment. The
stream bearsius on, and our joys and
our griefs are alike left behind u.s.
We may be shipwrecked, but we can
not be delayed; whether rough or
smooth the river hastens to its home,
till the roar of the ocean is in our
ears and the tossing of the waves is
beneath, our feet, and the land lessons
from our eyes, and the floodsare lifted
up around us, and we take our leave
of earth and its inhabitants, until of
our future voyage there is no witness
save the Infinite and the Eternal"