The Portland daily press., 1871-08-09
A Glorious Financial Record.

Tammany shrinks from figures. For TWO
years the eagerly expectantpeople were chea'-
ed out of the statement of expenditures eA
pressy required by law. In marked coh""s
with the tmorous skull<ng OF these tn'e.''
the inclination shown by the onlcei' VI NV
government. They fairly bristie WIN hsu'es'
II is a proud and Joyous thing for any repub-
Gcan IN dwell on the record of his party and
n reconnt its glorious achievements in be-
half Of human liberty. Next to the pleasure
to be obtained in this way is that arising from
AN examination of the financial exploits of the
same party. Every Republican whose mind
is in healthy state delights in it. The con-
sequence is that all of our Radical publica
tons are full OF figures. A Democrat cannot
approach Republican on political subjects
without becoming intensely disgnsted with
the latter's readiness to talk of the national
debt. Your true blue Democrat can no bet
Ter endure to hear OF the national debt than
he can of the war. These two subjects are
disgusting to him and, if you insist on his
considering them, he will ask you with refer
ence to the former if"Secretary Boutwell, pays
the national debt out of his own pocket?"
There is nothing so delightful TO a Republic
can as to speak of the reduction of taxation
and the increased efficiency shown by the
government in collecting what taxes rem ain.
The Treasury Department itself ovelfows
with statements, till the public is fairly bored
with their multiplicity and their ambition to
give small details. Secretary Boutwell's in
structive monthly statement has been grad
uaily increased in size until it is as large as
country newspaper and there is supplement-
airy sheet at that. If you want details about
the public debt, the taxes, receipts and expen-
ditures you can have them ad ndusedn.
One'sjown patience is sure to become exhaust
ed before that of the gentlemen who deal in
this information. .f...t .-
The explanation is that the financial record
of the Republican party is as glorious as its
war record, while that of Tammany, the rep
resentative Democratic organization which is
rapidly becoming national, is as infamous as
its anti-war history. The whole secret of the
marked frankness on one side, and the extra
ordinary reticence on the other, is found in
the fact that in the last % months the Repub-
per head, while Tammany has Incl eased the
city debt S5357 per head, .ar....4., +, !.
However weary TIE public may be of facts
about national finances We feel justified in
appending the following extremely interesting
and striking extracts from a statement re-
Gently prepared from the books of the Treas
ury Department. 1t is indeed something to
be proud of that the current expenses of the
government reckoned on gold basis, less
items incurred in consequence of the Demo-
cratic rebellion, are less per capita than for
the year $4,000, as is shown by the first ex-
tract. The second extract shows that the
public credit is better now than it was before
the war, while the third is resume of the
whole matter: ....- .-
EXPENDITURES FOR THE FISCAL YEARS 1859. 60
AND 1S69-70 COMPARED.
Total expenditures Tor year ending
eS g, 30; 1870: $780,, 124,o52 10
be deducted the following items incur .r-.:.- a