The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1876-01-21
LET DUB RULERS PRACTICE ECON.
OMY.

This era Of general depression ought to be
an era Of voluntary economy with those who
may have the means to indulge in extrava-
gance The fortunate few who hold lucrative
public positions ought especially to be mod
crate in their disbursements and displays.
But the economy which will do the most
good is that which our national and local
legislators may exhibit in their use of public
funds. The masses of the people will be much
more reconciled to the hardships they feel
from the general depression and stringency
when they see their Congress, their General
Assemblies and their councils, as we'll as
their courts and all persons in authority, ex-
ercising a watchful supervision and scrutiny
over every expenditure Of the money con-
tributed by citizens. 1t is in the power Of
our rulers, who are our agents, to set exam
Piles for the people, and to inaugurate an era
Of judcious economy which may last until
We recover our lost ground. This is the best
lesson which the American people can receive,
and the one which they greatly need. The
prosperity and always growing wealth Of
older countries come from the economy as
we'll as the industry practiced by their inhab-
itants. Their conservative aud most whole
some habits of economy are inherited through
many generations of hard-workins and frugal
ancestors. Until Americans become like them
in economy and conservative frugality we
need expect nothing less than continual in
crease Of public, corporate and private debts,
such as already make US tributaries to those
same foreigners, who are lending their saw
ings on American securities, to the extent Of
hundreds of millions of dollars.
1t is not parsimony or economy in any mar
row sense that we advocate. We do not wish
our public servants to work for less than
decent subsistence, nor to dispense with what
is requisite for their comfortable accomm oda-
ton. We do not desire to see our army or navy
cut downto dimensions inadequate for national
defense by land and sea. Our representatives
to foreign States ought not to be dispensed
with, and our interests in all great seaports
ought to be protected by consuls suitably re-
wa,ded.
Our Judiciary systems, State and Federal
ought to be sustained at any cost necessary to
secure talent, fidelity and efficiency, and to
keep them in due proportion to the popula-
ton, extent and business of the country. We
want everywhere good primary schools, and
in cities sutti cient and well ordered police.
To take away from any of these or other equal
ly indispensable branches of service or institu-
tons what is required 10 make them fit for
their several functions would not be economy.
But to review carefully the disbursements
Of former years, item by item and warrant
by warrant, in all their details, in order to
discover what expenditures may be lessenei |
md what omitted without damage to the
public. is that true economy which inspires
he confidence of constituents, decreases the \
Dad of taxpayers, takes away temptation to /
removes in part the incentives
% official corruption and malfeasance, and /
lets very useful example to the people