Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1876-02-08
Reduction Of Erps.diinres.

The necessity tor economy Is no less
imperative In the aGailS OF governmen,
than in those OF business and commegcs.
The war, to which we may barely
allu5s without being accused oil shaking
the bloody shirt, did much 10 alIT lho
manners, habits and social relations Of the
people. Like oil wars Il introduced ex-
travssance, recklessnesS aud carelessnes
ia the management OF property. Il made
increased taxation unavoidable; and it
built up fortunes and destroyed them
without regard to iusiice or merit.
TO restore tue rAvages. thus produced
Is a work Of Time.
Il is useless to deny that much has
been done by the Republican PSr,y 10
diminish tn burdens OF the people.
Taxation has been reduced. and in many
respects economy hiss taken the place OF
extravaganza. There hss been = steady
approach 10 more rational aud subStan
ual basis. and the prices OF commodities
aud wages are assuming more nearly
their natural relations.
Bat whatever the tendency 10 economy
msy have been in business. If strong and
efficient. can /. Be said that !. has been
thoroughly the settled policy in The
government Has Congress reduced
every salary that ought 10 be reduced
and dismissed every unnecessary officer
Have the appropriations for Sll purposes
been reduced in proportion 10 the bUS.-
ness aud financial condition OF the
country? Has the Legislature ct this
State done It's duty in reducing the eN.
panditures G The lowest rational stand
ards and will the present Legislature 90
The same Il is obvious tina. the Losis'
lature OF Maine. can fad Justification
for nearly al the appropriations 1t has
made. Her financial condition, and her
moderate public deb; are evidences OF
careful, iudicious management. Il Maine
has committed any errors, she has one
consolation, which cauno: be claimed by
others. she has erred ii a. sll, on the
side OF virtue, intelligence and noble
aspiration Her appropriations ior
schools have been large and generous.
not 10 say e1trsvsgau;. Il she had
trusted less TO the Stale and more TO The
people, she nigh. have adapted her
resources 10 educational results Tor Tie
pieseo, and fu;uye possibly with greater
wisdom.
Be this as il may, TIE present .egisla-
ture has lis duty 10 perform. The
Republicans have the responsibility Of
every measure. Prices have gone down.
Salaries hSve not gone down. ApPro-
priAtions Tor thousand things are want
ed. Let .,bis legislature sdap, the
salaries and appropriations 10 the times.
Ii wages were Increased when the value
OF the currency WAS increasing, let them
be diminished a. the currency approaches
the only standard OF value. and as CON-
mOdiiies diminish 10 price. This must
come eventually Republicans should
not permit delay. but forestall the time.
As 10 Congress. there is much 10 be
done-more than can or will be done
The eounsels there are divided, and the
loud proclaimers Of economy, apparently
have stronger desire to create local
and party Jealousy. than to snbservo the
the true Interests Of economy. There
seems TO be more desire 10 cut of some
small limb which may have heretofore
given local offence, than to eIterminste
the system. Thus far there is no
practical scheme set in motion. which on
the whole has any tendency to remedy
the evil.
The Republicans OF the lower House
Of Congress should mature q compre-
hensiye and Just plan for every branch /
Of the service. and the other branches Of 7
The government should acquiesee in the /.
measure. II should be comprehensive /.
and thorough. IL should affect the I
whole country, and every official from 1
he highes. 10 the lowest, including
themselves. Il every Con- /
gresham, at he present time is not I
wiling 10 reduce his own pay, be is 10 a I
islse position and instead of being Just I
10 himself or his country. he condemns /
others 10 that which he allows himself. /
II he is willing to vote TO diminish the
salary OF others 10 or 20 per cent; but st
he same time refuses to reduce his OVID,
his patriotism Is TOO selfish % deserve
he name
What the country needs is honest men
u public station. The Republican party
.An furnish The very men the Country
.eets 1, has the men ia it, ranks. who
placed IN power will no, boAs, OF their
bat will 90 straight 20 the
work, and seek ,ae public good, sri
''sce - interest AMI welfare on the
usest foundation.