The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1876-06-29
Democratic Economy and Retrenchment

Democratic Economy and Retrenchment.
The democratic press and speakers have
treated the country to a vast amount OF per-
sihage in regard to economy and retrenchment.
Their boast mas been, that if the appropriation
bills they have matlred and passed in the
lower house Of Congress, become laws, they
will have saved an annual expenditure OF
forty millions dollars. OF course they are
silent as to the effect of such reduction upon
the service of the government. They say
nothing about the degradation of the 6liplo-
matte service of the nation-the impoverish-
ment of the employees OF the government,
whose salaries it is proposed to diminish 10
per cent, although, in many instances, they
are no higher than they were 25 years ago
They are fully aware, too, that the Senate will
not cooperate with them in this false notion
of economy. nor will it lend itself to this indi-
rect method of bringing. dscredit upon our ma
tional character, and attracting to us the con-
tempt of the civilized world. The object
has been to makea pretense of economy-.to
send it abroad that their legislation, but for
the obstruction of the Republican Senate,
would save to the people 100000 of reve-
nues, and 20 before the country upon this
basis, with an appeal to voters to support the
democratic. party as the only organization that
favors ''retrenchment and REFORM"
The duplcity of this device, and the utter
hollowness OF this profession of economy of
retrenchment, is found in the proceedings Of
Congress on the goth inst. ,on the Soldiers born-
ty bill. Itprovides s'that there shall be allowed
officer, musician, artifcer, wagner, and pri-
vate soldier, sailor, and marine, including
those borne upon the rolls as slaves and In
dams, who faithfully served rs such in the
military service Of the United States, who have
been honorably discharged from such service,
the sumof $3.50 month for all the time which
such non-commissioned officer, musician, arti-
ficer. WAGNER, and private soldier, sailor, and
marine, actually served between the 18th OF
April, 1861, and the 9th Of May, 1865. And
| the provisions of this act shall extend to all
soldiers who were mustered into the service OF
the United States, and were subsisted, clothed
and paid by the government of the United
States.''
This bill was passed by the House on the
goth inst, by vote of al ayes to 46 noes
not voting l03. Among those voting in the
affirmative are Messrs. Holman and Randall,
the leaders OF the democratic party in the
House, and who have exercised a controlling
Influence in the formation Of the appropr ia.
ton bills by which the public service is pro.
posed to be degraded, and reduction in the
expenses Of government of $4O,OOOOOO effec
ted.
The sincerity OF these reformers may be
Judged when it is known that the bounty bill
above alluded to, would entail an expenditure
OF from ore hundred to one hundred and fifty
millions OF dollars upon the Treasury three
times rs much as these very same leaders boast
they will save to the people, if their appropra-
| ton bills arc approved by the Senate and Pres
ident
1t should be borne in mind, too, that the sol
diers and sailors are not asking for the passage
OF this bill-that bounties have been awarded
| heretofore to this very class of persons, anC
that there is nothing, at present, demanding
| that this enormous responsibility shall be as.
sumed by the government. 1t is demagoguism
Of the most gorgeous and aggravated kind
| pure and simple, and intended as a record witt
which to go before the people to appeal for the
votes of the Federal soldiers in the late war.
They assume that the interests of the peo
pie demand that the public service, foreign
and domestic, shall be crippled by recklessly
reducing the appropriations for the legitimate
purpose of government $40, 900, 900, and follow
this up by passing a bill that provides for an
expenditure of 500, 100000 to $3.50, 0oo. ooo
not asked for, and designed alone for party
effect
| The history OF the country does not show a
more transparent insult to the intelligence OF
the people. Do these reckless demagoeues
suppose for moment that their boast OF econ
omy and retrenchment will have the least eff
feet upon the voters, in the light of such legis-
| lation? The people are not all fools vet. and
will give an appropriate response to this dis
gushing subterfuge, when called upon to rem
der verdict.
whenever democrat proclaims that his
| party is for retrenchment and economy. let
the vote of his party upon the bounty bill be
held up to his face. Although intended as
campaign record in the interest of democracy.
it will prove one of the most damaging expo
| sures OF the purposes and intentions of that
party that ever confronted political oreaniza-
ton.