The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1876-10-07
WESTMINSTER, MD SATURDAY, OCTOBER 4 1876

We were all Of us too much absorbed in
the contemplation of our immediate sur
roundings, TO give much heed to it. SO
too, was it with our Northern friends; but
when the prostrated energies of the South
reflected their sorowful image upon the
industries of the North, and where form
erly the hum Of busy trade was heard,
the song Of thousand spindles was hushed
amid the gloom that foreshadowed impen-
ding bankruptcy to whole nation, then
came the first gleam Of hope to the people
OF the South. A chord Of sympathy had
been touched by the magic wand of self
interest, and the prejudice off whole Sec
ton had been called to dead halt, that
calm discussion and sober reflection might
reveal, at least in part, the source Of the
financial ruin which seemed to be but little
less than universal Then did the North
discover that her own prosperity could not
exist save in the realization, not in senti-
ment but in fact, of "equal and exact
justice to all men" And to-day the con-
test is being waged between Conservatism,
on the one hand seeking the amelioration
OF all classes, and the healing Of desperate
wounds which bloody contest nesessarily
entailed; and on the other, Radicalism.
preaching the gospel Of hate, and reyiying
issues, which were settled in the tri1
bunal Of carnage, when death stood by as
the silent witness of every act in the fear
ful drama. But my fellow citizens, fanat-
icism and prejudice have played their part
in the political contests Of the past twelve
years, until the country is now determined
to judge by results rather than protestations
and promises. And to-day the Republi-
can party finds itself in the uncomfortable
attitude Of being tried upon its merits and
judged by the results Of its administra-
tion of national affairs during period of
ten years Of absolute peace. And now
comes the pertinent inquiry:-Has that
administration been wise and prudent, ef-
ticent and economical? The answer is
written on every avenue Of trade and is
found at the threshold of every home of
the laboring classes; doubt and uncertainty
on the former, sorrow and distress at the
latter. Can you justly hope for any other.
result when you know at least, can ascer-
tain ii you seek for the information, that
From the organization of the Government
to June Both, 1861, covering a period of sew.
enty.two years, the total receipts of the Gov.
ernment were............... S., ,2G3, ,G60, ,610. .68
From July LIST, 1861 to June
SOth, 1875, a period of
fourteen years, the sum Of 12, 700, ,G45, ,059. .23
--
Diiference."..."..... $40, ,425, 1854, ,449. %
In this vast difference of over ten billions
ofdollars is ofcourse included the war debt,
but to relieve it of all burdens that you
may see how far our Republican friends
have increased the cost of the ordinary
expenses of the Government, | ask your
attention to the following statement, from
which you will ascertain how ewise, pru-
dent and economical" has been the ad-
ministration of you national affairs:
From the organization of the Government
to June Both, 1861, there was disbursed in
payment of expenses the sum of
s2,2SO,9 ,94z17s.21
From July lst, 1861 to June
Both, 1875, the sum off,. 1866, 500, SOS. SO |
Difference....."..."..S10, 1886, ,945, 1896. 80 |
That is to say, the expenditures from 1861 |
to 1873, period of fourteen years, were
ten billions more than, and nearly six
times as much as, from the foundation of |
the government to June, 1861, period of |
seventy-two years. Now, if we deduct
from Sl2, ,56G, 1872, ,569.53, the amount ex-
pended from 1861 to 1875, the sum ex-
pended during the war and the admins
tration of Mr.. Lincoln, which was S4,-
667 ,457 ,92l %; also the amount paid for
Pensions from 1865 to 1875, which was
S26S, ,047 ,S47.57; also the amount paid as
interest on the public debt during the same
period, which was about 81 ,225, 900 900;
and also the amount of the reduction of
the public debt, during the same period,
S449, 1863, ,5S799; you will have the sum
Of s6,60S, 1863, ,356.79, which may be pro-
perly regarded as war expenditures. Now
deduct
The total amount of war expenditures, to
wit, the sum of............ Sc, COS, ,S69, 1856. 7S
From the total disburse-
ments from July, 1861,
to June, 1875, which were
the sum of................S1 ,566, ,992, ,569. So
And you will have........ S5,95S, ,02S, ,212.75
as the amount of expenditures during the
ten years from 1865 to 1875, and the ex-
tire expense of Mr.. Lincoln's administra-
tion during the war, as also all of the ex-
incident to or growing out of
the war, since its close and up to 1875,
being deducted.
That the difference may be most readi-
ly comprehended, 1 will detain you, to
repeat in part, but briefly,
That the expenditures of the Government
for the ten years from 1865 to 1876, after
excluding all pensions paid, and interest on
public debt and the reduction of public debt
from 1865 to 1875, amounted to the sum of
S5,95s,O2S, ,2l2.75
Gross expenditures from
1889 to 1871, including
the remnant Of the Rev
olutionary debt, also
war of 1912, also Mexi-
can and Indian wars,
Pensions paid, and in.
terest on public debt,
amounted to the sum Of S2,230, ,947, 1921
--
Diference.........-~... Sa,72s,O7e, oSs. "a
Thus, my fellow-citizens, you will perceive
hat it has cost you from 1865 to 1876, ten
years Of peace under Republican rule, after
excluding all expenses growing out Of the
var, nearly three times as much to operate
the Government as it did to operate it
from its formation to 1861, period of
'eyenty-two years, And / will further
,tate without the fear of suceassf,l eo,.r.