The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1876-02-19
The Democratic Policy.

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opposition are endeayoring to conyinc,
the country that the Democratic majorit'
in the House of Representatives is with
out organization, without definite ideas O
government, laundering in all manner Of
quagmiles-amnesty, finance, the tariff
and so torth-the careful reader cannol
fail to see that it is slowly but surely
beating out a policy of economy and re
trenchment that will in the end inevitably
commend them and it to the approval Of
the whole country. We have seen il
making large reductions in the West
Point appropriation bill, in the teeth Of
all the power and influence of the admin
lstration and Of the minority In the House.
The fertilization bill was cut down from
an estimate Of about million of dollars
to little over three hundred thousand
dollars reduction Of nearly three-quart-
ers of million. This bill has not vet
gone through the House, and we presume
we shall hear the echo Of the West Point
howl over it. We shall be told that this
economy is another illustration Of the
incompeteney Of the Democratic party to
control the government; that they are ex-
posing all our large cities and centres of
trade and commerce to the mercy Of foreign
countries, and other buncombe Of n SINH
lar character. The fact is this fertilization
bill, as il is called, is, from first to last, a
mere job. 1t is bill not to fortify our
coast, but to fortify contractors and lob
bers, For all the good this annual ap-
preparation Of million dollars does Il
might as well be taken and thrown into
the Atlantic ocean, Ifa war were to take
place tomorrow we should find that all our
defenses were as so many paper walls, and
that the guns We have mounted at so much
expense would be far more dangerous 10
ourselves than to the enemy. The mill.
tary bill, makes reduction Of about seven
hundred thousand dollars a year. When
1t comes up for debate in the House, all
the vials Of wrath will be opened, and we
shall hear again, in all its hideousaess and
ghastliness, the story Of the rebellion, and
the danger to the republic of the accession
OF the Democratic party to power.
All this is brave and gallant work upon
the part Of the Democracy. 1t is Just the
work the country wants and needs-the
work the people have sent them to WASH
ingtou to do. Upon three comparatively
unimportant appropriation bills, which in
the past it has been the custom to pass
almost in as many minutes, we have an
annual saving Of nearly two millions Of
dollars. This, to be sure, is compara-
lively small sum. During the rule Of the
Republican party the country has been so
educated as to look upon a million of dol
lars as mere trife, and this has been the
cause and the source of most, if not all, of
our trouble. Like the First Napoleon,
who threw crowns around as Christmas
gifts among his kinsmen to struggle for,
the Republican party has been taking
thousands Of millions of dollars out Of the
treasury and scattering them among its
fayorites and retainers as the reward of
party service and fealty. A million dol
lars now in the matter of public expendi-
ture is smaller sum than one hundred
thousand dollars was fifteen or twenty years
ago. Therefore it is that the policy Of the
Democratic party in the House at Wash
ington is right. Its opponents call it
"spigot economy" We are glad it it So
As the riyulets 60 to make the rivers SO
the small leaks and stealings in and from
the treasury 60 to make the ocean of debt
that is now threatening to swallow the
wealth and industry of the whole country.
When the bypaths and side entrances to
the treasury are barred and closed there
will be no trouble about the main entrance.
This small economy is, we know, com
paratively poor and thankless work; but
it is work that must be done, and before
the session closes we are confident it will
swell into the largest aud fullest proper
tons. But this is not all. The Diplo-
matte and Consular service, the Army, the
Navy, the Indian Bureau, the Fortifca-
tions, the Post Office, the Civil Service,
the Navy Yards and all, are being cut
down to the lowest figures, and millions
Of dollars in the aggregate viii thus be
saved to the treasury. Hand in hand
with it goes the most rigid scrutiny into
the operations of the whole government.
The committee on expenditures of all the
departments Of the government are ct work
as they never worked before, and when
they are heard from we shall be certain
to find many an avenue Of gross extrava-
gance and corruption closed. The Repub-
licans and the republican organs do not |
like all this. 1t cuts off their patronage.
1t drives their friends to make an honest |
living. 1t confines the expenses of gov
eminent to what is actually necessary. 1t
is embarrassing in every way. 1t breeds
dissatisfaction and discomfort, and makes
the chaps who shout for what they call
"the glorious principles Of Republicanismn
unenthusiastic and downhearted and dis
pirited. The best way in the world to kill
a political party is to starve it. The Dem
ocratic party in the House, holding the
purse strings Of the nation, is, by its policy,
starving out the Republican truly-loyal |
camp followers, contractors, oficeholders
and political frauds generally. 1t is hoped
the Democratic party in the House will |
continue to pursue this policy. Reduc-
ton Of the expenses of the government
means the prosperity Of the taxpayers and
Of the whole people.--Baitimors Gazetfe. |