The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1876-08-31
OUR NEW YORK LETTER.
Mew York, august 17th, 1876.
WHY SUPPORT THE DEMOCRATS

Neo York, august 17th, 1876.
WHY SUPPORT THE DEMOCRATS?
A great many of our people have been
waiting to see what momentary reforms
could be accomplished by our Democrat
ic representatives, before they would de-
eide with which side to cast their lots in
this campaign. The passage of the ap-
preparation bills now enables them to
satisfy themselves upon this point. A
close examination of the various appro-
priations will show them that in every
way has the House of Representatives
striven to tighten our present almost in
supportable burden of taxation. In
every department of the government has
the wasteful, dishonest, radical torrent
of waste been stemmed. The work that
has been done has been accomplished in
the teeth. of the most acrimonious oppo-
sition on the part of the Senate and the
Executive. These men fought hard for
a retention, and indeed for an increase,
of the spoils with which they were en-
riching themselves by the impoverish-
ment of the nation, and in some instances
compelled an acquiescence in their ex-
travagant demands, through danger of
detriment to the public service.
1t will be well to look for moment or
two at some of the figures which indicate
portion of the retrenchment which has
been effected. The total sum demanded
by the government was reduced by the
House to s99,OO0,00O less than was ap-
propriatad last year. The Senate made
additions to the accounts, and to some of
these the House was compelled to yield,
so as not to imperil the necessary work
of the Government. In spite of this the
amount allowed is more than $50, 900, 900
less than the Administration asked for.
1t was not in one department only, nor
in few merely, that the wasteful expen-
diture had been carried on. Every de-
partment was under contrition to our
rulers greed. The only financial policy
acted upon, has been to ascertain the ex-
tent to which the people could be de-
spoiled without actual impoverishment.
Our immaculate Robeson-or, as the
Sun more appropriately spells his name,
RobJerson-wanted the modest sum of
$4,000, 900, more than was necessary to
carry on the operations Of the navy, even
if he performed his work in an efficient
manner. The estimates Of the army, 80
necessary for the protection Of our South
ern friends against themselves, are cut
down nearly $s,ooO,OoO, and s2,ooo,oOo
below last years's expenses. Even the
modest pension list was found to have
asked for half million more than it
needed, and the sundry civil bill has
been brought from thirty-two millions
and half to sixteen millions. The
River and Harbor bill, which has, to the
surprise of everybody, been signed by the
President, is se,oOO,OOo less than what
was called for, and the legislative, judi
cial and executive expenses of the Gov
ernment have been brought 81, 100000
below the estimate.
Figures are facts, and "facts are stub
born things" These figures tell us, with
out possibility of truthful contradiction,
that the Democratic House Of Represen-
tatives has not been unmindful of the in
terests of its constituents. This can,
however, be received only as an indica-
ton of what could and would be done if
the opposing influences were removed.
A due regard for the interests of the
country restrained the House from carry
ing to the injury of the public business,
occasioned by cessation of its operations
through the Senate's hostility, its work
to the point it had fixed upon. It has,
however, plainly shown, that were these
antagonistic elements removed, the gov
eminent could, with still smaller sums of
money, be carried on much more effec-
lively than now, and with far greater re-
gard to the country's advantage than is
at present manifested. We cannot but
be encouraged by this exhibit. The con-
trast between the two parties is so clearly
manifested, that all not blinded by preju-
dice, can at once decide that the welfare
of the country demands that its Interests
be placed in.the guardianship of the
Democratic party, and Governor Tilden's
record announces him at pre-eminently
the man to assume the direction of that
party in its procedure. Before this finan-
cial statement was made, we were daily
receiving assurances that this was the
verdict of the people; there can be no
doubt that these cheering declarations
vii! come in, in far greater numbers.
l. The QUAhhE1o Oc LIE hhO2SAc
LEADERS.
The Senate debates about the reduction
in the number of Treasury clerks, illus
trated the old adage about rogues' quar-
rels. Even the discreet and beautiful
"tall son of York." for once lets his
hatred for Bristow get the better of his
discretion, and discloses a dangerous
truth. We scarcely expected valuable
arguments for the Democratic cause
from such source; but on the princi-
pie, "fas est .ab hoste doceri," we thank
Mr.. Conkling for his contribution to Til
den's election.
In his anxiety to injure ex-Secretary
Bristow, he made the point that the fact