The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-08-09

Dur~sthc ten ycars bcginnin< Iyi.h lsGA
and including ISIS, the collections from in
ternai revenue alone aggregated in round
numbers the enormous sum Of thirteen hun
drod millions Of dollars, or largely more
than half the national debt. These and
other taxos, which in the end fall on the
consuming population and continue 10 be
exacted despite the PROSTATE condition Of
Rll forms Of industry, result directly from
extrayagant expenditures, corruption il the
administration Of public affairs, loose ac-
couniabiity and an utter disregard of the
suiTerngs aud priyations OF the people, who
have 10 bear the burden Of a ruinous and
rotten system.
Add 60 the internal revenue tho taxes on
Imports, levied through tariff devised in
the interest of great monopoles, and those
Imposed in other ways and the Federal tax
alton in these ton years exceeds four thou
sand millions Of dollars, to be supplemented
by more than two thousand millions Of local
taxes, under the different heads Of State,
county, and municipal. These figures are
rather under than above the estimates Of
careful statisticlans, and they tell the story
Of the present widespread distress and al
most universal stagnation in business.
The crash that came in 1873 and the five
years Of distress that followed, were the
Inevitable consequence Of the wild, reck-
less, and venal policy which had its central
power at Washington in the executive
departments and In Congress. Rings ruled
the Government and stole and squandcred
the peoples money; and knowing that an
explosion sooner or later was certain, they
gathered in the spells, invested their steal
ngs securely, and were ready for the storm
10 burst while wholly Indifferent to the
misery to be inflicted ON others.
Instead Of taking in sail and reducing the
expenses Of the Government within its in
come, and setting aside whatever surplus
could be created by wise legislation, the
Republicans went on against all warning
10 increase them, even after the crisis in
1873. Between 1872 and 1874 the oxpendi-
lures, according to the last report Of the
Treasury, were augmented fully forty mil
lions OF dollars The people became indig-
nant and rcscntful at this prohigate prod
Jgality, and the tidal wave" OF 1874
which swept Republican majority Of q
hundred from the House Of Representa-
lives and replaced it with Democrats, Mas
sachusetts doing her full part in the sweep
Ing revolution, was the expression Of that
accumulated wrath.
Stll, the Republican party did not profit
by this harsh and summary instruction.
As a minority in the new House, the Re-
publicans put every obstacle in tho way OF
Tetronchment, and the Senate, with the coz
operation OF Gen. GRANT, who openly threat
ened TO veto the bills IL not modified, re-
sisted the reforms that were proposed and
by their persistent and obstinate course
prevented large reductions which would
have materially diminished the existing
burdens. The responsibility for this state
OF things Is not to bo eYaded, because tho
record Is unmistakablc
IL Is practicable TO cut down tho expendi-
lures many millions more annually without
In any way impairing the efficiency of the
public service. In fact, experience has dem
onstratcd, as far as 1t has been permitted
by party combinations to 60 that the re-
trenchment already made, SO far from les.
R'ning tho effectiveness Of tho departments
has really added TO 1t by abolishiDg siner