New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1878-09-11
LOGIC OF THE CABINET.
SPEECH BY SECRETARY OF WAR McCRARY

SPEECH BY SECRETARY OF WAR McCRAkf'
DEMOCRATIC ECONOMY HLUsTRATED-THE EFFORTS
TO PAY SOUTHERN WAR CLAIMs-THE REPUB1-
CAN PARTY's RECORD on FINANCE.
KROKUK, Iowa, Sept 10.-The Hon. George
W. McCrary Secretary Of War. delivered to-day before
large audience speech tho Political Issues OF the
Time" The following some of the more interesting
portions of the speech:
A SPECIMEN OF DEMOCRATIC ECONOMY.
shall not, on this OCCASION weary you with many
figures but few striking facts should be stated IN Nus
traion Of the boosted economy Of the Democratic party
When that party into power in the lower house
of Congress, IN December, 1875. the Presiden
tial contest OF 1875 looming up in the
near future 1t was therefore deemed neces
sary by leaders of that party to make great show
OF retrenchment accordingly announced, Win
sounding Of trumpats all over the country that the
Democratic House would reduce the annual expenses OF
the Government TO the tune Of sixty millions Of
dollars This claim considerably modified before
the end OF the first session OF tho XIIVth Congress;
hut after all OF the appropriation bills Of that session
were passed II was claimed that an actual saving OF
nearly thirty millions had been secured. The appro-
pratOns 1S7677 had been arbitrarily cut down. so
rs show reduction of nearly that sum- IL was charged
nv the Republicans that the larger part of this reduction
was fictitious being only Withholding IT pOstpOnemrnt
OF necessary expenditures to be provided Tor aer me
election by deficiency bills OF in some other way we
charged that the arbitrary reduction was an eecOne
ing trick deceive the people, penang the Ifesueha
moved the charge true The books now posted,
and we find that since the Presidential election den-
gregate to 672 50, and that about million
Of deficiency items have been provided Tor ~ me sun
the aggregate OF appropriations Tor 1876, wnen tne
was Si4s 535 79s II, while tho aggregate OF the same
appropriations 1873 passed by the same party mana
GERS Is si72 576692 i5 increase in 1873 over
1876 Of $1,000 500 "a Now, when IL is remembered
that the Republican party while IN power from i5uo ~
1875 continuously and rapidly reduced expenditures,
nrdf ri hat he ast Republican
tion OF more than sixteen millions OF dollars anu the
last two years reduction OF twentyeight millions,
think we NAV fairly challenge n comparison between
Republican and Democratic expenditures
PAYMENT OF SOUTHERN WAR CLAIMS.
The Democrats OF North insist that II Is not tho
purpose Of their party provide for paving disoyal
claimants for damages growing out OF the war IT'S
however a significant fact that no such denial comes
from the Democrats OF the South. On the contrary tho
Democratic members oil Congress from that section nave
regularly at every session for years past flooded Con-
gress with bills for the payment OF these claims II
there is no purpose TO push these claims, why are
they kept alivei Why arc they kept constantly
before Uongressi Why they renewed from session
70 session aud kept always peDdngl You need not be
told that the Democrats gain and keep control OF
Congress only the aid OF solid south. and you know
well that q solid Democratic South would dictate the
policy OF the party. The Democratic Representatives
from tho North, few in numbers and powerless when
standing alone would De cpmpeHeu, as ~ We gu
OF slavery, submit 10 the dclaiion OF ther southern
SoufbeTn war claimants means something or II means
nothing and II Il means anything. It means that the
mo power i'm both houses aud determined Ia make
I'm every Congress record for vigilance In their prose
vast sums Of money may be drawn from the Treasury
and pad dlslJyal claimants under the law as u nov
stands N It's execution Is placed IN the hands OF the
Dem9GIa'o Parg' - ~, cIai,nsi' ioynfy but suppose
Won appoint a Southern Claims Commission, under the
control OF Southern Confederate Democrats ahd leave
man
There are now flo many thousands Of claims In
which tbe evidence Is more or less conflicting the
U6nt OF LOYALTY. with a Confederate Democratic com
mission 90 pass upon the question. is my opinion mat
rebel claims without any open action IN the way OF the
repeal Of tee law prohibiting the payment OF any D9t
once opened we shall live the loyal people OF THIS
country heavily taxed 10 pay the losses Incurred Dy
rebels engaged in an effort by force OF arms 70
the Government And you may rest assured thal the
door Will be opened II the southern Bourbon democracy
they held before the and which enabled mem Then,
Il would again. to dictate terms 10 Ihou Nor'ne'n
THE FINANCIAL ISSUE.
The Republican party points With justihable satsdc
ton to It's record upon questions Of currency aud nance
In answer to the clamor Of opponents about these
questions we appeal with confidence TO honest and
intelligent people, ana simply ask for comparison OF
our financial situation Of to-day with that Of ten years
ago The record In which not only every Republic
can but every citizen well, should feel lust pride
The burden Of our National debt has been steadily de-
ereased The aggregate OF reduction, since March 4,
1869. has reached the Of S4s9,ss2,735 10,
whereby there Is annual saving OF S3l.2Os,542 90
in interest Tho aggregate Of reduction since March A.
1866 exceeds the enormous Of over 1872 100000
about onethrd OF the present debtand secures an an
nual reduction OF interest OF more than S4SO0OOOO.
Our National credialways the unerng test OF the Wis
dom and soundness OF our Nati9haI pouey-as StSaly
and rapidly improved until to-day, Tor tue htsl lime In
abroad at per interest and the process Of con-
yerng per cent bonds into per cents progress
sixty daya past have averaged 6OOOOO per day Ia
spite OF Democratic opposluon we have adhered 10 the
the Nations pledges the policy treating the green
back as a promise 10 pagan obligation. debt, to be
paid not another promise but IN dollars. ~ plainly
expressed the face Of the paper; ana ny ths pOcy
and nv tis alone the money OF the Teople-the green
backShas been brought substantially to par with gold
To show you how National credit has been preserved
and improved IL Is only necessary state what the
cord shows 10 be true that the incoming OF the
present Administration the Government has sold al par
5000 900 OF 4l9 per cent and over S29OOOOO0 Of
per cent bonds, largely citizens. II this Is
not enough let me call your attention 10 the further
on sod eoR Which was per cent March T. 1896
and which was 81 per cent on Malch a. lSoy Is now
only One-half OF per cent, know Wen lhat these re-
suits have been reached without some shrnkage In
values and consequent loss and suffering; but these
inevitable, and happily the worst j. over. we are
back again TO a solid basis we are down 10 - bard
pau" We shall shortly resume specie payments, thus
releasing the specie IN the Treasury, and then. with
circulating MEDIUM amounting 10 over nine nun,
each and every one OF which is worth
precisely 100 cents, We shall resume our up
ward career OF prosperity The road 10 specie values
has not been all respects, pleasant one 10 travel
We have been compelled to come down from very hlgh
horses we have ceased TO ride the wave OF
lation and 10 revel the excitement which came with
the war aud remained ior time after u was over.
caused by supeTabundance OF currency OF uncertain
and shifting vaue-an excitement which was unnatural
and necessarily shOrt-Ved. When prices are measured
by huctuatmg currency OF doubtful value and uncer-
tain quantity, they must OF necessity be fictitious Let
us that are back again to the safe foundation
OF stable equal aud honest dollars.
Nor have the " hard times" through which We have
nassed 10 reach this end been unmiIed evil. We
have learned by experience lessons OF economy, indus
try prudence aud fFugaty, which cur fathers under
stood and practised but which had forgotten, and
should not have learned In any other way.
TIE QUESTION or THE HOUR.
The great question between the Republicans and their
oupopeuts ia this: Having reached this solid footing