Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1885-07-01

The balance sheet which the government
could show for the fiscal year ending yesterday
was unique among nations In n time of uni
versal depression in business, the United States
was able, not simply TO make both ends meet,
out TO pay its creditors sixty-eight million dol
lars out of its surplus revenues This exhibit is
in startling contrast to that of every other gov
eminent In the family OF nations Even such
nch and wisely managed country Great
BRITAIN is considering the expediency of in
creasing Its debt to defray current expenses.
Our government is thus doing a very profit
able business at q time when other nations and
the world of trade generally are groaning over
the dull state of the market. Our debt, to be
sure, Is still large, but the nation does not feel
Its weight, and 1t is, being reduced quite as
rapidly as sound principles Of finance approve
Our creditors are very we'll satisfied with their
investment, and the banks are anxious lest the
too speedy payment of our obligations destroy
the foundations of our present admirable bank
ing system.
Moreover, 1t is not probable that there will be
material falling off in the revenues. An at
tempt TO abolish the internal revenue would
meet with strenuous opposition from those who
object to cheapening the price of alcoholic
liquors and tobacco at the expense of the neces-
Stiles Of life while the strong labor interest will
antagonize all efforts to reduce duties below the
protective level. So long as we have a war
debt, therefore, 1t is not likely that he govern
ment Will reverse its policy of gathering large
surplus each year.
There are dangers, no doubt, in an overflow
Ing treasury. Wealth of all kinds brings its
characteristic temptations. But mankind has
always shown readiness to assume the risks
that go with fortune. Large wealth." OBJ
served that sagacious philosopher, ARENAS
Ward, commonly ruins young men: / should
like to be ruined" One temptation is, of course,
that of extravaganza; but is it out of place to
remind the government that another very COM
mon temptation of wealth is parsimony? For
each rich man who squanders his money
dozen may be found who hoard it. and govern
ments may fall into the same fault. 1t will jar
on good many nerves to-day, in homes where
anxiety sits as an unwelcome guest, to read in
one paragraph that the surplus revenues for
last month were thirteen million dollars and
In another paragraph to be told in triumph
ant strain that by a wholesale discharge of gov
ernment employees the nation saves S27?. go a
day, or the vast sum OF IS 32S monthly
When trade is dull and labor finds no work
the government can often relieve distress and
restore prosperity by adopting a liberal policy
Ours is not a paternal government, and our
population do not expect to be supported by
royal gifts, but at time like the present it is of
very doubtful policy for the government to add
to the prevailing distress by peremptorily
throwing large numbers of persons in its SER
vice out of work, especially on the plea of econ
omy, when Its Golfers are bursting with wealth.
-~-
The teachers gained their point last night in
the matter Immediately at issue in the school
controversy, and, what is of more lasting con-
sequence, the board took action in the line
urged by THE STAR, looking to a more secure
tenure of office for teachers. Up to the present
time. the trustee of division has nominated
the list of teachers within his district for the
ensuing year. By the almost unanimous vote
of the trustees this power has now been taken
away and a new rule adopted under which all
appointments in the public schools from SUPER
vising principals to janitors, are made contin-
uous until revoked by vote of the board. This
Is distinct step forward, and cannot fail to i'm
prove the nlorCte of the teaching force of the
District.
The Cunard steamship Gallia, which carried
Minister Cox, Ex-Attorney General Brewster
and Hon. Roscoe Conkling among her passen-
gers, broke down under her weight OF glory, and
Is now humbly making port in tow of another
ship.
General Butler is having bad luck all around
Yesterday, his famous yacht America was badly
beaten in a regatta, coming in fifth and last. In
the presidential race of last year, Butler came
in a bad fourth out of six entries
Secretary Whitney has acted sensibly in re-
voking the order of his predecessor which for
babe the wives of naval officers to follow them
TO foreign station.
Mrs. Dudley has been declared "insane.n
which will tend to make people lenient towards
her bad craftsmanship.