The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1885-11-12

double value of checking to some ex-
tent the disastrous floods in the upper
river when there is too much water
and of eking out the supply when
there is too little. r.
CROUCH ON ITCH"
"Rough on Itch cures humors
eruptions, ring worm, letter, salt
rheum, frosted feet, chilblains.
RETRENCHMENT IN PUBLIC EXPENDI-
TURES.
The recent victories won by the
democratic party have their primary
cause in the determination of that
party, as declared in their state and
national platforms, to reduce expenses
in the state and national government
to the legitimate cost of running the
same.
The war cultivated extravagant
habits in all the departments of the
government and the burden has
commenced to be felt oner0us by the
people.
We had become so accustomed to
pay high taxes by reason Of the war,
we did not feel that it was too great q
burden in time of peace, but as these
taxes were unnecessarily prolonged in
their levy, the people began to enquire
the reason, and they were informed
that we were providing for a war
basis of expenditure in time of peace,
and the democratic national platform
demanded revenue only sufficient
for the legitimate expenditures of
the government, with incidental pro-
lection to those commodities that
could not conveniently stand alone
without some aid from foreign compe-
tition.
An investigation of the people into
the tariff system revealed the fact
that nearly everything we used in
mechanical operations, in farming I'M
plements, in household utensils, in
wearing apparel, and in everything
we ate and drank, had upon it pro-
tective tariff that yielded the govern
ment An annual revenue far exceed
ing its possible expenditures and cre<
ated an enormous balance in the
treasury, that puzzled the financial
ability of statesmen to know what TO
do with. The people saw at once that
plethortic treasury created habit
OF expenditure, and not content to
adopt the idea of Mr.. Blaine and
other republican statesmen, to con-
tinue to collect this extra amount
over and aboYe the necessities of the
revenue and then to return it to the
states, they sought some other method
to solve the problem without disturb
ing the manu- .Sacturing interests of
the country.
They recognized that the constitu-
tion of the United States limited the
control of the federal government of
the commerce of the country to a
proper adjustment between the states
and positively prohibited the levy of
tariff exceeding the purposes of rev.
enue, and, taking into consideration
the manufacturing interest of the
country, they have been content to
demand from their representatives a
modified tariff that they felt was un-
constitutional, but, perhaps at present,
necessary, so that the manufacturing
interests of the country should not
give too severe shock to our COM
merce.
They telt that war tariff was alto
gether unnecessary, but they were
averse to permitting their idea of the
strict construction of the constitution
to disturb the channels of trade or in
terfere in the least with the even flow
of commerce, and unable to have any
fair adjustment of this vexed question
of the tariff, they were content to de-
clare in their platforms in favor of a
retrenchment in public expenditures
supported by a revenue incidental in
its protective features.
The people believing the democratic
party honest in these declarations, and
believing their voice potential with
their leaders, have entrusted the fed
eral government to that party and
will hold it responsible for an econom
ical administration.
The cabinet that Mr.. Cleveland ha:
chosen seems to be fully impressed
with this demand of the masses o.
the people of the United States, an(
are making every effort in theil
power, as executive officers, to accom-
plish this result.
| OF course it is fully recognized tina
executive officers can accomplish yer!
little in this respect, and that the maiI
responsibility rests upon the member'
of congress to adjust tariff that il
constitutional and at the same tim
would not give violent wrench t.
manufacture and commerce.
The democratic party owes its sue
cess to this idea of retrenchment, and
it fails after having working ma
jority in congress and a democrati
president, the people will hold it re
! sponsible for the failure.
The great difficulty is, that tn
democratic party as represented il
. congress is not unit on this question
and there can be no radical reform
until the exorbitant war tariff i
, changed for tariff for revenue only
with incidental protection to our man
ufacturing industries.
WE have been compelled to exclud