The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1888-08-30
That Surplus.

# the sensational appeals to the people
vas based upon what was called the sur
illus in the treasury. 1t was the baldest
and ever the late Mr.. Hen
tricks. the then Democratic candidate for
Vice President. exaggerated the facts to
such degree that he openly charged there
we're S40O. 900 900 surplus in the treasury.
There was that much and more III the
treasury. but it was there to meet the
sinking fund charge, to redeem the clrcu'
lating greenbacks, and the gold and silver
certificates which were circulating as
money. In the annual message OF Inc
President sent to Congress last DECEMBER
in which he formulated and pressed MS
free trade theory. rs remedy for a pie
thoric treasury. it was stated that the
close of the fiscal year would show sur
plus of $l04, 600. With this as pre-
mise, a demand was made for legislation
that would reduce the amount of revenues
annually coll, ed, but instead Of striking
at the direct tax-the iDternal-whlch the
people feel more than any other, policy
was outlined and ADVOCATED that would
strike a fatal blow at the industries OF
the country. and cripple the ability OF lne
people to support themselves. 1t would
not only restrict and diminish the avenues
of remuneratiye wages, but pace our
markets under the control of foreign man
ufactures, thus inviting, not reduction
e h,,f
power and probability of an increase OF
prices for articles imported. 4hle would
necessarily follow the impairment OF orr
ability to eomke,e in manufactures, and
as that power would be lessened, the
greater the danger OF foreign control OF
prices and products.
But the surplus has been so extravagantly
decreased by Democratic legislation, that
there is very little left of it. 1t is now
estimated that there is NOT more than
So, 900, 900 remaining of the surpl US. The
total estimate made June 30 1883. Wis
SAC, 1868, 900 The Total appropriations up
to August is. and the necessary bills 20 be
passed, will reach $42S, 269, $50 %. Refer
ring to this condition. the Tribune. says ;
Under this extreE,e pressure OF personal
and partisan necessity the President ilnG
party have been SO WaSteful or so lncOm-
petent that the appropriations already
made or practically determined upon tx
ce..d the estimates for The pres MT fiscal
year b. Iurly i've WllliGIis, La December
The Adlrirlslra ipn Officially rtpD:l' d that
THREE hunur,d ait1 tseiity six millions
would be nttqied for the support Qf COY
ant, exclusive Di postal Itveiiufs, or
three hundred and Il ghty three Wlil.Ops
wi;h those revenues. HuL Lte appropri=
auiuns made or determined upon ;,inuupb 10
over four hundred and twenty.eight mil
ions I'he bills which have passed. both
| houses tXcted four hundred and Eighteen
millions, and tWo 0tner NECESSARY Dllls
which i!ayp baen reported viii > ID ten III.
| llol.s uuIa NpaylS all these bills have
beeu signed 10y the president, Including
| The most eXtraVagaut and WaSiflul Ol
Them or permitted TO become law without
| a veto. No veto is to be tXpec ed OF either
of the neeassaly bills remaining which are
included i'll The aggregate. y Democratic
| President ard IA }s-m pFist &c House are
! therefore, Responsible Tor any e%traNaE&nl
ur waste!ul appropriations rms year. al:
| though the pressure Of personal auil par
tisan necessity provide Al eMtrao'd mary
| protection against "astefuiness III tnls
Tune. Ii the President and party IndeI
| such peculiar circumstances oannOt helI
| exceeding estimates by forty five millions.
! W hat nav be expected when no such per-
salal necessity stiHtns the backbone Of
patriotic economy"
This condition of the finances OF thu
country demonstrates tina coup .ratiye
Statesman OF the two parti.s TIT
| Republican, enacted the laws and adopted
| the policy by which not only the vast de
manas Of the government are met. but {
surplus collected, without the people
| knowing scareeIy that they were. paying
anything, The Democrats haa- itslslatet
so as To practically exhaust he surplus
without Furnishing aby relief. fr, III VIVA
| they term the burdens OF the people II
the form of high taxes. It, illustrate ths
capacity of the one to marriage the affair."
| of the country wisely. End the incapacity o.
| the Other to understand The interests witt
which it is charged, and for WHICH it mas
be held responsible. 1t was the policy O
the Republicans to refuge the revenues
by judicinas legislation. as fast IS thu
condition of the treasury would allow it
| by readjusting the Tariff laws and cutting
the internal revenue tax. But the Demo
Gratis have done neither. and yet they have
managed TO expend SD ,000, 900 more thai
the estimates and virtually wipe out Thu
surplus which has been the bugaGoc tina
every Democratic demagogue in the Ma
tion has pointed at to brighten the people
Tie bottom is thus knocked out of thu
Mills bill, although they never had {
thought 1t would b come Il lazy. Il wa
intended as campaign swindle, and tx
make the people believe hey propose re
duction of revenue sone $G5, DD0.0 900 o.
$40 900 600, and really meant reduction
of taxes, when in fact The logical effect O.
It's enforcement would be not to reduce
taxes, but to increase them, in the long
run. at the same time it would dininisf
the resources of the people to pay.