Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1888-05-24
THE TREASURY SURPLUS
WIZ Not rxpend " In Public Work,
and mp,ovemenes Actually
Needed
SPOKANE FALLS, W. r. Nav 5.

SPOKANE FALLS, W. r. May 5.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE Oregonirn:
| In all that has been written in tn
r"vSrnp"rs an magazines on the tarii
rcd "ti"n question. and in all that ha
hrem and is being said in congress on tn
"hJ"ct, have not seen anywhere th
ny.p>'ion that perhaps the whole uues-
ION could be settled (cxccpt for the ir
r'conc' able free tr.dcrs) by spcndin.
NJ surplus revenue instead Of rrducir.
it, boarding it up or buying bonds II, .,
per cent. premium. AS is now being done
it seems to be assumed by republicans
nd democrats alike that the rcvrnu,
''"ds reducing. the only question b, in.
'~ t" tn" b st method by which this re-
'uctlon can b. accomplished. But ga,
{ be d'"ird tha. "A very large portion il
Ut all the surplus could be juliciously
IN adva"ta.o"u>!y disposed of in pub i,
w'"Ns aud improvements that the country
'-olutrly needs, and that, in many
cases. ordinary prudence demands ?
samuel J. TiI'ien and Mr.. Blaine alike
have called attention to the need oi
Il qna'e coast detcnscs. From MMna
T." tL RITA, along the Guli and up the
s''c'hc coast we have not a single for,
nat could protect our rities from bonn.
hifdment hy other the English, French
Italian nIvi--. We all, republican,
a IT democrats alike know thi, and freely
"kn"wledyr that it is IA national danger.
'st neith'r parry is brave cnnI.h To take
sc initiative in advocating a stron. c.,a,,
iensr pulley. II the republicans wou|t
ace such plank in their platform ami
: We up to it, they could eni,rcn their
y si'i"n with dem ocra,ic thunder, in the
'h p "f T'ldeus letter on the subj ct.
nd it wonld b: hard tor their opp,nrn,s
attack them without at the same time
tacking the great dr,u"cra,ic sage and
SAINT VIII" has s" lately passed away.
There is "a rrat cry about extending
or foreign commerce, and we are to d
tnat free trade will at once mplisb
his. by all meaus let us extend our
c''n'm rce; every American will say
"rn I" this Suggestion, but many Of US
"ubt the efficacy Of free trade as re-
'nera'or OF our dcfunct shipping interest.
E".lsnd, whose example is daily cited BY
he advocates OF free trade, did not RELY
xcIusively on this panarea to build IN
h'r merchant marine, she spent millions
IN substituting ocean lines 10 foreign
:" untries and the colonies, and the En-.
: i>h merchant could consequently oh
T. u transportation rates inr his experts
hat erab|ed him To lay down his goods
ai the d"Or Of his foreign customer Mt
figures that defy competition. This il
the secret Of his business SUCCESS far
more than any free trade lolry. Our
government, on the contrary, has never
done much, Of late years at least, iu this
direc'i"n. But wherever ,hr pulley WIS
tr''d with Brazil and IN the Psci6c,
T. in'tancr,) ii has always produced the
most satisfactory results. Let us spend
a few Of our surplus millions 10 this
direction. and wipc ont the disgrace Of
havirg even our mails carried in foreign
ba'oms, rs at present.
And then. Whit pittances We are
pending for river and harbur improve-
n""ts compared to what We should ex
""d. No, to speak Of the Atlantic
''ss' or the Mississippi valley. here in
aud Oregon what work is
ni needed On the sound aud tn. C,lum
'ia and its tributaries to make them the
,r' at waterways ,hs, they should b.?
The int' Pests ui the farmers ~ much a.
h0sc 81 the merchants demand tba,
hese improvements should be made, aud |
II once. Good waterways prevent rail.
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