Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1888-09-07

pirginian, has been misled by will-o'-
the wisp in the columns of the New York
Tribune, into the belief that s'the surplus
has been so extravagantly decreased by
Democratic legislation that there is very
little left of it.' The snare set by the
Tribune to catch unwary Democrats, seems
to have tangled the legs of good Re-
publican in its net, and our neighbOI
exultantly exclaims:
''This condition of the finances of the coun-
try demonstrates the comparative statesman
ship of the two parties. The Republicans
enacted the laws and adopted the policy by
which not only the vast demands of the gov
eminent are met, but surplus collected,
without the people knowing scarcely that
they were paying anything. The Democrats
have legislated so as to practically exhaust the
surplus without furnishing any relief, from
what they term the burdens of the people in
the form of high taxes, 1t illustrates the
capacity of the one to manage the affairs of
the country wisely, and the incapacity of the
other to understand the interests with which
it is charged, and for which it must be held
responsible. 1t was the policy of the Repub-
icans to reduce the revenues, by judicious
legislation, as fast as the condition of the
treasury would allow it, by readjusting the
tariff laws and cutting the internal revenue
tax. But the Democrats have done neither,
and yet they have managed to expend $45,-
600, 900 more than the estimates, and virtually
wipe out the surplus which has been the bug
aboo that every Democratic demagogue in the
Nation has pointed at to frighten the people.
'"The bottom is thus knocked out Of the
Mills bill, although they never had thought
it would become law"
How is this? How is this? No appro-
priation can pass congress without also
passing the Republican Senate. Not a
dollar of revenue can be appropriated
eXtravagantly or without
the Republican Senate votes for it. Can
it be that the Senate-that Republican
Senate to which the Valley Virgimian has
so constantly called the attention of the
people, as a rock against the Democrat
ic storm that has swept away the other
two political branches of the government;
that Senate to which all the Industries are
looking to stay Democratic free trade, :"
and in which those Industries had so much
confidence that they kept on charging
their Investments; that Senate which was
the only remaining representative body of
the American peopIe-can it bepossible that
this wise and immaculate Senate has join
ed hands with the wicked Democrats, and
exhibited an 'incapacity to understand
the interests with which it is charged and
for which it must be held responsible ?"
Has that Senate forsaken "the policy of
the Republicans to. reduce the rev.
enue by judicious legislation" and
managed to expend 900 900 more
than the estimates, and virtually wipe out
the surplus ?"
About the ''incapacity" of the Repub-
lican Senators on general questions we are
very much tempted to agree with our
neighbor, and in fact on the ''incapacity''
the Republican members of both houses
have shown this session-especially on the
Tariff question. On that question they
seem utterly unable to understand the
demands of the people or to frame any
measure for the occasion. Their course on
the Mills Bill could be we'll measured by
the "incapacity" of infants. First they
tried ridicule, then denunciation. then
cries of ruin to the country, then when
the Bill was reported they swore it should
not pass unless it was modified TO suit
them; then they fourished bill of their own
which they said they would offer as sub
stitute; then they got demoralized and
making public acknowledgement of their
own incapacitY, refused to offer it; then
they held conference on what in the
name of Heaven to do, and concluded to
unload the awkward situation on the
shoulders Of the Senate; then they begged
the Senate not to report any substitute for
the Mills bill, but to stand on the present
tariff; then they got frightened at the
angry growl of their people and begged the
Senate to report one-a history of Gin
capacity" and indecision on the part of a
great" party that is almost unparalleled
In the history of American legislation.
But our neighbor must not adopt the
1ri6une's story about either the surplus or
the extravaganza legislation. Not dollar of
the dreadful surplus has been wiped out"
virtually, theoretically, or any other way.
1t is all there In the U. s. Treasury, every
dollar of it. $129, OOO,O 900. CHASTITY remin-
der to an over-taxed and poverty stricken
people of the result Of Republican High
Tariff. 1t is portentous mile stone to
mark for the American people how far q
Republican High Tariff has gotten them
On the road to having nothing in their own
pockets and all in the government Treas
ury. What really has happened is that
the estimate for 1889 has been so nearly
appropriated away by Congress, including
the Republican Senate, that there will be
only $40 100000 of the estimate remaining
as surplus-a surplus which, added to
the 1929 900 900, will make an increased
surplus of $14S,OOO, 900 of the peoples
taxes in the vaults of the government,
with nothing to expend it for and no use
to make of it. 1t is to meet conditio n
of taxation under which such an enor-
nous surplus as this can arise. that the
Mills bill was framed. 1t is that. hereafter,
such an enormous mass of money may be
in the pockets of the people of the United
States and not in the Treasury, the
Democracy framed and took their stand
on the Mills Bill. And it is because of
this pile of their gold in Government
vaults, daily preaching silent sermon to
the American people on the evils and folly
of high taxation. that those people are
now engaged in political revolution
against the system of exhaust known as a
Republican High Tariff. The "bottom"
will never be knocked out of the Mills