Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1888-04-22
SURPLUS Stiffness
Democratic Tactics to Alarm the People
and Create Sentiment in Fa.or of FreS

Democratic Tactics to Alarm the People
and Create Sentiment in FAVOR of FREQ
Trade.
The Philadelphia Record declares that .'for
the present fiscal year the estimated sur
plus will be S155. 6oo,0Oo." Other Demo
cratic journals throughout the country make
similar statements. And coupled with
these assertions generally is the kindred as
sertion that the ''surplus for years past has
amounted to over s10o,0o0,oo annually"
The two St. Louis Bourbon journals repeat
one or both these tales about i've times each
week on an average. As some guileless
persons may De deceived by these stories it
would perhaps be well 70 present the facts.
The following table gives the surplus for
the past three years and the estimated sur
plus for 1888 and 1889, the years, of course,
being fiscal years, which end on June 30:
Years. Surplus. Years. Surplus
1855 ST., $50 735 1888 SIS tS ia
1895 ..... 80, 405, 5i5 1855. ....... 56, AGO. JOG
1887 ........... 50, SCI, o49l
These figures show the actual surplus for
1885, 1856 and 1857, as revealed in Uncle
Sans balance sheet. The figures for the
present year and for 1889 are those given
by C. S. Fairchild, Secretary of the
Treasury. The surplus has not only
not amounted to over 100000, 900"
annually for years past, but it has
not in recent years reached half that
sum except in 1887. It viii not amount to
sl55.000, 600 il 1883, but to little over $685.
O00 900. But let US concede that Mr.. Fair
child was mistaken when he made this esti-
mate four months ago. Imports since then
have exceeded his calculations, therefore
the Governments income will be larger this
year than he supposed. But making all al
loWances for this increase, the surplus in
the year which ends three months hence
will be about ssl,000,O00 1t will not be
s155, COX, 900, nor much moro than half that
sum.
The way in which the Democratic howl
ers about the surplus reach their extrava-
CANT and ridiculous figures can be readily
explained. They sometimes, although not
often, ignore the expenditure which Mr.
Bland has compelled the Government to
make every year in buying bullion for the
daddy" dollars, but they always ignore
the sinking fund The frst-named item
calls for 50, 0o0, coo and the second from 49,
600 700 to 81, 100000. These sums must be
provided each year. They con stitute Gov
ornamental obligation as rigid and binding
as that which compels the prompt payment
Of interest on the public debt Until the
Sinking Fund and Bland-Dollar scJs are re-
pealed in the manner aid down by law no
Secretary Of the Treasury will dare 10 dis
regard them.
1t may be asked here: Why do the Demo-
cratic journals place the surplus at such
extravagant figures when the falsity OF
their declarations can be so easily showul
The answer is simple. They put the figures
high with the hope Of alarming the people
and creating powerful sentiment through
out the country in favor Of radical tariff
reduction. OF course it is not insinuated
here that all the newspapers which pub
lish these figures do SO with the intent TO
deceive. Many of them undoubtedly be
lieve the figures are rigidly correct. and are
really and honestly frightened because they
ti,nk the country Will go into insolvency If
a big onslaught is not made at once upon
the tariff In this class must be placed the
two ST. Louis Democratic newspapers re-
ferred to. However, all Democratic jour
mails are not so ignorant as those published
in this city, and some Of them are responsi-
bic for the malicious preparation Of this
Sl55 100000 surplus silliness.-GLob< Demo
cT1t