The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1889-08-22

pering with the revenues until the veterans
shall have had their day in court. This we
regard as one of the most important duties
Of that great representative body, which
speaks and acts in the name of all the sur
viving defenders of the Union.
fever Justice is done the veterans 1t must
be now. If ever the payment of their just
dues is TO do them any good it must be now.
They have all reached or are rapidly APP
preaching the age when pecuniary assistance
is of the utmost value to them. To deny or
delay the payment of their dues is cruel
robbery.
The Congress which is to meet in Decem-
Der was elected upon this distinct issue. |
The veterans secured majority directly /
pledged to support measures of justice to |
them. This is well understood by friends |
and enemies alike. The only course left for |
the latter TO defeat these measures is to |
secure such q reduction of the National |
revenues as viii leave no money in the
Treasury with which TO meet the expendi-
lures The old alliance of Mugwump free 4
traders and out-and-out soidier-haters are
working earnestly to accomplish this. The
free traders want 10 empty the Treasury by |
taking off the duties on imports, and the
soldier-haters want the Treasury emptied so
that there win be no money for pensions.
The sole hope Of obtaining just pension
legislation rests upon the maintenance Of
the revenues as tlIey are. This is demanded,
too, by even stronger considerations than
the interests of the soldiers. All the present
great prosperity of the country rests upon
the same basis. The profitable prosecution
Of every one Of our great commercial, agri-
cultural and industrial businesses depends
upon absolute freedom from tampering with
a system which has been so carefully built
mp and elaborated through scores of years.
Under the present system the country has
prospered as it never did before wages have
been higher, employment more plentiful,
the comforts of life more abKndant to all,
progress in every direction greater, and
everybody's condition better than was ever
known before in this or any other country.
Why should We interfere with all this for
the sake Of trying an experiment that has
been repeatedly tried in this country, and
never failed 10 result in great disaster?
The moment We begin tampering with the
revenues that moment we set the whole
fabric Of prosperity TO tottering. The mere
suggestion Of a likelihood of Congressional
interference and tinkering with the revenues
4 win slow down the wheels Of manufactur-
ing. check business enterprise, lessen en-
ployment, diminish the demand for the
/ products Of the farm, and freeze mp the cir
culatiOn OF money. Not knowing how or
10 what extent they will be affected, all
business men win curtail operations, and set
their houses in order for a possible storm.
DemOralizing distrust viii take the place OF
the present healthy confidence Considered
purely from a business standpoint, ii would
be vastly better that every dollar there il
now in the Treasury, or which may come in
ever and above what is needed for the actual
expenses Of the Government, should be paid
out TO the veterans and their families rathe,
than a finger should be raised 10 disturb
, condition which is so eminently beneficial
. TO every man, woman and child in thu
country.
: AS we have repeatedly demonstrated, tn
people themselves will receive no beneG
. from q reduction of the revenues. The,
would not get single article cheaper
= while their ability TO buy would b
I greatly lessened, and in far too man,
instances entirely destroyed. Three severa
times since we have been Government hay
= we listened 10 the siren song of the reyenu
? reducer, and every time it has resulted In Ia
destruction of the oountry's prosperity. Crop
b have rotted ungathered and unsold In th
y fields, the wheels of factories have rusted i
It idleness, while wOrkingmen went about tn
d streets seeking employment where there wa
y none, and their wives and children hay
d starved at home The goods that the FIRE
l. traders promised would be so much cheape
it were not made cheaper, but higher in pric
Is while there was no money in the pockets
a the people with which TO buy them. Wit
e this experience burnt deeply in the MIND
a Of millions yet living, and with all the worl
p adopting the wise commercial system b
q, which the United States has proiited
Of greatly in this past % years, it would l
lg amazing folly to turn again from the patti
ID of prosperity 10 tread those which have il
In variably Led to the quagmires of disaster.
Never has q Government had the eppo