The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-07-24
THAT VANISHED SURPLUS.

While ignorant and subservient re-
publican organs sheer at the figures
which show that the federal treasury
has been nearly bankrupted by the ex-
travagant policy Of the administration,
intelligent and conscientious republican
journals are admonishing the party
leaders that they are wrecking the ad-
ministration and the country. The
Philadelphia Evening Telegraph is one
Of this class, and in an article entitled,
"Giye U.s. Straight Figures" it speaks
ouEFvery clearly. It tells Secretary
Window that his vague denials of the
bad condition Of our finances is not sat-
isfactory, "If it should turn out" it
says, s'that during his imcumbency the
overlooking surplus of the treasury
should be converted into glazing and
dangerous deficit he can understand
readily enough that he might better sus-
pend his violin on the nearest nail and
retire to the shades of domestic privacy
at the end of his term with as little de-
mand 'on public attention as circum-
stances will,permit. 1t will make no
! difference that the revolution in the
state of the country's finances is due to
reckless extravaganza of congress, and
not to any derellction on hisspart; if it is
not his fault it is his misfortune, and to
abe unfortunate is fatal to expectations
Of political preferment." The explana-
tions Of the republican leaders in con-
gress, the Telegraph asserts, do not ex-
plain. chairman Cannon says it will
!. be all right, but he doesn't prove it. Sec.
t'retary Window believes it will be all
right, but he shows no satisfactory
basis for his hasty confidence. No two
congressman agree as to the situation.
The Washington correspondents are in
ssa maze of doubt, the best posted among
them admitting that they must await
further developments before coming to
definite conclusions in the matter. A re.
publican contemporary, earnestly desir-
Gus of defending it's leading representa-,
s,tives, under the editorial heading, The
GHurplus Safe Enough rushes to the
/, front, bewilders itself in column OF
contradictory statements, and winds uE
lin the bog, with probable deficiency Of
so4O, COO, 600 at least, with nothingapaid
.e,ikto the sinking fund, and the nationa
shank note fund also appropriated
for the purposes of the hour
Truly, this is most remarkable state o
affairs. If there is any wisdom left a
Washington now is the time for tn
i, country to havo revelation Of il
When the president goes back to his du
I ties after a brief respite-well earne
and doubtless thoroughly needed-le
sthim call council of his advisers an
sfthe republican leaders in both houses c
congress and straighten this matter ou
r'In the present suspicious state Of tn
public mind nothing will calm the PR
vailing agitation but the clesrest poss
BE presentment Of facts and the mos
positive assurance that the reckless 9,
travagance with the public funds whic
,:has characterized the present congress
/. will be speedily terminated. This is
duty the administration owes to "itsel
the republican party and the countr,
II is one Of paramount Importance, an
it is hoped it will thoroughly and COZ
scientiously be performed before al
other week goes by"
There is striking contrast, to say til
least, between this utterance and tbs
of our ostrich contemporary, the Hel
aid, which dips it's head in the sand an
says: "Pooh! We don't see any danger