Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1892-10-03
THEN IND NOW.

The old soldiers at Washington, who
contrasted the condition of Pennsyl-
vania- avenue as they marched down
it on Tuesday with it's appearance
twenty years ago, found other
contrasts in the condition of the coun-
try and the Government which were
equally noticeable and pleasing. The
smooth, well-paved avenue of to-day
is no greater an Improvement upon
the dusty, ill-paved thoroughfare OF
twenty-seven years ago than is the
prosperous Treasury and country an
improvement upon the condition
which confronted the returned heroes,
who were called upon to take up the
duties of citizenship and taxpayers
after the sacrifices they had made up
on the battle field. When they march
ed up Pennsylvania avenue in 1868
they found a treasury with debt
amounting to 3, 844, 900, 900; now there
is an interest bearing debt of less
than $500, 900, 900. Then the official
figures showed cash in the treasury
SSS, OOO, 900; now in round numbers,
500, OOO, 900. Then the interest charge
was S15O,OOO, 900 per annum; now it IS
in round numbers 10000, 900 per an
mum. Then the treasury was compel
led to pay more than per cent inter
est on the money borrowed to carry
on the war to save the country; now
it is able to float it's bonds at 2 per
cent per annum at para lower inter-
est rate than any other government
in the world is able to command. The
capita; now it is only S12 per capita.
Then the annual interest charge was
1929 per capita; now it is 33 cents per
capita.
In 1865 the country had foreign
commerce amounting to S40O, OOO, 600,
in which the balance of trade was
SIS, OOO, 900 on the wrong side; now
there is a commerce amounting to
nearly So, OOO, 900, 900 and a balance of
over 5000, 600, 900 on the right side.
Our exports in the year when these
brave men came marching home by
the way of Washington were only
1852, 600, 900, and our imports $685.
OOO,O 600; to-day our exports for the
year just ended are 81, O30, 0OO,O 900, and
our imports aregSs27, 100000 Instead
of pension list of $4,000 soldiers or
soldiers widows and orphans, draw
ing So, 500, 900 a year, they find now
pension roll of 100000 soldiers or
soldiers widows and orphans receiv-
ing an annual pension payment OF
$40. OOO, 900, and know that they have
received in the twenty seven years
since the close of the war 81 800, 600, :
600 in pensions. The Pension Office
disposes to-day of claims at the rate
of 1900, GOO per year, against less than
half that number under the preceding
democratic administration. There is
an administration in power uphold
ing the hands and speaking in affec-
tionate terms of the old soldiers of the
country, instead of one of four years
ago, which at every opportunity dis
credited their appeals and welded
ruthlessly the veto power against
them.
One thought which must come to
the minds of these soldiers as they
contrast the conditions of to-day with
those of their former visit to Wash
ington, twenty seven years ago, I'M
plies recognition of the fact that
American prosperity has come from
the legislation of the republican par
ty. Under it's system of protection,
which is in sharp contrast with the
low tariff of Buchanan's time, this
wonderful growth of commerce and
industry, this generous treatment OF
the soldiers who saved the nation, this
rapid reduction of the public debt,
have made the country the marvel OF
the civilized world, and led the great
minds of all nations to admire and
commend the principles which have
brought about these results. " T.
Tribune.
WORLDS CONVENTION OF CHRIS