Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1892-09-29

Ncch III dSuiu5tou. Inc oiu eoiuicio
are here in full force. Never since they
marched up Pennsylvania avenue at the
close of the war has Washington seen so
many of the veterans who saved the
country. And there is no less enthusiasm
for the flag and the country among the
thousands who tread Pennsylvania ave-
nue. today than there was a quarter of a
century ago behind the battle stained
banners.
Changed Conditions.
But what a change they find.
Instead of a treasury burdened with a
debt OF 81, $50, 000, eco they find the treas
ury now with interest bearing debt of
less than $500, eC0. 900.
Instead of an annual interest charge
If $4,000 coo, which the government
was compelled to pay at that time, they
find now a treasury whose annual inter-
est payment is in round numbers but
$20.0 coo 600.
Instead of a government so reduced as
to be compelled to pay more than Z per
cent. on the money which it borrowed to
carry on its war for the preservation of
Tic lRtNiOA LLlGN AA1u OllC dOAC " hoGil us
bonds ut par at 2 per cent. per annum
interest.
instead of a debt of s~eventy-eight dol
lars for each Individual in the United
States they find an Indebtedness of thir-
teen dollars for each individual, and in
stead of a per capita interest rate Of
1920 they now find an interest rate of
t~hirty-tive cents per capita.
Reduced Taxes; Increased Commerce.
All this they find interesting.
They find instead of a country COM
PEELED to raise $3.50 900 900 by tax
alton in a year one which now taxes its
people less than S40O, coo. goo a year,
although her population has nearly
doubled meantime and the expenses of
government naturally increased.
They find a country with a foreign COM
merce of nearly 81. 200, COG, 0O0 against a
total of less than $500, 600, 600 in 1868.
They find instead of a balance of trade
against the United States of $15, 900 GOO,
as was the case in 1865, that the balance
of trade in our favor now is more than
800, 600 900.
They find instead of domestic exports
amounting to $l36, 0O0. O00 then that our
exports during the past year were more
than a 81 900, 900. 600.
A Magnificent Pension System.
And this is not all.
They lind a magnificent pension office
with thousands of clerks employed in
examining into and paying the claims
for pension of the men who fought to
save d country.
Instead Of a pension roll of s., 900 men
and widows which they found in 1865,
they lind to-day a pension rol of 1904 900
soldiers and soldiers widows.
Instead Of an annual payment Of S.
j00.O UO for pensions which they found in
1865, they find the government paying
$3.50, 600. 0OOa year for pensions. and that
II has paid To them and their fellow
soldiers or their families Sl,2JO,On0. 600
IN pensions sInce they marched up Penn
sylyauis aveuue at the close of the war
a quarter of a century ago.
One Painful Thought.
One thing more they find, and it
brings sorrow and pain to every heart.
1t is that Ill the record of all this pros
perity. in the record of the nations gen.
crosby toward its defenders and their
families, the ore man who has lifted his
naud against the soldier in tine quarter
Of Il century which has passed since they
were last mere did so from the presidents
chair in the White llOuSe. and did so
as the only representative Ct the Demo
cratic party who has filled that exalted
station since the war.
IL is a painful thought to these old
soldiers as they gather here that the only
representative which the Democratic
party have had in the White House since
the country was reunited a quarter of a
century ago should have been the only
man to raise his hand against them, and
to strike down with the official power
placed temporarily in his hands the evil
Geuces of affection which the congress of
Il grateful nation had voted them.
That the II Democratic president who
has occupied the White House since they
marched mp Pennsylvania avenue TWEEN
ty-tve years ago should have welded
the veto power against them hundreds
of times in n short four years term and
deprived 10000 soldiers homes and
families of The pittarce which the con-
gress of a grateful nation had freely
voted them throws a shadow, even at
that long distance. over this gathering
OF comrades.
A Silver Lining to the Cloud.
But there is i silver lining to this
cloud.
The man who occupies the White
House today they look upon as a friend
and a comrade. And they have reason
so TO DO. His words and acts have ali
been of kindness and affection. He ex-
tends to them the cordiality of a COM
rade's greeting. Els own words ia his
recent letter of acceptance are written
upon their hearts in living letters, a
comrade in the column of the victor's
parade in 1865, ! am not less a comrade
now"
The Republican Party Did 1t.
One other thought which comes to
these old soldiers as they gather here
and note the magnificent record of the
past quarter of a century: This redur-
ton of the public debt; this wonderful
decrease in rates of per capita indebted
Cess and interest; this unparalleled
growth in commerce and commercial
prosperity; this magnificent tribute of
the nations affection for the old soldier
element: they are all the work of the Re,
publican party, whose wisdom and states.
manship have controlled the policy OF
the government ever since they gave us
bach a united nation. 0. P. AUSTIN.