The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1892-09-30

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 change they find.
Instead of treasury burdened with a
debt of So, 750, 900 900 they find the treas
ury now with interest bearing debt OF
less than 5000, 100000.
Instead of an annual interest charge
of $3.50, 200, 900, which the government
was compelled to pay at that time, they
find now treasury whose annual inter-
est payment is in round numbers but
sec, 100000.
Instead of government so reduced as
TO be compelled to pay more than per
cent. on the money which it borrowed to
carry on its war for the preservation Of
the nation they find one able to float it's
bonds at par at per cent. per annum
interest.
Instead of debt of seventy-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
$4.20 they now find an interest rate of
thirty-tve cents per capita.
Reduced Taxes; Increased Commerce.
AL this they find interesting.
They find instead of country COM
PEELED to raise $519, 100000 by tax
alton in a year one which now taxes it's
people less than $500, 100000 year,
although her population has nearly
doubled meantime and the expenses of
government naturally increased.
They find "a country with a foreign csm-
merce of nearly So 1000, 600, 900 against a
total of less than $500, 200, 900 in 1865.
They find instead of a balance of trade
against the United States of 5000, 900,
as was the case in 1865, that the balance
of trade in our favor now is more than
800, 100000.
They find instead of domestic exports
amounting to $l36, 100000 then that our
exports during the past year were more
than d 81 ,000, 000, 000
A Magnificent Pension System.
And this is not all.
They find a magnificent pension office
with thousands of clerks employed ia
examining into and paying the claims
for pension of the men who fought to
save the country.
Instead OF pension roll of So, 900 men
and widows which they found in 1865.
they find to-day pension RON of 750, 0OG
soldiers and soldiers widows.
Instead of an annual payment of S.
100000 for pensions which they found in
1865 they find the government paying
100000, 900 a year for pensions, and that
1t has paid to them and their fellow
soldiers or their families 81 $50, O00. 900
in pensions since they marched up Penn
sylvania avenue at the close of the war
a quarter of century ago.
One Painful Thought.
One thing more they find, and it
brings sorrow and pain to every heart.
1t is that LII the record of all this pros
perity, in the record of the nations gen.
crosby toward its defenders and their
families, the one man who has lifted his
hand against the soldier in the quarter
of a century which has passed since they
were last here did SO from the presidents
chair in the White House, and did SO
as the only representative of the Demo-
cratic party who has filed that. exalted
station since the war.
1t is 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 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
dences of affection which the congress of
grateful nation had voted them.
That the one Democratic president who
has occupied the White House since they
marched up Pennsylvania avenue TWEEN
ty-fve years ago should have welded
the veto power against them hundreds
of times in short four years term and
deprived 10000 soldiers homes and
families of the pittance which the con-
gress Of 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 silver lining to this
cloud.
The man who occupies the White
House today they look upon as friend
and 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. His 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 comrade
now"
The Republican Party Did IL.
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 reduc-
ton of the public debt; this wonderful
decrease in rates of per capita indebted
ness and interest; this unparalleled
growth in commerce and commercial
this magnificent tribute of