The Dickinson press., 1892-09-24

WASHINGTON, Sept. l9.-Thisi is great
week in Washington. The old soldiers
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 a.no.g the
thousands who tread Pennsylvania I'VE
nue. today than there was Il quarter of IA
century ago behind the battle stained
banners,
Changed Conditions.
But what a change they find.
Instead of Il treasury burdened with Il
debt of 81. go, COO. coo they find the treas
ury now with interest bearing debt of
less than $500, 900, goo.
Instead of an annual interest charge
of $50. 600 900, which the government
was compelled to pay at that time, they
find now Il treasury whose annual inter-
est payment is i'll round numbers but
$50, 0G0, 200.
Instead of Il government SO reduced as
to be compelled to pay more than I per
cent. OH the money which it borrowed to
carry on its war for the preservation of
the nation they find one able to float lis
bonds at par at . per cent. per &nnum
interest.
Instead of IL debt of scventy-eight dol
lars for each individual i'll the United
States they find an Indebtedness of thir-
teen dollars for each individual, aud i'll
stead of Il per capita interest rate of
$4.29 they now find an interest rate of
thirty-hve cents per capita.
Reduced Taxes; Increased Commerce..
All this they find interesting.
They find instead of a country COM.
PEELED to raise $780, 00, 600 by tax
alton i'll Il year one which now taxes its
people less than $500, 0o0, 600 IL year,
although her population has nearly
doubled meantime and the expenses of
government naturally increased.
They find country with Il foreigncom-
mcrcc of nearly s. ,000, 900, 600 against a
total of less than $500, 600, goo in 1865.
They find instead of a balance of trade
against the United States of SIS 600, 900,
as was the case in 1865, that the balance
of trade in our favor now is more than
800, 600, 600.
They find instead of domestic exports
amounting to Sl36, DOC, GOO then that our
exports during the past year We're more
thana 81, 900, O00, 900.
q Magnificent Pension System.
And this is not all.
They find a magnificent pension office
,,,ith fhn,,co,In ~f o1o,1., o,,,,~1 =,
examining into and paying the claims
for pension of the men who fought to
say the country.
Instead of a pension roll of 81, 900 men
an! widows which they found in 1865,
they fluid to-day a pension roll of $50, 600
soldiers and soldiers widows.
Instead Of an annual payment of 49,
5oG,0 600 for pensions which they found i'll
1868, they find the government paying
$l3h000, COCOA yearfor pensions, and that
it has paid to them and their fellow
soldiers or tht;.: families $3.50, 900, 900
i'll pensions since they marched up Penn
sylvania venue at the close of the war
a quarter of a century ago.
One Painful Thought.
One thing moro they find, and it
brings sorrow and pain to every heart.
1t is that in the record of all this pros
perity, in the record of the nations gen
crosby toward its defenders and their
families, the one mar 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 filled that exalted
station since the war.
1t 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 i'll his hands the evil
dences of affection which the congress of
a grateful nation had voted them.
Thatthe one Democratic president who
has occupied the White House since they
marched up Pennsylvania avenue TWEEN.
ty-five years ago should have welded
the veto power against them hundreds
Of times in a short four years term ani
deprived 10000 soldiers homes ant
families of the pittance which the con
gress of a grateful nation had freely
voted them throws u shadow, even a
that long distance, over this gathering
of comrades.
A Silver Lining to the Cloud.
But there is s. silver lining to thi
cloud.
The Rao who occupies the Whit
House today they look upon as a fricn'
and a comrade. And they have reaso1
so to do. His words and acts have al
been of kindness and affection. Ho eS
tends to them the cordiality of a CON
rade's greeting. His w words ill hi
recent letter Of acceptance are write
upon their hearts iI living letters, "a
comrade in the column, IT The victor
parade in 1865, | am not less a conrad
now"
Chg Republican Party Did 1t.
!, One other thought which comes I
these old soldiers as they gather he1
and note the magnificent record of til
f past quarter of a century: This redu'
{ ton of the public debt; this wonderf,
decrease in rates of per capita indebted
!, aess and interest; this unparallele
! growth IN commerce and commerce;
+, prosperity; this magnificent tribute
, the nations affection for the old soldi'
clement; they are all the work Of the r
publican party, whose wisdom and state
manship have controlled tho policy
, the government ever since they gave
l.. back a united nation. o. p. AUSTIN.