The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-11-26
xr.Ssrss AND REcKLEssSEss.


when the Republicans were placed In
y,ll control of the Government In 1873
they seemed TO have had an fntuitiVe
feeling that they never would be In such
nos,tton again, and so they determined 10
tear things all to pieces so as TO Iea'e
affairs in as bad condition as possioie
for their successors. They, therefore,
went 10 work. apparently with desperate
malice. TO spend money recklessiy ana
obstinate the revenues Of the country
without making any provision Tor the
future. They made all sorts OF wild APP
propriatlons, without taking time TO con-
slider whether the income Of the Govern
nent was sufficient 10 meet them, ana
acted on the principle OF the bad tenant
who leaves the premises from which ne
Is TO be evicted In as depiorabie condi-
tion as possible, and letting future occu-
nants devise ways and means OF repair
ing the damages.
That the Republicans were actuated by
the spirit OF malice in their course has
been virtually confessed by the leading
organs OF the party When the Billion
Dollar Congress was scattered to the four
winds by an indignant people the New
York Tribune was the first TO taunt the
Democrats with being probably forced TO
increase taxation. declaring that when
that Congress was carrying on It's MAD
orgies in the Federal Capitol 1t had $780,
100000 OF surplus to bank upon whiie
their Democratic successors would have
nothing. So, with another Republican
paper, the Boston Journal. The recent
elections had hardly ended with the over
whelming rout Of the Radical cohorts
before II began jeering the Democracy by
asking. "IVilI the Fffty-third Congress
beat the billion record of the Fifty-second,
and. II so, where will the money come
from?" So we see that having loaded
down the country with expense. the Re-
publicans are now shamelessly eXuitIhe
over their vile conduct, and Boosting that
they have placed the Democratic party
in a very awkward dilemma.
This is why the Billion-Dollar Congress
swept away $4,000. 900 Of revenue by put
ting sugar on the free list and at the
same time added slO,OOO.OOO TO the public
burdens nv bounties to sugar planters.
They did this, not because they cared one
cent for the consumers Of sugar or Tor
the planters. but only from malicious
meanness. This is also why they placed
a cut-worm in the Treasury in the shape
OF pension laws, which demand now SIoo'-
100000 a year, and in a short time VIII
more than double that amount; not that
they cared a baubee for the veteran Oh
the war. but because they thought they
could brlbe them into voting the Repubh-
can ticket, and also place before the
Democracy a hard nut that they would
not dare to try to crack.
We predict that all this Republican
meanness will continue to recoll upon its
authors, and that they will yet be dumb
founded. The Democratic party VIII act
slowly and cautiously. but none the less
surely. in its reforms, and a wise reduc-
ton of the tariff taxes can be made so
as to Increase revenues from customs
duties, while hundreds Of millions OF dol
lars will be saved by a careful purging
of the pension lists and healthful modi-
fication Of the pension laws. All this the
Democrats will accomplish, and will yet
bring order out of chaos. And In doing
so they will not only receive the approval
of the whole country. but they will bring
the Radical enemies Of the people into
lasting confusion.