New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-06-13
KILLED BY DEMAGOG YES.

KILLED 81 UEuIbOb CES'
The search at Washington for the respon-
sibe cause of the calamity by which many were
killed or manned is in one sense entirely an
necessary. IIomansm slaughtered the victims.
They were murdered or crippled by that indie
cent spirit of nggardlincss which has been so
long fostercd for selfish or partisan ends by
some demagogucs. Adequate appropriations
for the public service would have resulted long
ago in safer and better quarters than those
which have been so often condemned, and which
the unhappy clerks had come TO regard with
constant dread. This is SO obvious that ii
seems unnecessary TO say it, and yet for the
sake of the lesson which it teaches the nature
and cause Of the disaster should not be lightly
passed. 1t was not an accident. 1t was
slaughter by the demagogucs who seek TO serve
themselves and their party by shouting econ
omy on all unfit occasions and shrieking about
the Billion-Dollar Congress"
II is time that Americans should muster a
little common sense in considering the expendi-
lures of their Government. During the last
thiriy-thrce years the population has more than
doubled and the wealth of the country has in
creased more than fOnrfold. The duties of the
Government necessarily depend in large degree
upon the property 10 be protected As well as
mon the number of lives TO be cared for In
1860 the expenditures of the Government, ex-
elusive of interest and pensions and payments
on public debt. were about $4,000, 600. Last
year they were about S1s7,OOO,OOO, or three
times as large. Reckoning half the
expense in 1860 against the pop
ulation to be governed and half against the
property 10 be protected, the rate would be less
than 81 for each nhabltant and about So for
each 81, 900 of property. At the same ratio
now the annual expenditure would be more than
$500 900, 900. Navcs and armies, the control
Of Indians, the consular service, the mail scr
vice at home and abroad, the land Office, the
judiciary, the agricultural service, all are more
largely employed in defending property than IN
defending lives. The inhabitants can fly from
the sCashore when invasion comes, as saya2es
did before them but their cities and the wealth
which makes their comforts and civilization
possible require steel cruisers, forts and guns.
In some proportion - the riches of the prize
to be guarded must always be the cost OF de-
Tending it against spoller
But if wealth needs defence wealth can also
pay for defence. Ability to pay is in proper
ton to dollars and not in proportion T. lives.
With 5000, OOO, 900 of wealth in 1850 the
country paid for its government about - for
every $1,000. To-day, with 500, 900, 0OO,-
600 of wealth, a like expenditure
would be 100000, instead Of $751;
900 900 now paid. Indeed, the ability Of the
people to pay has increased in far greater ratio
because tho average earnings OF the people
have more than doubled besides the increase
in accumulated wealth. IL will be said that in
tcrest and pensions and payments on public
debt are improperly Omitted from the com
parison. Not so, because these are costs Of u
Civil War in which the existence Of the Nation
was assailcd and VIGOROUSLY maintained. The
Nation pays and ought to pay willingly for
that incstimablo service. but that payment does
not in any way affect the cost If the other ser
vices which government continuously renders,
nor the netf Of those services, nor the neccs
sity of making them adequate to the growing
needs OF the Nation.