Daily Kennebec journal., 1894-06-07

Costly Education.

L
While the party in power is trying to
learn how to raise revenue the people are
learning what it costs to teach such a
party. The difference between actual
payments through clearing houses in this
country in February, 1898. the last month
OF President Harrison's administration.
and in February, 1894, the latest month OF
the first year Of President Cleveland's ad-
ministration, was 1871 ,0OO, 900, or about
dollar per day for every inhabitant of
the United States. In this aggregate,
however, are included settlements for
each of several transfers of important pro-
ducts between producers and consumers,
SO that the difference of s66, so, 900 per day
in actual payments does not mean that
the consumption or the profits of the peo-
pie decreased to that extent. Yet it indi-
Gates the proportion of shrinkage in the
business upon which profits are realized,
percentages calculated, and wages paid,
and out of these must come the living
and the gains of the people. If all
the gains, profits and earnings of the
pc ople aggregated $4,000, ,OOO 900 in
the last year of President Harrison's
administration, this 1,250 600, 900 per
| month was cut down in February about
$462 900, 900 by the shrinkage in business
The people either had to live more cheaply
to that extent, to save nothing, or to eat
up their past savings.
These large figures may help to some
comprehension of The cost Of educating a
Democratic party in the work of govern
ing. For its leaders candidly admit that
1t is making mess of it, but plead the
inexperience of Democrats for more than
80 years in the tasks and responsibilities
of power. Their education is worth some
thing But it is horribly expensive when
it cuts off in single month S462, ,O0O, 600,
or at the rate of IS, $40, 900, 900 in year,
from the gains. profits and earnings of
the people. The loss in one year is about
as much as the present tariff would take
from Americans and foreigners both in
about 81 years, at the rate of last years
revenue.
But there is no escap ing the loss 1t is
painfully real, and to many almost be-
yond endurance, though it was not as
large in previous months as in Febru-
ary. About quarter of the nations bus
iness was stopped in August, 81 per cent
in September. little over a quarter in
October and November, about third in
December and January and over a third
In February, so that in the seven months
the actual payments to clearing houses
have been s26, ,3l9 600, 600, against s37, ,4Ol,-
b00 600 for the same months of the preced-
ing year-a decrease of 81, 49,, ,000, ,0O0
Roughly, a quarter of this sum may be
considered the earnings, profits and gains
of the people, so that their loss in seven
months has been about &, 800, ,00O, 900. 1t
has actually cost the country in seven
months about as much as the Mckinley
tariff would have raised if uninterrupted,
in IA years like the last year of prosperity.
But the schooling is not yet finished, and
the senators appear to be- such slow stu
dents that it may take some months more
of costly education before any tariff bill
can be passed. ----.-.-.---..-
After that the people will have to pay
the cost of the bill itself, which is quite
another matter. If it stops half the tex
tile industries, for instance, it cuts off
more than $3.50. 900 year; if half the
iron industry, about $500, 900, 900 more; and
If these and others are thus reduced, the
farmers will find fewer people to whom
they can sell farm and garden produce, so
that their gains will also be reduced, no
one can sag now much. III mlghC De
good thing to buy from Europe at low
prices. it every American had his private
gold mine and had only to dig some ore
to pay for what he wanted. But if he
has to earn the money, someone must pay
him the wages, and somebody else must
be able to buy what he produces. 1t is
simple lesson, but the senate has not
mastered it yet, though tuition cost the
people at present about S4G2, 100000 a
month.-[New York Tribune.