Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1894-10-13

power the beneficiaries OF four wears
OF wise and economical administra-
ton of the government. Business
conditions were favorable, the coun-
try was prosperous, and the annual
revenues were little less than one
hundred million dollars in excess OF
its expenditures. The question then
was: "What shall we do with the
surplus?" All this was the result of
the able and economical policy and
methods Of President Cleveland and
his political associates in cabinet and
in congress. Four years later, when
the republicans retired from place
and power. they left no such vexa-
tious question as "What shall be
done with the surplus" to torment
the incoming democratic administra-
ton. Had the republican admins
tration continued month longer,
the necessity for issuing bonds in
order to meet the current expenses
OF the government would have been
imperative. There could have been
no possible escape from it. AS it
was, the evil day was only tided over
by postponing the payment of ma
tured governmental obligations. The
present chairman of the committee
of ways and means of the house of
representatives has publicly made
the statement that the last republi-
can secretary of the treasury stated
to that committee just prior to the
close of the Harrison administration
that an additional income of fifty
million dollars year was a neces-
sity. The republican party at the in
auguration of President Harrison was
the heir to all that President Cleve-
land and his party had achieved dur
ing four years of successful admins
tration. They found business condi-
tions everywhere favorable, the
treasury Overlooking, the country
prosperous. Four years later, on the
fourth OF March, 1898, the republic
can administration retired from
power, leaving depleted treasury,
governmental obligations undis-
charged. and the country upon the
verge of bankruptcy.
The all-important question now
arises, what was the cause of this?
Why surplus revenues and business
prosperity at the close of the demo-
cratic administration. and bankrupt
treasury and the country staggering
upon the verge of financial ruin four
years later, when the Harrison ad-
ministration retired from power? 1t
was the logical, the inevitable result
~ ha - Ill
tariff law, i law that will take its
place in history as the browning act
of 1.-the billion dollar congress" both
branches of which were I'M
der republican control. The
Mckinley law increased tariff taxes
upon the necessaries of life to a
point far beyond the highest rate
hitherto known to our history. In
its effect upon foreign importations,
it WAS. in n large measure. prohib-
itory tariff. The intention of its au-
thors was to give the market to the
home manufacturer and allow him.
at his own sweet will. to increase to
| the consumer. the cost of all the
necessaries OF life. How was this to be
accomplished? Simply by so increas-
ing the tariff tax As in MANY in
stances to absolutely prevent foreign
competition. The Mckinley law not
only largely increased to The con-
sumner the cost of all articles that
enter into daily consumption. but il
deprived the government Of revenues
absolutely necessary to meet the
daily and hourly expenses of the gov
eminent. The importations being
cut off. Of necessity. the revenues
were cut off. Is it to be wondered
then. that under the operation of the
Mckinley law, the surplus left by
the Cleveland administration disap
peared and deficit threatened our
national treasury Thus. the inev.
liable effect of the Mckinley law
was. first. to increase to the pur.
chaser the cost of his goods, and in
the second place, to deprive the gov
eminent of revenues absolutely nee
essary to meet its current expenses
Therefore, it is not difficult to under
stand why it was that the heritage
of the second administration of Pres
ident Cleveland from its re
publican predecessor was a de
leted treasury. 1t must not
be forgotten, that one provision
of the Mckinley law required the an
nual payment of bounty to the
sugar planters for long term o
years. This bounty exceeded in it:
aggregate for the last fiscal year the
enormous sum of $4,000. 900. The
enormity of this legislation has al
the ballot box received the unmis.
taxable condemnation of the Amer
lean peope.
Earnestly Devoted to Their Task.
After thus giving in review some
thing of the conditions that con
fronted the incoming democratic ad
ministration March 4, 1898, and the
ill-advised legislation that was re
sponsible for it, Mr.. Stevenson said
it could not be forgotten how earn
estly President Cleveland and his pc
litical associates addressed themselve
to the task of making good their prom
Uses to reduce taxation, nor can bt
lfnrpOtten the to condition,