The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1895-12-20
Mr.. Carlisle's Version.

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awaiting the report of the secretary
of the treasury as the state paper
that, in view of the existing condi-
tons, has been considered as next
to the message in Importance. The
people have wanted to hear from
the head of the treasury department
an authoritative statement of the
real condition of our national finan
ces, the true reasons for the scarcity
of cash in the government strong box
and the prospects for the future un-
der the existing revenue laws.
The American people, regardless
of partisan bias, many of them, came
to look upon John @. Carlisle, while
he was so commanding parsonage
in the halls of congress, as a leader
of more than average ability, as a
man of versatile resources and force
ful originality. To such the course
of Mr.. Carlisle in the cabinet has
been sad SCATTERING of political
idol and a revelation of the weakness
of humanity. While the secretary is
doubtless man of great originative
ability as legislator, he has shown
himself to be devoid of executive
force and financial acumen, and.
while attempting to direct affairs in
a department Of the government
for which his previous training had
not specially fitted him and con-
corning the details of which he was
ignorant, because OF no previous
opportunity for becoming wise, he
has descended to the plane of a
mere imitator - an echo of the
financial ideas of the great 81 ann
of the democratic party who &C.
cupies the presidential chair.
AS was foretold by those who have
closely watched the course of MIR.
Carlisle as secretary of the treasury,
his report and recommendations are
merely an elaboration of the presi-
dents financial views as expounded
in the message, put in clearer and
more concise language, that is in
marked contrast to the ponderous
English of the president-and there
the contrast ends.
The secretary says there was a
deficit of S42,S05,223 last year and
estimates deficit of $17,000,000
this year. But with profound
faith in the optimistic doctrine
that "whatever is, is right" he
predicts surplus of 100000
for the fiscal year ending June 80,
~. However, no arguments advanc-
ed, no data are produced as basis
for such conclusion, and the nat
ural verdict of the people upon the
roseate statement will be that the
prediction of a surplus from the
revenue law that has amassed def
ciencies at such an alarming rate
and which has forced an increase OF
the public debt by $lS0,000,000 and
more, is but an idle dream in the mind
of one with whom the wish is father
to the thought. The only ground
upon which such prophecy
could well be based would be thai
there is in prospect general re-
vival of business and a consequent
increase of importations. This the
DRY is completely knocked out by
reference to statistics of imports
however, as in 1898, the year of the
big deficit, the imports amounted tc
1886, AGO. 1922, which was $40,000,00(
more than the imports of 1892, s22,
100000 more than the imports o
1891, $77,000,000 more than The
imports of 1890, $121, 100000 NOR,
the imports 1889, and s143,0O0,OO(
more than the imports of 1888. So
it is clearly to be seen that reduc
ton in imports is not what has Great
ed the deficit, but rather a reduc
ton of duty on the good,
imported. Then, again, in 1894, i'm
ports fell off TO 1864, 994,022 =
which would not seem to tenC
towards very rapid increase Of rev
enue, as promised by Mr.. Carlisle.
Concerning the actual cash con
dition of the treasury, the secretary
says: "The cash balance in tn,
treasury Dec. l, 1895, was sly,