New-York tribune., 1895-02-12
UHIT DEMOCRACY COSTS.

"Democracy Is too expensive for me. SAID II
sensible worker But who can tell how OK
ncnsiyc? What has been the cost of Demo
cratic victory so far: The average price Of rail-
road stocks has declined SIS per share since
January 1S93. or about 81 OOO, 100000. and bonds
probaby half as much more The shrinkage III
that kind Of property. not far from Skin OF
all tbe propcrty Of the country. has been moro
than n nuarter Of its former value but has other
property shrunk in like proportion? Wages
have fallen 2111 per cent, and the aggregate
SIM paid yearly in 1892 was about SlO'oW,om.-
ooo Rut two years OF such loss have meant To
,bc woec.carners no loss than M,350,0W,O0.
During years of prosperity the deposits III
savings banks were increasing nj the rate of
about S9ODOO00 yearly for 4."o.0oo d'positors,
and nj the same rate the savings OF MI wage
earncrs would be not far from SiS''N"Wo year
Is. bur for the last two years there nave pcch
N the savings banks losses instead Of gains, e1-
ccpt for interest on previous deposits.
These items only give some glimpse ~ Inc
enormous losses sustained The entire addition
to the wealth of the country two years ago was
more than 81 2JOOOoOOo yearly. bnt there i
every reason Ia believe that since that time
There has been 10 addition. but large actual
decrease In other rs we'll as railroad properly.
Certain II * that S2J~n0O000n does not meas
ure nearly the whole Of the loss in actual value
of property during two years. while the sum
distributed in wages has decreased much more.
A rough estimate ~ the entire decrease IN pro-
duction of wealth can he drawn from the record
Of PAYMENTS through all clearing houses. which
bear about the same proportion each year To the
pro,ucilon. In III, twelve months preceding
President Clcyeland's inauguration these pay
mcuis were So 4i9. 100000 in twelve months
after they were $50 $50 600 900 and in the
Twelve months which will end March the aggre-
gate will be- about SiG.WU.VO0.Ooo. II these sums
were about five times the actual production, the
aggregate for the two years nearly ended would
b. SI93lGoOOOO0 while for two years Ike lS32
IL would hc $25.0J. .oOO.Wo. Il difference OF
S5cs+ OOoWO or s. si2OoOOOO yearly.
But III. National debt AZ its maximum. In
August 1860 was only 81 27GOW.OW. Demo
cratic rebellion was costly. and had created that
debt In four years but each year Of Democratic
government costs the people more Part of III"
decrease men will say is only In the prices OF
products" but that Is exactly where the shoe
pinchcs for the farmers. who have 10 sell %
ccnt wheat and rcent cotton. and wool 30 per
cent lower than two years ago. II brings home
to them not merely their fair share of the gen
eral loss. but considerably more, that they can
get no better returns for their labor and their
land and about half of The people In the coun-
try. IL must be- remembered depend directly
upon The prosperity Of The farmers. For the
rest of ,hc people. whose wages have fallen
nearly - per cent. the loss is tangible enough
if not relatively 50 great
II will have 10 be set down as an economic
fact of some consequence that Democratic
party In power cosis the country little more
than the entire National debt al lis biggest, or
In every year not far from $40 for every man.
woman aud child. According Ia the census. the
entire cost Of all forms Of government. National.
State county and city. was about Sl,Oio.OOo,-
o,O or less than 80 per capita. Oui Of 500 for
every person. the present loss and expense Of
government W. have 10 charge $40 to Demo
cratic fooshncss and the rest is the cost Of all
services rendered