The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1895-12-28
SILENT ON THE REVENUE.
Tho Presidents Message Avoided tho Mest
Important Point.

At the time of the enactment OF the
Wilson-Gorman tariff law now in force,
President Cleveland denounced IL as al
together unsatisfactory, and as inyoly-
ing party perhdy and party dishonor."
In the message recently read TO congress
he applauds that tariff as positively BEN
eficent.
The present tariff has been in opera
ton for period of 10 months. Invent
into effect under exceptionally fayora-
BILE conditions. In the expectation of
large reductions OF duties under the
new law, merchants had imported only
such amount of dutinble goods MS were
absolutely necessary, and the result
was that when the Wilson-Gorman act
became law there were enormous inn,
portations, and, according to the prom
ises of its trainers, there ought TO have
been n great increase in customs re-
ceipts. But instead of this there was
falling off i'm revenue. Under the first
IS months of the Mckinley law the re-
ceipts were s45l 200. POI, and under the
last Is months, $500, G61,500, while dur
ing the same period under the present
law the receipts were $373, 6,64S.
There have been only two months In the
entire history of this law in which il
did not produce regular monthly def
cit. The total deficit. including both
internal revenue and customs receipts.
has been approximately, $72,000,o00.
This is the result of law which Mr..
Cleveland commends in contrast with
the Mckinley law. which produced not
only sufficient revenue to meet all the
expenses of the government, but also a
handsome surplus.
The expenditures of the government
under the present administration have
exceeded the receipts by $127.027.254.
During the same period the bonded in
dcbtedness has been increased by Si62.-
315.400. ostensibly for tho purpose OF
preserving the greenback redemption
fund. The estimated expenditures sub
mitted in the annual book of estimates
for 1897 show an increase over the esti-
mates for 1896 of more than $4,000, 900,
and nearly SCI, 100000 over the appro-
priations made by the last congress for
the current year. The supreme ques-
ton OF the hour Is as 10 how the grave
financial emergency thus presented
shall be met-how revenue adequate 10
the needs of the government shall be
provided? But as 20 this matter OF
dominant national concern Mr.. Cleve-
land makes no suggestion whatever.
From the beginning TO the end OF his
message not one word of recommenda-
ton is offered concerning IL.
But amazing as this omission on the
part OF the president certainly is, IL Is
not more astonishing than his refusal
to recognize plain and obvious facts
when they conflict with mis- personal
opinions. Thus, in face Of the figures
showing that the Mckinley tariff pro-
duced ample revenue for all the pur-
poses OF government, he declares that IL
was inefficient" for that purpose.
Then. with the same persistent con-
tempt OF the truth of history, he
charges all the industrial depression
and distress, the monetary derange-
ments and the embnrrassments OF the
treasury. OF the last two years or more.
60 the grecnbncks and treasury notesl
IL has often been claimed for Mr.. Cleve-
land that he is man OF courage. IL
obstinate adherence TO opinions which
have nothing in reason or fact TO sup
port them Is an evidence of courageous
character, then the presidents intrep-
idity Is undoubted. But 20 most people
his treatment of the financial and i'm
dustrinl questions viii, we suspect. be
regarded as neither honest nor coura-
geous. IL displays rather the audacity
OF the arrogant and headstrong man
who believes hlmselfto be the one wise
man ia all the world.-LesIie's Weekly.
ryThc bclntcd and disappointing re-
port of the secretary OF the treasury
shows perfect accord between Mr.. Car
Isle and President Cleveland. not only
as 90 the ills that afllict the treasury
but also as 20 the final and only CONF
plete remedy for them. The secretary
also uphoIds the president in the asscr-
ton that spasmodic and mcnacing ex-
haustion OF the gold reserve Is not duo
TO decline In income from customs re-
ccipts or any other source, and he main
tains that. although there will be def
icit OF $1,000, 900 for the current fscnl
year, next year there will be a surplus
OF nearly S7,0O0.00o. Unfortunately.
Mr.. CnrlIsle's sanguIns former prophecy
on this head has not been ful1lled<-
ChicnQo Timcs-iierald.