The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-02-27
PARTIsANs. NOT PATRIOTS.

In his speech in the Senate on Tuesday
Senator Teller repealed with much
warmth the insinuation that he and
other so-called Republican Senators who
refuse to vote for tariff bilr without a
free silver amendment attached are not
true Republicans. He entered his pro-
test against such an insinuation and as
serted the right OF the silver Senators to
discuss the question mot from a parti-
san standpoint. but from the standpoint
OF American Senator'S charged with great
interests" This sounds very well. but
what are the facts?
For nearly three years past the reve-
nues OF the government have fallen far
short of Its ordinary expenditures. Dur
ing the fiscal year ended June 80. 1894.
the deficit was 500. 500. 900; during the
fiscal year ended June 80. 1895. 1t was
s42. 100000. and during the present fiscal
year 1t will be at least $30,O0o,00O unless
this Congress does something to increase
the revenues. No government can stand
that sort of thing. 1t would be bad
enough to exist for one year, but its con-
tinuance for a series of years Is disgrace
full. The test of the stability and credit
of a government is whether il can and
does raise sufficient revenue to meet its
expenditures That Is almost test of
the right of a government to exist and
Of a people to be called civilized. Among
the leading nations of the world the
United States is the only one whose reve-
nues do not equal its expenditures. in
Great Britain the revenues last year
were $50, 1895, 900 sterling. and the expendi-
lures f90,375. 900. In France the revenues
were $780, 100000 francs and the expendi-
lures 3.S6S 100000. In Germany the reve-
nues exceeded the expenditures by a
small sum. In Russia the revenues were
1920. 900. 900 roubles and the expenditures
1000, 600, 900. Poor old Spain. bankrupt as
IL Is. collected revenues in excess of ex-
penditures until the Cuban war began.
Even Mexico had small surplus last
year. the revenues being s43,074. 053 and
the expenditures $43.054. O0O The United
States stands alone among the nations
conspicuous at once for it's wealth and
its poverty. the richest government on
earth and the poorest, a country fairly
bursting with wealtht full of resources,
with an enterprisng, Industrious and pa
triotic people, yet the expenditures OF
the government exceeding its revenues
at the rate of $50, 900 900 to $40. OO0.O 900
year and the government issuing bonds
and borrowing money at interest to meet
current expenses.
In this situation a bill was passed by
the House early in the session imposing
certain tariff duties which would increase
the revenues $40.000.000 1t was a relief
bill, designed to rescue the government
from the disgraceful position of being
the only civilized government in the
world which for three consecutive years
has failed to raise revenue enough to
meet it's ordinary expenditures. The bill
passed the House Dec 26, and was sent
to the Senate without delay, there TO be
killed by the silver obstructionists. If
Senators had had a proper sense of duty
to the country, if they had been actuated
crnment the bill could have been passed
in twenty-four hours after reaching that
body. Even allowing for the dilatory
methods of the Senate, ii could easily
have been passed in week. It was
not passed at all, and has been finally
killed by few so-called Republican Sem
ators who, from the moment the bill
reached the Senate to the present time.
have blocked the way and refused 10 al
low it to be taken up without free
silver amendment. Their ultimatum has
been free silver and their position that
or nothing. They have said unless we
can have free silver the government shall
have no relief and the monthly and
yearly deficits shall continue. With this
club they have finally killed bill which,
besides adding 100000 to the revenues.
would have afforded needed protection to
important industries. On them rests the
responsibility of forcing the United
States to continue in the unique and
humiliating position OF being the only
civilized nation on earth whose expendi-
lures largely exceed it's revenues. and
of advertising the American Congress to
the world as unwilling to do anything
for the relief Of the government unless
the relief be coupled with bill to
cheaper and debauch the currency.
These men are partisans. not patriots.
They are politicians. not statesmen.
They are the representatives of class.
not of people. They haye shown them
selves unfit to be intrusted with the duty
of legislating for great country and
a proud people. sensitive of their credit
and honor, willing to pay taxes for the
sunport of their government, and with
traditional horror of piling up debt. IL
matters little what party name these
Senators assume or discard. they are
partisans not patriots.
. poor SORT OF REPUBLICANS.