The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1896-02-27
Catching Birds with Chat.
No. 3.

Die IN the nanQS OF the people, ana nence
we demand that all State and national
revenues shall be limited to the necessary
expenses of the government, economically
and honestly administered. So reads the
fifth plank of the Populist platform. Men
have different ideas of economy. What
would appear as good management to
some men might look like the height of
folly to others. For instance, | stood in
one of the stores in one of our Maine
cities short time since, and within ten
minutes of each other, two men entered to
buy one half of ten cent plug of tobacco
and get trusted for it. Each of those men
were practicing what they supposed to be
economy, but what was in reality the
worst kind of wastefulness. Unable to
pay for what was, to them, a luxury, econ
omy would have said. go without it until
you are able to buy and pay. Whether
these men were Populists or not, did not
learn, but the illustration holds good and
we'll shows what some mems idea of good
management is
Individual ideas of economy are not more
at variance than are the ideas of political
parties on the same subject. Democratic
economy has become so we'll known in it's
workings and its after effects that it needs
but little comment. When the first Cleve-
land administration went into power. they
found prosperous country and a surplus
in the national treasury. 1t was one of
their ideas that the money of the country
belonged to the people, and hence the sur
plus must be got rid of in some way, and
it must not be allowed to accumulate
again. They succeeded so we'll in their
work that it was said of the surplus, as it
was of the highway tax in a certain town,
in regard to which the annual report of
the town officers read ''We raised such
sum for the support of schools and it has
been expended so and so; we raised a sum
| for support of poor and it has been used
for such and such purposes; we raised so
much for the repair of highways and God
only knows what has become it, That
|
Republican economy has been the re-
verse of this 1t has said in practice that
the people are the government and what
keeps the government secure keeps the
| people secure likewise. Acting upon the
principle that something held in reserve
is always mark of power, they have
| looked upon a surplus of moderate size as
an advantage and not menace. But |
do not intend to make comparison be-
tween the two old parties; their records
will speak for themselves. | have men
toned the above fact simply to show the
difference which may exist between par
ties, each Of which claim to be economical.
What is economy, as applied to the af-
fairs of government? If the money of the
country belongs to the people, how is it
best used for the benefit of the people?
1t will be admitted by all, that whatever
is paid out by the government for public
buildings, Improvements of waterways,
army and navy supplies, life saving SER
vice, pensions, ETC., goes directly into the
hands of the people. Hence, the more
government pays out for these services,
the more it benefits itself and the people
National economy demands, then, that we
should have sufficient revenue to meet all
necessary expenses, and at the same time,
have sufficient surplus for national i'm
provement
The larger our national income the
more economical we may be as a Nation.
A large income does not of itself mean
economy but it provides the means with
which the government may make econom-
ical appropriations What do the Popu-
lists mean by the necessary expenses of
the government? Putting two and two
together and calling the sum four, and not
five as some political schemers would have
us do, it will be readily seen that there is
a great deal of uncertainty in this matter
as presented by the Populists. As only
definite and well defined ideas are of value
in any political party, it will appear to the
reader as If another load of chaff had been
offered to the voters of the country in the
shape of the plank which l have quoted
at the opening of this paper. AS subse-
quent demands are taken up and impair
TALLY dissected, it will also appear that a
limited revenue, be it great or small, is
not consistent with the party platform.
In a measure, it is contradictory of their
first demand. For a national currency
issued by government directly to the peo-
pie, at the peoples demand, at two per
cent. interest rate, would of necessity be-
come an unlimited volume. Unlimited
until the crash came-when it did come it
would leave the people with plenty of cur
rency but no government behind it. And
national currency, as such, is worthless
without Nation behind it. While the
people are not told what the Populists
idea of necessary expenses may be, they
are left as much in the dark as regards an
economical administration.
The burden of proof rests upon the
Peoples party. AS an advocate of new
| ~;