The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1897-06-15
NO REMEDY FOR RULE AND RUIN

While it is altogether improbable
that any political party shall make the
reduction of the and most
unreasonable pension robbery a cam
paign issue, that does not make it I'M
necessary for The reduction to AXE
place. The way the pensions are multi
piled blythe republican party makes their
continuance a blot and a burden. The
war ended, except in the newspapers,
thirty-two years ago. Today there are
nearly 1000, 900 pensioners. and the ag-
gregate sum paid annually is SAG, 000,-
900, which is nearly five times more
than either President Grant or Presi-
dent Garfield favored. Great is the
sum, and ~burdensome as it is Upon the
people at large it will continue, and
ecaus the north so wills. The cost
of our navy, army and pensions is
equal to the entire expenditures annu-
ally of Russia and Germany for their
huge armies and navies. Think Of
that. In 1897, a model CD republic of
II, 600, 900 people, is paying for the war
business as much as the two great war
powers of Europe pay jointly for their
huge armament. But it must go on in
definitely for lack of courage, honesty,
sense. A helpless minority cannot
stop the flood Of expenditures. The
democrats are not yet awake to the
enormity of the tax and are not united
for real reform and ~retrenchment. The
Columbia (S. c. State says of the de-
testable pension outrage that it was
INSTITUTED at a time when the demo-
ratio party was not only in a help
less minority in congress-, but was ac-
tually under suspicion of too great ten
derness for the rebels and traitors
Of the SOUTH
We look in vain over our exchanges
to see any real appreciation of the vast
burdens resting upon the tax payers,
and to find any active advocacy of a
genuine and severe reduction. 1t is all
how to raise more taxes, and not a
word about reducing expenditures. If
this country were not given over to
corruption in all Observation-Disclosures
and state, and municipal-there would
be a rising up of the people for cut
ting down at every turn. We verify
believe that if the American govern
ment Was strictly fair and honest in
all departments that the extreme eX-
penditure for one year would be $780,
600, 900. Instead it is $525, 900, 900, and
with an upward tendency.
In the four years of President Buch-
anan's democratic administration the
entire expenditures did not exceed the
sum indicated-$3OO 900, 900. Think of
that. For four years honest democratic
economists carried on efficiently the
government at a cost but little more
than half what it costs for one year
now. 1t is most shameful, most OPP
pressive, most %ruinOus Honesty is
just what is lacking.
Our Columbia contemporary is ex-
actly correct in this:
Since that time the two parties have
Wed with each other in declarations of
their love for the soldiers and sailors
of the union and have hesitated not
to accede to every demand of the bum
mers and lobbyists who have consti-
tuted the leadership of the Grand
Army of the Republic. TN robbery
has proceeded with scarcely a single
remOnstrance. Southern members, re-
alizing the futility of objection, have
held their peace rather than place their
people in a false position and give a
preteXt for the waving of the bloody
, shirt. The raids on the treasury have
thus continued till the Ountry has
become unconscious of it's extent and
of the robbery involved.'
There is no remedy. There is no
turn in the very long lane. Extrava-
gance, incompetency, dishonesty, un-
trustworthiness rule the day and ruin
the land.