The Progress. (Shreveport, La.) 1892-1900, 1897-03-06
THE PROGRESS

eo clIlzens CT both parties, who will
command public confidence, both On
account Of their ability and special ft-
ness for the work. Business experi-
ence and public training may thus be
combined and the patriotic zeal of the
friends OF the country be so directed
that such q report will be made as to
receive the support Of all parties and
our finances cease to be the subject OF
mere partisan ocnten tion. The expe-
riment is. at all events, worthy q trial
and in my opinion. 1t can but prove
beneficial to the entire country.
The question OF international bimet-
allism will have early and earnest at
tention. 1t will be my constant en-
deavor to secure it by co-oneratfon
with the other great commercial DOW
ers Of the world. Until that condition
Is realized when the parity between on,
gold and silver money springs from
and is supported by the relative value
OF the two metals, the value of the sii-
Yer already coined and OF that which
may hereafter be coined. must be kent
constantly at par with gold by every
resource ut our command The credit
OF the government, the integrity OF it's
currency and inviolability Of it's obi
cations must be preserved This was
the commanding verdict OF the people
and it will net be .unheeded- -.
Economy is demanded In every
branch OF the government at all times
but especially In periods like the pres.
end or depression In business and dds
tTess among the people The severest
economy must be observed in all pub
liz expenditures, and extravaEance
stopped wherever 1t Is found, and nre-
vented wherever In the future It NAV
be developed. If the revenues are to
remain as now. the only relief that cam
come must be from decreased expem-
ditnres. But the present must not be-
come the permanent condition OF the
government. It has been our uniform
practice to retire. net increase our out
standing obligations, and this policy
must again be resumed and vigorously
enforced. Our revenues should always
be large enough to meet with ease and
pIomptness not only our current needs
and the principal and interest OF the
public debt, but to make proper and
liberal provision for the most deserving
body OF public creditors, the soldiers
md sailors and the widows and or
phans who are the pensioners OF the
United States.
The government should not be per-
mitted to run behind or increase TT
debt in times like the present. Sufta-
bic to provide against this is the man
date CT duty; tho certain and easy rem
edy for most OF our financial difficult
ties. A deficiency Is inevitable so long
as the expenditures of the government
exceed Its receipts. 1t can only be met
by loans or an increased revenue.
While large annual surplus Of reve-
nue may invite waste and extrava-
gance. inadequate revenue creates die
trust and undeIWinsS public and and
private credit. Neither should be en-
couraged. Between more leans and
mere revenue there ought to be but one
opinion. We should have more reve-
nue. and that without delay, hindrance
or postpcnement A surplus In the
treasury created by loans Is not a per-
manent or safe reliance It will suf-
fee while It lasts. but II cannot last
long while the OUTLAWS OF the govern
ment are greater than IT'S receipts. as
has been the case during the past two
years Nor must It be forgotten that
however much such loans may tempo
rarily relieve the situation, the govern
ment Is still Indebted for the amount Of
surplus thus eccrued which II must ul-
timately pay while IT'S ability TO pay
Is net StreHgt hened but weakened by a