The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-11-16


The Overwhelming Republican victory in
the recent election has received different
interpretations, but there is one it will not
bear 1t has been variously construed as a
population of free silver, as an indorse-
ment of the administration Philippine
policy, as a condemnation of the sham issue
of imperialism. as an approval of protec-
ton and the full dinner pail, as repudia-
ton of Organism. etc. To some extent IL
will bear each and all of these interpreta-
tons. but the one it will not bear is that of
giving the Republicans free hand or unre-
stricted power to indulge in wild or extrav-
agant legislation. A vote of confidence is
very far from being vote of license. The
victory was so much more decided and
emphatic than the Republicans expected,
including even a considerable addition to
the Republican majority in the House,
which. it was feared, might be reduced, or
even wiped out, that there is some danger
of their forgetting that their responsibility
TO the people is just as great and the duty
of careful legislation just binding as il
they had only won by the smallest possible
margin.
One of the highest duties of the new
Congress and of the coming session of the
old one will be to avoid extravagant legis-
lation for new objects and to hold the APP
preparations for the necessary expenses of
compatible with efficient administration.
The Republican party has done many great
and good things for tine country, but 1t
has not earned right to be reckless or ex-
travagant in public expenditures. What
ever other merits or claims to public conf
dence a party may have it can never be
absolved from the duty of economy in the
administration of public affairs and the
disbursement of the peoples money. The
fact that we are a great and rich people
and that the government revenues flow In
a stream of ever-increasing volume should
not cause any one to forget that every dol
lar of the vast revenue is the result of
taxation and comes out of the pockets of
the people. 1t may come with comparative
ease and be paid without immediate pro-
pockets. and if wastefully or unwisely dis
bursed the protest will surely come. The
party never existed and never will exist
that dares TO ignore the duty of economy in
public administration or to brave vote of
popular censure BY reckless disbursement
of public funds. II the recent unprece-
dented victory should have the effect of
making Republicans forget their duty in
this respect it may prove curse instead
of blessing.
In the current discussion regarding the
probable legislation of the next Congress
there are words of approval for various
schemes involving large outlay of money
and a great addition to the already enor-
nous appropriations. No Republican has
yet spoken a word in favor of reducing
warning has been raised against the fatal
error of constituting the recent victory as
popular license to the Republican party to
do as ii peases in the matter of costly
legislation and increased expenditures. Not
"a word has yet been spoken in favor of re-
ducing the necessary expenses of the gov
eminent. of arresting the seemingly end
less increase of appropriations, of barring
the way against new and unnecessary ex-
penditures. Every measure that is proposed
has its friends and every new scheme its
supporters. The friends of retrenchment
and economy have not yet been heard from.
1t must not be forgotten that We have re-
Gently come through a war which. though
less entailed heavy expenditures on the
government. 1t must not be forgotten that
the suppression of the rebellion in the Phil
ippines is costing a great deal of money.
and that the work of pacifying Cuba and
laying the foundations OF free government
there must be paid for out of our own
pockets. These extraordinary expenses,
with the ordinary ones of the government.
make already an enormous aggregate, and
ii the Republican party is wise it will en-
deavor to reduce instead of constituting the
recent election as license TO increase them.
The best rule of action for the next Con-
gress would be economy and retrenchment.
The present seems suitable time to enter
a plea for this policy and warning
against neglect of IT,