The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1904-10-07
REVIEWS PARTY ERRORS.
REPUBLICANS OoNDE,sNED IN
LETTER OF ACCEPTANCE.
Vice Presidential Candidate Shows
How the Expenses of the Govern
ment Have Increased-Fraud i'm
the Public Seruce-High Tariff
Fosters the Oppressive Trusts.

1oDhc ScFssce-H1gn 1arfH
Fosters the Oppressive Trusts.
tlkins, w. Va, October 1.-The letter
OF acceptance of Henry G. Davis. Dam
ocratic candidate for vice President.
was given to the press today. II fol-
lows:
Elkins. W. Va. October 3, 1904.
Hon John Sharp Williams, Chairman
and Other Members Of the Committee.
Dear Sirs: In accordance with GUS
tom and my promise wnen notified by
your committee AT White Sulphur
Springs, on August II. Of my nomina-
uon for the office Of Vice President. /
submit the following observations upon
some OF the questions now before the
country.
TIMES PROPITTOUS FOR a
CHANGE.
The times are propitious for the rein
statement OF the Democratic party in
control of the government. The public
mind is being disillusioned of tine pre-
tension of the Republican party. so long
and so arrogantly made, that the mate
rial prosperity Of the country depends
upon it's own ascendancy. Thoughtful
and patriotic people are becoming more
and more d~isIrustful of the heady and
personal element OF the present aG-
m~iufstration, and are more than willing
to see it replaced by one that better
recognizes constitutional and other law
full restraints. They demand hat the
present wasteful extravaganza in the
expenditure of the money, drawn by
taxation from the industry Of the peo-
pie, shall cease, and that conCmy and
honesty in the public service shall be
again regarded as virtues in the high
places of the government.
EXPENSES OF GOVERNMENT.
The expenditures per capita of the
government are increasing at an alarm
ing rate. When the present admins
tration went into power there was a
large surplus, but notwithstanding the
enormous taxation, the revenues there
from are not now adequate to meet the
demands made by reckless appropria-
tions. The revenues fell short during
the last fiscal year, of over SAC, 000,0C
In the first sixty days of this fiscal
year the expenditures exceeded the re-
ceipts by $24, 600, 900, and if this rate Of
excess should continue, the deficit for
the present fiscal year would be. in the
neighbO-hood of $40, 000, 600. This need
less deficit is due to the extravaganza
of the administration, and can only be
met Oy imposing taxes or selling bonds,
thereby increasing the intereSI-Dearing
debt of the government. Which course
will the Republicans adopt? The cost
of government during the fiscal year
was $1.ti per capita, which means that
the average tax paid in some form or
another By every family of five persons
toward the Import Of the national ad-
miniStratiOn of public affairs was over
$50, which. in the case of w-age-earners,
is a considerable percentage of their
entire earnings for the year. No more
,~,n gs,@.,1I An +nl-ap f-ND tan nnnnf.
by taxation. direct or indirect, than is
necessary for the needs of a govern
ment economically administered. To
show the rapid growth of the cost OF
government it is only necessary to give
the total expenditures Ill the last fiscal
year of the following administrations:
Buchanan. 1860, $63. 900, 900. Per capita,
$2.01
Cleveland, 1892. ss45. 900. 900. Per a
tia. $50.
Roosevelt. 1904. s5s2, OOO. 900. Per capita,
STA.
THE ARMY.
In answer to criticisms upon the size
and expense of maintaining the army,
the President has aid hat the num-
Der of soldiers now is no greater per
capita tina in former times. But an
army then was necessary TO protect set
tiers from the Indians and TO do other
Jill uuI 1l INK ~ -
the country-conditions which do not
now exist. The army, however, has
greatly Increased IN cost, mucn faster
relatively than it has in numbers.
, The expenses were:
Under buchanan in 1S60....-.S 16, 800. 900
Under Hayes in 1SS0.......... 5000. 900
Under Roosevelt in 1904. ,Oeo
PANAMA.
We all hail as the h%arbinger of the
new era in the m of the world
the inception of the great work Of
building the canal that is to join the
two great oceans; but we deprecate the
action of the present administration,
which inflicted a wound upon our ma
tfonal honor by it's disregard of the
rights of a weaker nation. in order to
gain a doubtful credit for energy in
forwarding that great enterprise. Ter
ritory of a neighboring republlc With
which We are ait peace, was seized by
a band Of revolutioniSts, protected by
the guns o the United states navy n
erected into a state overnight, Whlcn
the President promptly as
an independent nation. A gross otense
against a friendly republic which it was
helpless to resent.
IMPERIALISM.
These and many other unwarranted
things that belonging more to
an empire than a republic,
hace occurred under the pres
ent administration, and brought deep
concern and alarm. to thoughtful n
patriotic minds. They must be regard
ed as the first fruits of Imperialism.
and show how fas we are drifting to-
ward absolutism and centralized power.
The effect of the imperialistic tendency
of the Republican party upon our for
eign affairs is in opposition to the teach
ings of the founders of the Republic,
and so impressed was Washington with
the Importance of keeping aloof from
the affairs of other nations, that in his
farewell address he warned his u
ryme especially against foreign en-
tangling alliances. Imperialism is hurt
full and adhorrent in a free government
and subversive Of free institutions. The
policy of imperialism-if it can b said
to have a policy-is always dangerous
TO liberty. It's powers are first exercis-
II in far off Territory and on cOpnuared