The Tupelo journal., 1904-09-30

that the order was made to create an
a strong strategic position in the bat
tie Of the ballots. But as the making
of that order was. in my Judgment, an
encroachment upon the legislative power.
and, therefore. unwarranted by the
constitution, the challenge is accepted:
II elected, will revoke thhaa that order. ,a But
done, | will contribute my effort toward
the enactment of a law to be passed by
both houses of congress and approved by
the executive that will give an age pen
sion without reference to disability to the
surviving heroes Of the civil war: and
under the provisions of which a pension
may be accepted with dignity because OF
the consciousness that it comes as a just
due from the people through their chosen
representatives, and not as largess dis-
tributed by the chief executive,
Reform in Governmental Expend1-
lures.
Twenty eight years have passed since
the democratic party of the state OF
New York in convention assembled, recon-
mended to the national democracy the
n~omination Of Samuel j Tilden as its can.
didate for the presidency, and declared 1t
to be their settled conviction that a re-
turn to the constitutional principles, Iru-
gal expenses and administrative purity
of the founders of the republic is the hrst
and most imperious duty of the times-the
commanding issue now before the people
of the union This strong expression was
cdIltu lOftU ny tLC AttHOAia
for the year 1875, which amounted to VIA
900, 0O0-a situation which. in the opinion
of a majority of our people, Justihed an
imperative demand for reform in the ad-
| ministration of public affairs. AS the eX-
penditures of the last fiscal year amount
ed to the enormous total of $5S2,0OO .OU, II
is evident that a thorough investigation
Of the public service and the immediate
abandonment of useless and extravagant
expenditures are more necessary now ]hah
they were then. This astoundlng m
oraa SO de- ont IF oil nrOnOrtj0n 70 the IN
| crease of our population, and mas no
| excuse from whatever aspect we view the
situation. The national democratic pat
form declares that large reductions can
| easily be made in the annual expenditures
of the government without impairing the
efficiency Of any branch of the pubic serV-
ice Can there be any doubt OF the accu-
racy of this statement? Between the tx.
| penditures of the year 1886. amounting to
S242, 900, 900. and those of the last fiscal year
the seventh after Grover Cleveland
ceased to be president-aggregating $751;
900, 900, there is a difference so great as
to excite alarm in the breasts of all
thoughtful men. Even excluding the sum
of $50, 600, 900 paid for the Panama canal
rights. and to the state of Panama, TIE
expenditures of the last fiscal year exceed
ed the sum of 1922, 600, 900, being more than
| double the expenditures of the government
for all purposes during the first year or
Mr.. Cleveland's administration.
9Th expenses of the first four years sue
ceeding the last democratic administra-
ton amounted to the enormous average
of SSH 900. 900 per year. This large eX-
penditure was due to Il considerable ex-
tent to the cost of the S~panish-Amerlcan
war. which occurred during that period;
| lot the termination of that war brought
no relief to the treasury, for the average
annual expenses of the government, dur
ing the three subsequent years ending June
| 80, 1904, were about $519, 900, 900, which is
the largest sum hitherto reached during
a like period, since the close OF the civil
This draft upon the revenues of the
| country has had the effect which might
have been anticipated, and now We nave
| presented the reverse of the situation,
| which led to the famous Observations: 1t
is a condition, and not a theory, which
confronts u.s. for, although the present
incumbent found at the close OF the first
fiscal year, during which he assumed con-
troll of the administration, a surplus OF
receipts over expenditures of more than
sol 900, 900, there was an excess OF expend-
lures over receipts at the close of the last
fiscal year of s42, 600, 900, and the official
monthly reports made by the treasury de-
partment show that the expenditures are
| continuously and rapidly increasing, while
the receipts are diminishing.
I'm this connection it is interesting to
note the recent administrative orders
~forbidding government officers from
making public any statement of esti-
mates on which future appropriations
are to be based.
prudence should find in the operating ex-
penses of his business such a tremendous
percentage of increase. would he not
promptly set on foot an inquiry for the
cause of the waste, and take immediate
measures to stop it, especially when
trusted employees have been found dis
impression exists that a thorough inves-
tigation may discover other cases OF
malfeasance? When the chief executive
reported to congress that, through
frauds, forgeries and ~perjuries. and by
shameless briberies, the laws relating to
the proper conduct of the public service
of the post office department have been
VIGOROUSLY violated 3 " q there was
a general popular demand for a rigid.
sweeping. Investigation by congress. In
addition to that undertaken by the execu-
tive himself. Such an investigation the
republican majority in congress would
not permit, although the minority in
sisted that the interests of good govern
was right. The liberality. patriot
ism and national pride of the people
should not be made an excuse for waste
of the public funds. Official extravaganza
is official crime.
There is not a sentence in the repub-
lican platform recommending a reduc-
ton in the expenditures of the govern
ment: not a line suggesting that the in
crease in the cost Of the war department
should be inquired into: and not a para
graph calling for a thorough investiga-
ton of those departments of the govern
ment in which dishonesty has been re-.
Gently disclosed. !
Reform in expenditures must be had
in both the civil, military and naval es-
adjustments in order that the national
expenditures may be brought to a basis
of peace and the government maintained
without recourse to the taxes of war
Conclusion.
Among other things which are touched
upon in the letter is the democratic pledge
to secure to all citizens equal protection
abroad. The need of careful diplomacy
in the management of the foreign relations
of the government, and the democratic
pledge to administer this department or
the government in conformity with the
principles laid down by Washington The
need of legislation in aid of American ship
ping, so that 1t may again be commenSu-
rate with American commercial interests.
He pledges the democratic party to a
wise and careful administration of the ma
of the arid lands Of the west, and in con-
clusion, says:
1.-THE issues are Joined and the people
must render the verdict.
''Shall economy. Of administration be de-
manded, or shall extravaganza be encour-
aged?
by the people, or must justice walt upon
political oligarchy?
"Shall our government stand for equal
opportunity, or for special privilege?
"Shall 1t remain a government OF law,
ar become one of Individual caprice?
"Shall we cling to the rule of the peo-
ple. or shall we embrace beneficent des-
potism?
undertake the duties of the presidency, I
pledge myself, with Gods help. to devote
ali my powers and energy to the duties OF
this exalted office. Very truly yours,