The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1904-09-15

the protective system. They cannot nt-
ford to trust the modification 70 those
who treat protection aud robbery as
SYNONYMOUS terms.
In closing what | have 10 say about
the system of promoting American i'm.
duStry let me add n word of cordial
agreement with tie policy of in some
way including within its benefits by
appropriate legislation the American
merchant marine II is not crelitabic
10 us as nation that our great export
and import trade should be well nigh
exclusively in the hahds of foreigners
The Army.
Ii is difficult To know If our oppo-
nentS are really sincere in their de-
mand for the reduction OF the army,
II msincere there is no need for com
mpnt. and if sincere what shall We
say in speaking 10 rational persons OF
an appeal To reduce an army of GO.O0o
men which is taking care of the inter
ests OF over S0,0ooOppeople: The army
is now relatively smaller than il was ia
the days OF Washington, when ON the
peace establishment there were 5000
soldiers. while there were Il little less
than four millions of population;
smaller than il WAS I'm the peaceful
days of Jefferson. when there were
1IOn soldiers 10 100000 population,
There is now one soldier to every LOO
people in this country, less than one
tenth of | per cent We cannot be
asked seriously 10 argue rs To tine
amount of possible tyranny contained
in these figures. The army is NOW
used as never before for aiding i'm the
upbuildiug of the organized milltin OF
the country. The war department is
engaged i'm q systematic effort To
strengthen and develop the national
guard in the several STATES. as witness
among many other Instances the great
held maneuyprs 40 Manassas, which
have lust closed. Ii our opponents
should como into power they could not
reduce our army below It's present size
without greatly impairing its efficiency
and abandoning part OF the national
duty. In short. in This matter il our
opponents Should come into power they
would either nave TO treat this partlcu-
lar promise OF the year 1904 as t5oy
now treat the promises they made in
lSgG ami 1900 that is, 0S possessing
no binding force or else they would
have 10 embark on a policy which
would be ludicrOus ut the moment and
fraught with srAve danger TO the ma
tional honor in the future.
Extravaganza Of the Government"
Our opponents contend that the gov
eminent is now administered eXtraya-
gantly aud that whereas there WAS "a
surplus of SSOOO0OUU IN 1907 there
is a deficit OF more than $40o0o,000'
in the year that has just closed.
This deficit is imaginary and is Oh
tanned by including in the ordinary eur
rent expenses the sum OF Sj0Oo0VOp
which was paid for the right of way
Of the Panama canal Out OF the ac-
cumulated surplus in the treasury.
Comparing the current or ordinary eN-
penditures FOR the two years there was
surplus of nearly eighty millions for
the year 1850 and Of only little more
than eight millions Tor the year that
has lust closed. But this diminutlOn Of
the annual surplus was brought about
deSignedly by the abolition of the war
taxes in the interval between the two
dates. Since the close of the war with
Spain there has been no substantial
change in the rate OF annual eNpcnCi.
lures. As compared with the fiscal
wear ending III June. 1901. for exam
pie. the fiscal year that has just closed
showed a relatively small increase in
expenditure Excluding the canal pay
ment already referred tor. while the
year previous showed relatively
small decrease.
The prime reason why the expenses
Of the government have increased of
recent years is to be found IN the fact
that the people after mature thought
have deemed il wise to have certain
new forms Of work for the public un
dertaken By the public. This necessl-
tates such expenditures. for instance
as those for rural free delivery or for
the inspection OF meats under the de-
partment of agriculture or for irrigh
ton. But these new expenditures aye
necessary. No one would seriously
propose 10 abandon them. And yet 1t
is idle to declaim against the increased
expense of the government unless 1t is
intended to cut down the very eXpend-
lures which cause the increase. DO
our opponents grudge the SJQ-O00,0OO
paid for the Panama canalF DO they
intend to cut down on the pensions TO
the veterans Of the civil war; DO they
intend TO put a stop to the irrigation
policy OF to the permanent census bu-
reau or 20 immigration Inspections Do
they intend to abolish rural free deliv-
cry? Do they intend TO cut down the
navy or the Alaskan telegraph system
10 they intend to dismantle our coast
Notifications? If there is 10 be real
and substantial cutting down in ma
tional expenditures it must be In such
matters as these. The department OF
agriculture has done service of meal
culable value to the farmers OF this
country in many different lines. Do
our opponents wish to cut down the
money for this service! They can do
il only by destroying the usefulness Of
the service itself.
The Philippines.
Our opponents promise independence
TO the Philippine Islands. Here again
we are confronted by their irreconcila-
bic differences OF opinion among them
selves. their proved inability to create
a constructive policy when in power
and their readiness for the sake Of
momentary political eXpediency 10
abandon the principles upon which they
have insisted az essential In their
platform they declare for independence
without qualification as to time, anf
indeed qualification as 10 time is an
-f..f-t