The Savannah morning news., 1904-09-26

tial, therefore, more than ever, to adj
here strictly to the traditional policy
of the country as formulated by its
first President and never, in my judg-
ment, wisely departed from--to invite
friendly relations with all nations
while avoiding entangling alliances
with any. Such a policy means the
cultivation of peace instead of the
glorification of war;, and the minding
of our own business in lieu of spec
tacular intermeddling with the affairs
OF other nations. 1t means strict OBJ
servance of the principles of internal
tional law and condemns the doctrine
that a great state, by reason of it's
strength, may rightfully appropriate
the sovereignty or territory of a small
state on account of its weakness. 1t
means for other American states that
we claim no rights and will assume
no functions save those of a friend
and of an ally and defender as against
European aggressions. 1t means that
we repudiate the role of the American
continental policeman; that we refuse
to act as debt collector for foreign
states or their citizens; that we respect
the Independent sovereignty of each
American state and its right to pre-
serve order and otherwise regulate it's
own internal affairs In it's own way;
and that any intervention in it's affairs
by us is limited to the single Office of
enabling its people to work out their
own political and national destiny for
themselves free from the coercion of
any European state.
Reform in Governmental Expendi-
lures.
Twenty-eight years have passed
since the Democratic party of the state
of New York, in convention assembled
recommended to the national Democ-
racy the nomination of Samuel j.
Tilden as its candidate for the presi-
dency, and declared it to be their
settled conviction that return to the
constitutional principles, frugal ex-
the founders of the republic is the
first and most imperious duty OF the
times-the commanding issue now be-
fore the people of the Union" This
strong expression was called forth by
the national expenditures for the year
1875, which amounted to $274, 900, 600
situation which, in the opinion Of
a majority of our people, justified an
imperative demand for reform in the
administration of public affairs. AS
the expenditures of the last fiscal year
amounted to the enormous total of
$685., 900, 900, 1t is evident that a thorough
investigation of the public service and
the immediate abandonment of useless
and extravagant expenditures are more
necessary now than they were then.
This astounding increase is out of all
proportion to the increase of our pop
ulation. and finds no excuse from what
ever aspect we view the situation.
The national Democratic platform de-
clares that large reductions can easily
be made in the annual expenditures
of the government without impairing
the efficiency of any branch of the
public service" Can there be any
doubt Of the accuracy OF this state
ment? Between the expenditures OF
the year 1885, amounting to $242,0 900,
and those of the last fiscal year--the
seventh after Grover Cleveland ceased
to be President-aggregating 1852 ,000,-
900, there is a difference so great as
to excite alarm In the breasts OF all
thoughtful men. Even excluding the
sum OF $50. 900 paid for the Panama
canal rights and to the state OF Pan
anna, the expenditures of the last fiscal
year exceeded the sum of 1892, 900, 900,
being more than double the expendi-
lures Of the government for all pur-