Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1904-10-06
SAYS IT IS "HEADY."
Henry G. Davis Characterization Of
Roosevelt's Administration.
"TIME PROPITIOUS FOR A CHANGE
He Declares Present Extravaganza
in Expenditure of Public Moneys
Has Driven Thoughtful People
to Demand an Accounting.

Elkins, W. Va, Oct. 3.-Henry G
Davis, democratic candidate for vic
president, has given out his lorna
letter Of acceptance. On the vital pc
litical questions he says:
The times are propltious for the rein
statement Of the democratic party II
control of the government. The publ
mind Is being disillusioned of the pre-
tension of the republican party. so lonl
and so arrogantly made, that the mate
rial prosperity of the country depends
upon its own ascendancy. Thoughtful
and patriotic people are becoming mor'
and more distrustful of the heady ant
personal element of the present admins
tration, and are more than willing to SET
1t replaced by one that better recognizes
constitutional and other lawful re-
straints. They demand that the present
wasteful extravaganza In the expenditure
of the money. drawn by taxation from the
people, shall cease, and that economy
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 gov
eminent are increasing at an alarming
rate. When the present administration
went into power there was large sur
plus, but Notwithstanding the enormous
taxation, the revenues therefrom are not
now adequate to meet the demands made
by reckless appropriations. The rev.
enues fell short during the last fiscal
year Of over S4OOOO,0O0. In the first 60
days of the fiscal year the expenditures
exceeded the receipts by $A,OOO,OOO, and II
this rate Of excess should continue, the
deficit for the present fiscal year would
be In the neighborhood Of $AO0O 900.
This needless deficit is due to the ex-
travagance Of the administration, and
can only be met by imposing additional
taxes or selling bonds. thereby increas-
ing the st-bearng debt of the gov
eminent. Which course will the repub-
lcans adopt? The cost of government
during the fiscal year was STA per cap
tia, which means that the average tax
paid in some form or another by every
family of five persons toward the sup
port of the national administration Of
public affairs was over SIS, which, In the
case of wage-earners. Is a considerable
percentage of their entire earnings for
the year. No more money should be
taken from the people by taxation, direct
or Indirect than is necessary for the
needs of government economically adj
ministered.
The Army.
In answer to criticisms upon the size
and expense Of maintaining the army,
the president has said that the number
of soldiers now is no greater per capita
than In former years. But an army
then was necessary to protect settlers
from the Indians and to do other police
duty in the unsettled portion of the coun-
which do not now exist.
The army, however, has greatly In
creased In cost, much faster relatively
than 1t has In numbers. The expenses
were:
Under Buchanan In 1860, $l6,50O,000,
Under Hayes In 1880, $3S,0OC, 900.
Under Roosevelt in 1904, sll5,OOO.OO0,
imperialism.
These and many other upwarranted
things that belong more to an empire
than republic, have occurred under the
present administration, and brought deep
concern and alarm to thoughtful and
patriotic minds They must be regarded
as the first fruits of Imperialism, and
show how fast we are drifting toward
absolutism and centralized power. The
effect of the imperialistic tendency Of
the republican party upon our foreign
affairs is In opposition to the teachings
Of the founders of the republic, and SO
Impressed was Washington with the i'm
portance of keeping aloof from the af- |
fairs Of other nations, that in his fare
we'll address he warned his countrymen |
specially against foreign entangling alli-
lnces. Imperialism is hurtful and alb
lorrent in free government and sub.
yerslve of free institutions The policy |
" imperlalism-lf 1t can be said to have |
/ policy-is always dangerous to liberty. |
is powers are first exercised in far off |
errltory and on conquered people, but
,nce adopted for acquired and distant
possessions, II becomes, sooner or later,
he rule Of the home government. Lib
rty and free government have always
'een secured at the cost Of great sacrl-
ices, but history teaches us that both
an be easily lost without the knowledge
4 the people.
The Tariff.
Our federal constitution has appropri-
ted to the exclusive use OF the general
government the power Of indirect taxa-
Ion, covered by the popular designation
tariff duties" In excluding the
tates from this domain Of taxation,
here is an implied and wise partition
the taxing power between the states
nd the federal government. Except In
he exigencies Of war the taxing power
as been exercised by congress largely In
he direction Of the imposition OF duties
pom imports. No one expects TO change
his arrangement. which has proven so
onvenient to the general government
nd so conducive 10 the interests OF the
.ates. whose resort TO other sources OF
avenue Is left untrammeled. Indirect
lxation, however convenient, needs. by
Jason Of its lndlrectness, TO be watch
lily guarded, lest abuses should attach
iemselves unknown by the people
PcraIcious aud Harmful Trusts.
II If estimated that there are In the
nitsd- States between 90 and sn COM