Lawrence democrat. (Lawrenceburg, Tenn.) 1884-1925, 1904-09-30
entitled to pension. WIN they authori-

tatively state that they intend to do
this? II So we accept the ISSUE
"This suggests the suspicion. at least,
that tins erder was made to create an
issuenthat It. was supposed to present
tie of the ballots. But as, the making
of that order was, in my Judgment. an
attempted, though perhaps. unwilling,
encroachment upon the legislative power,
constitution, the challenge is accepted.
II elected. will revoke that order But
SO further and say that that being
dofie, ] will contribute my effort toward
the. Enactment of law to be passed by
both houses Of congress and approved by
the executive that viii give an age pen
sion without reference to disability to the
surviving heroes OF the civil war; and
under the provisions of which pension
the consciousness that 1t comes as q just
due from Tie people through their chosen
representatives, and not as largess dis
tributed by the chief executive.
Reform In Governmental Expendt-
lures.
'Twenty-eight years have passed since
the democratic party OF the state OF
New York In convention assembled, recon-
fnended to the national Democracy tne
nomination 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, fru-
gal expenses and administrative purity
Of the founders of the republic 10 the first
and most imperlous duty Of the times-the
commanding issue now before the people
of the union This strong expression was
called forth by the national expenditure
for the year 1875. which amounted to VIA
0Og,0O0--a situation which, in the opinion
Of d majority Of our people, justified an
Imperative demand for reform in the ad-
minstratioh OF, public affairs. AS the ex-
penditures Of the last fiscal year amount.
ed to the enormous total 81 s5sIV oo.oVV IL
is evident that thorough Investigation
Of the public service and the immeolhte
abandonment of useless and extravagant
expenditures are more necessary now thah
crease Of our population and fnds no
excuse from whatever aspect we view the
situation. The national democratic plat
form declares that large reductions can
easily be made in the annual expenditures
Of the government without impairins the
efficiency Of any branch Of the public serv-
Ice Can there be any doubt Of the accu-
racy Of this statement? Between the ex-
pehditures Of the year 1886 amounting 10
the seventh after Grover Cleveland
ceased to be notwithstanding $751;
100000, there is difference SO great as
TO excite alarm in the breasts OF al
ho1ghdfy do6 Even escSdng the caua
rights, and to the state Of Panama, the
expenditures of the last fiscal year exceed
ed the sum Of 1892, 100000, being more than
double the expenditures Of the government
| for all purposes during the first year OF
| Mr. Cleveland's administration.
1.-THE expenses Of the first four years sue
ceeding the last democratic administra-
| ton amounted to the enormous average
Of $51l, 100000 per year This large ex-
penditure was due to a considerable ex-
| tent to the cost of the Spanish-American
war, which occurred during that period;
| but 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
30, 1904, were about s5190O0,000 which 10
| the largest sum hitherto reached. during
| like period, since the close Of the civil
war. &6s
"This draft upon Vie revenues of the
country has had the effect which might
have been anticipated, and now we have
presented the reverse Of the situation,
which led to the famous observation. 1t
is a condition, and not 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, surplus or
receipts over expenditures Of more than
$91,0OG,0O0, there was an excess Of expend-
| lures over receipts at the close OF the last
fiscal year Of s42,000.000, and the official
monthly reports made by the treasury de-
1
continuously and rapidly increasing. while
the receipts are diminishing.
I'm this connection 1t is interesting to
note the recent administrative orders
forbi,dding government .0 oicers from ron
mates on which future appropriations
are to be based
IF man of ordinary intelligence and
prudence should find In the operating ex-
penses of his business such tremendous
| w0nld moi
promptly set on foot an inquiry for the
cause of the waste, and take immediate
measures to. stop 1t, especially when
trusted employees have been found dis.
impression exists that thorough inves.
tigation may discover, other cases OF
malfeasance? When the chief executive
reported to congress that, through
shameless briberies, the. laws relating to
the proper conduct of the public service
In general. and to the due adm nistration
of the post office department have beer
a GENERAL popular demand for a rigid
sweeping investigation by congress, ir
addition to that undertaken by the execu
tive himself. Such an investigation tbs
republican majority in congress woult
sisted that the interests of good govern
ment demanded it. And the minority
was right The lberality,, patriot
ism and national pride of the peoplt
should not be made an excuse for waste
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 line suggesting that the In
7 crease in the cost of the war department
from 1910 900 in 1886 to Sis, 100000 in 1870
should be inquired into: and not para
: graph calling for thorough investiga
: 81 1An nrtv. nfc 49, hA ANY,
, ment in which dishonesty has been re
Gently disclosed
) reform in expenditures must be ha,
|, in both the civil, military and naval es
expenditures may be brought to a basi
: of peace and the government maintaine
! without recourse to the taxes of war"
, Conclusion.
Among other things which are touches
: upon in the letter is the democratic pledg
[ to secure to all citizens equal protection
abroad. The need of careful diplomac,
in the management of the foreign relation
I of the government, and the democrati
pledge to administer this department o
the government in conformity with tn
E principles laid down by Washington. TIL
need Of legislation in aid Of American ship
{ ping so that 1t may again be commensu
4 rate with American commercial Interests
He pledges the democratic party to
wise and careful administration of the ma
! tional statutes concerning the irrigation
of the arid lands Of the west. and in con
clusion says:
: 1.-THE issues are Joined and the peopl
= must render the verdict
g shall economy of administration be de
, manded, or shall extravaganza be encour
t aged?
e 1'Shall the wrongdoer be brought to ba
: by the people, or must justice wait upo
: political olfgarchy?
"ShaIl our government stand for equa
: opportunity, or for special privilege?
a "Shall It remain government of Law
: or become one of individual caprice?
( Shall we cling to the rule of the pee
r pie, or shall we embrace beneficent des
e potism?
e 'If 1t be the wish Of the people that
= undertake the duties of the presidency,
e pledge myself with Gods help, to devot
i all my powers and energy to the duties Q
: this exalted office. Very truly yours,
t ALTON B. PARKER"