Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1904-09-29

cushion OF the Philippines we We're
practically invulnerable against at
tacks by foreign states. Those tropical
possessions, however. 1000 miles from
our shores. have changed all this and
have in effect put us under bonds to
keep the peace. The new conditions
call for management of foreign af-
fairs the more circumspect in that the
recent American invasion of foreign,
markets in all parts of the world has
excited the serious apprehension of
all the great industrial peoples 1t is
essential, therefore, more than ever
to adhere strictly to the traditional
policy of the country as formulated by
its first president and never. in my
judgment, wisely departed from-to in
vite friendly relations with all nations
while avoiding entangling alliances
with any. Such q policy means the cul-
tiyation of peace instead OF the .glorifca-
ton of war, and the minding of our own
business in lieu of spectacular informed
ding with the affairs of other nations.
1t means strict observance of the prin-
ciples of international law and condemns
the doctrine that a great state, by rea-
son of its strength may rightfuily ap-
propriate 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 po-
liceman, that we refuse to act as debt
collector for foreign states or their citi-
4I,cf
sovereignty of each American state and
its right to preserve order and otherwise
regulate its own internal affairs in its
own way. and that any Intervention in its
affairs by us is limited to the single Of
flee of enabling its people to work out
their own political ana national destiny
for themselves free from the coercion of
any European state.
Reform In Governmental Expenditures.
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
nomination of Samuel ]. Tilden as its
candidate for the presidency and declared
it to be their settled conviction that
return to the constitutional principles
frugal expenses and administrative purity
of the founders of the republic is the first
and most imperious duty of the times
the commanding issue now before the
people of the Union This strong ex-
preston was called forth by the national
expenditures for the year 1879, which
amounted to S274,000 000-a situation which
in the opinion of a majority of our peo-
pie, 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 $5S2, 900, 900, it is evident that a
thorough investigation of the public serv-
ice 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 popula-
ton and finds no excuse from whatever
aspect we view the situation. The ma
tional Democratic platform declares that
large reductions can easily be made in
the annual expenditures of the govern
ment without impairing the efficiency of
any branch of the public service" Can
there be any doubt of the accuracy of
this statement? Between the expendi-
| lures of the year 1886 amounting to S242-
100000, and those of the last fiscal year
| the seventh after Grover Cleveland ceas-
ed to be president-aggrega ting 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, Co.,
900 paid for the Panama canal rights and
I 10 the state OF GdnaDld, the expenditures
of the last fiscal year exceeded the sum
of 1892 0O0, 600, being more than double the
expenditures of the government for all
purposes during the first year of Mr..
| Clevelands administration.
The expenses of the first four years sue
ceeding the last Democratic administra-
ton amounted to the enormous average
of $511 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 go 1904. were about $519000,000, which
is the largest sum hitherto reached dur
ing a like period since the close of the
civil war.
This draft upon the 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 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 a surplus of re-
ceipts over expenditures of more than
$91 100000 there was an excess of ex-
pendtures over receipts at the close of
lily 1dSk iiStci cdr VI $f@sUUVsUvOt anu tile
official monthly reports made by the
treasury department show that the ex-
pendtures are continuously and rapidly
increasing, while the receipts are dimin-
fishing.
In this connection it is interesting to
note the recent administrative orders for
bidding government officers from making
public any statement of estimates 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 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
honest and convicted and a widespread
impression exists that a thorough investi-
cation may discover other cases of mall
feasance? When the chief executive re-
ported to congress that through frauds,
forgeries and perjuries and by shameless
briberies the laws relating to the proper
conduct of the public service In general
aY,6 To he duo i-,te