The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-09-26

Especial Importance. Prior to the ac-
Iquisition of the Philippines, we were
practically invulnerable against at
lacks by foreign states Those troplca
possessions, however, seven thousanc
miles from our shores, have changed
all this and have in effect put US UNI
l-der bonds to keep the peace inc
lnew conditions call for a management
of foreign affairs the more circuin-
spect in that the recent American IN
vasion of foreign markets in all parts
of the world has excited the serious
apprehension of all the great indus
trial peoples. It is essential, there-
fore, more than ever, to adhere strict
ly to the traditional policy or the
country as formulated by its nrst
wisely departed fromEto invite
friendly relations with all nations
while avoiding entangling alliances
with any. Such a policy means the
| cultivation of peace instead of the
lglorificatiOn of war, and the mnolIS
/ of our own business in lieu OF spec
tacular intermeddling with the analrs
of other nations. 1t means StrlcI Cd
servance of the principles of interna-
tional law and condemns the doctrine
that a great state, by reason OF l1s
strength, may rightfully appropriate
the sovereignty or territory OF a Si1ali
Estate on account of its weakness II
means for other American states that
we claim no rights and Will assume
and of an. ally and defender as against
European aggresions. 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 re-
spect the independent sovereignty OF
each American state and its rlght 70
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
office of enabling its people TO work
out their own political and national
destiny for themselves free from the
coercion of any European state. .r
Reform i'm Governmental Expenditures
Twenty-eight years, have passed
since the Democratic party OF the
state of New York, in convention as
sembled, recommended to the national
Democracy the nomination of Samuel
J. Tilden as it's candidate for the
presidency, and declared 1t to be their
settled conviction that a return 10 the
constitutional principles. frugal ex-
penses and administrative purity OF
the founders of the republic IS the
first and most imperious duty or the
times-the commanding issue now pc
fore the people of the union. inns
strong expression was called forth by
the national expenditures for the year
1875. which amounted to $274. OOO,0oO
"a 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
1852, 100000 it is evident that a thor
ough investigation of the public serV-
ice and the immediate abandonment OF
useless and extravagant- expenditures
were then. This astounding increase
is out of all proportion to the in
crease of our population, and hnds
no excuse from whatever aspect we
view the situation d The nai9 fbat
Large reductions can easily be made
in the annual expenditures of the
government without impairing the
service" Can there be any doubt OF
the accuracy of this statement? Be
tween the expenditures of the year
1886, amounting to $242 600, OOO, ana
seventh after Grover Cleveland ceased
to be president-aggre eating $685.
100000, there is q difference so. great,
as to excite alarm in the, breasts. OF
the sum of $4,000, 900 paid for the
Panama canal rights and to the state
OF Panama, the expenditures OF the
last fiscal year exceeded the sum OF
s532 900, 900, being more than double
the expenditures of the government
for all purposes during the first year
of Mr.. Cleveland's administration
The expenses of the first four years
istration amounted to the enormous
average of $511, 100000 per year. This
large expenditure was due to con-
extent to the cost of the
Spanish-Amerfcan war, which oc-
Cured during that period; but the |
termination of that war brought no
relief to the treasury, for the average
annual expenses of the government, |
ing June 80, 1904, were about $519,- |
100000, which is the largest sum !
reached, during 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 OBJ !
servation at is a condition, and not |
a theory, which confrontS u.s.; for, |
the present incumb bent found |
at the close of the first fiscal year. |
during which he assumed control of
the administration. a surplus of re- |
ceipts over expenditures of more than
S91, 100000, there was an excess of |
over receipts at the close
of the last fiscal year Of $4,000, 600; /
and the official monthly reports made
by the treasury department show that /
the expenditures are continuously and /
rapidly increasing. while the receipts
are diminishing. I -
In this connection it is interesting |
to note the recent administrative or /
ders forbidding government officers
from making puD1c any statement OF
estimates on which future appropria- |
lions are to be based.
If q man of ordinary intelligence |
and prudence should find IL me op- !
Grating expenses 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, |
when trusted employees have |
been found dishonest and convicted, |
and a widespread impression exists that I
a thorough investigation may discover |
other cases of malfeasance2 When |
the chief executive reported to con-