Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1908-09-04

democrats in the campaign of 1890.
The last congress, however, has made
new record in extravaganza. In spi Q
of deficit of more than sixty millions
in the last fiscal year, the appropria-
tions made during the last session
amount to more than billion dollars,
or twice as much as the appropriations
for single session of the fifty-first
congress. The increase over the year
before was ninety million dollars,
showing a growth in expenditures far
in excess of the growth of the popula-
ton.
While this tendency to extravaganza
manifests itself in nearly all depart
ments, it is especially noticeable in the
army department and the navy depart
ment.
The army is more than twice as large
as in 1895 and the appropriations for
the army more than three times as
great as they were eleven years ago.
The expenses of the navy are also about
three times what they were decade
ago. The increase in the appropriations
for the army and navy alone are $780,
100000 year in excess of what they
were in 1897. The imperialistic policy,
for which the republican party is re-
sponsible, is the only excuse for the
enormous and increasing drain upon
the Taxpayers.
Our platform also calls attention to
the fact that ninety-nine thousand new
offices have been created at an expense
of $40, 900, 900 year, as against an in
crease of ten thousand new offices with
salaries amounting to $4,000, 900 in the
Cleveland and Mckinley administra-
lions. While every element of our
population suffers to greater or less
extent because of the unnecessary ex-
penditure of the government, the FARM
ers have special reason for complaint
because they pay more than their share
Of taxes collected and receive less than
their share of the benefits which flow
from the expenditure of the corpora
ton. And to aggravate the case still
more, the appropriations which unfair
ly Cypress the farmers are spent in
cities, so that the farmer enjoys but
few benefits from the appropriations
and scarcely any direct benefits.
Why is it that the republican party
is so much more extravagant than the
democratic party in the expenditure OF
public money?
| There are two reasons-hrst, because
republican leaders are more intimately
associated with the tax eaters than the
tax payers; they hear the hungry clam.
or of the men who spend money more
than they do the protests of the masses
who contribute revenues. But there is
a second reason-the republican leaders
have taught the doctrine that taxation
is an unalloyed good. They have triec
to cultivate public opinion to support
the idea that tariff taxes on the theory
| that even when not needed for revenue
are direct advantage to the protected
interests and an indirect advantage tt
the whole country. The democratic
party is in position to bring reform
in the matter of expenditures. 1t be
lieves that tax is defensible only
when necessary and that it should b.
reduced to the lowest limits consistent
with good government. Our party il
pledged to reduction in appropriations
and to economy in every department
of government and our position ough
to appeal with special force to those o
our population who are engaged il
agriculture.