Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1920-12-08

NC2ap~A445 ~ PEt VClT&kC- EIflEfk- lltG[t--
fore. that II is true TO say that this
was tns faith which won the war. Ger
tainly this is the faith with which cur
gallant men went into the field and OUT
upon the seas TO make sure OF victory.
This IS the mission upon which de-
rnocrEes- came into the world. Democ-
racy is an assertion of the right OF the
individual 10 live and to. be treated
Justly as against any attempt On the
part or any combination of individuals
70 make laws which VIII overaurden
him y which viii destroy his equality
among his fellows in the matter of
right or privilege. and I think we all
realize that the day has come when
democracy iss beinE upon its final. test.
The old world just now is suffering
from a wanton rejection of the prinei
pie Of democracy and substitution
of the principle OF autocracy as assert
ed in the name but without the author
ity and sanction OF the multitude. This
is the time OF all others when democra-
cr should prove its purity and its spir-
ituai power 70 prevail. Tt is surely
the manifest destiny OF the United
States tn lead in the attegnpA 10 mako
this spirit prevail
There are two ways IN which the
United States can assist 70 accomplish
this object: First. by offering the
example within her own borders of the
will and power of democracy TO make
and enforce laws which are unques-
ttorably Just and which are equal in
their adn;nistratioa-laws which Sc
cure its full right to labor and yet AT
the sarle time safeguard the integrity
of property and particularly OF that
property which is devoted 10 the de-
velopinent OF industry and the increase
OF the necessary wealth OF the world.
Second. by standing for right and
Justice as towards individual nations
The law of democracy is for the pro-
lection of the weak and the influence
of every democracy in the world
should be for the protection of the
weak nations. the nation. which is
struggling towards its right and to-
wards il proper recognition and
privilege in the family of nations.
The United States cannot refuse this
role OF champion without putting the
stigma OF rejection upon the great
and devoted men who brought its
government into existence and es-
rablished it in the face OF almost
universal opposition and intrigue.
even in the face OF wanton force. as
for example, against the orders in
council of Great Britain and the ar
bitrarv Napoleonic DEGREES which in
VOWED US in what we know as the
war OF 1872 I urge you to consider
that the display OF an immediate dis
position on the part of the Congress
TO remedy any iniustices" or evils
that may have shown themselves in
our own national life will afford the
most efectual offset TO the forces of
chaos ana tyranny which are play
ing so disastrous i part in the for
tune OF the free peoples of more
than one part of the world. The
United States is of necessity the
same democracy of the world and
the triumph of democracy depends
upon its success.
Recovery from the disturbing and
sometimes disastrous effects OF the
late war has been exceedingly slow
on the other side OF the water and
HAS pEOAlES-- L " SAY
of early completion only in our own
fortunate country: but even with US
the recovery haits and is irnpeded at
times and there are Immediately ser
viceabie acts OF legislation which it
seems 10 me we ought TO attempt. to
assist that recovery and prove the
indestructible recuperative force of
4 great government of the people.
One OF these IS to prove that great
democracy can KEEP house as success
fully ana in as business-like a fash
seems TO me that the first step to-
wards providing this IS TO supply
ourselves with a systematic method
OF handling our estimates and ex-
penditures and briging them 10 the
point where they Will not be a neces-
SaIy strain upon our income or ne
cessitate unreasonable taxation. in
other words, a workable budget sys-
TEN.
And I respectfully suggest that
two elements are essential TO such
system: namely. not only that the
proposal OF appropriations should he
IN the hands OF q single body. such
as i single appropriations committee
in each house OF the Congress. but
also that this body should be brought
into such cooperation with the de-
partments of the government and
with the treasury of the United
States as would enable it to enact
upon 4 complete conspectus OF the
needs of the government and the re-
sources from which it must draw it's
in come.
reluctantly vetoed the budget
bill passed by the last session of the
Congress because OF a constitutional
objection. The House OF Represen-
tatives subsequently modified the bill
in order to meet this objection. In
the revised form I believe that the
bill. coupled with action already TAX
an by the Congress to revise its rules
and procedure, furnishes the founda-
tons for an effective national bud
ge- system I earnestly hope. there
fore. that one of the first steps taken
by the present session of the Con-
gross will be 10 pass the budget bill
The nations finances have shown
marked improvement during the past
year. The total ordinary receipts of
S6.694.Hs8,o00 for the fiscal year 1920
exceeded those for 1919 by 81 ,5422-
0tso.00o while tire total net ordinary
expenditures decreased from SIS
514.O0o0e0 to Sc. 403. 0G0. 600 The
gross public debt which reached its
highest point on August 81. 1919.