PBPJ
&
SEPTEMBER- 30, 1904
The Commoner.
13
and sailors and their dependents, on
the ground that they deserve liberal
treatment It pledges by its platiorm
adequate legislation to that end. But
it denies the right of the executive to
usurp the power of congress Lo legis
late on that subject. Such usurpation
was attempted by pension order No.
87, and effect has been given to it by
a congress that dared not resent the
usurpation. It is said that "this order
was made in the performance of a duty
imposed upon the president by act of
congress," but the provision making
the imposition is not pointed out. The
act to which the order refers, which is
the one relating to pensions of civil
war veterans, does not authorize pen
sions on the ground of age. It does
grant pensions to those "suffering fxom
any mental or physical disability, or
disabilities, of a permanent character,
not the result of their own vicious
habits which so incapacitates them
from the performance of manual labor
as to render them unable to cam a
support." This specified requirement
of incapacity is in effect set aside by
order No. 78 as to all persons over 62.
The war closed nearly forty years
ago. In the meantime many of cur
soldiers arid sailors long survived the
age of 62, and passed away without
receiving any pension. Skillful pen
sion attorneys hunting through the
statute failed to find there a provision
giving a pension to all who had reached
62. Many prominent veterans urged
the justice of congressional action giv
ing a service pension to all veterans.
Bills to that effect were introduced in
congress. And not until March of this
year did any one ever claim to have
made the discovery that the piesident
had power to treat the statute as if it
read that when & claimant had passed
the age of 62 years he is necessarily
disabled one-half in ability lo per
ioral manual labor tmd therefore en
titled to a. pension.
The present pension commissioner
indicated his view of the order when
in a recent address he thanked the
president for what he had done, and
advised his hearers to use their influ
ence that a law might be passed to
the same effect. Pull confidence after
all seems not to have been placed on
the defense of justification, for it is
pleaded in mitigation that a former
democratic president did something
looking In that direction. Even if that
were so which is not admitted our
present duty "would be none the less
plain and imperative. Our people must
never tolerate the citation of one act
of usurpation of power as an excuse for
another. The first may possibly be due
to mistake; the second, being oased on
the first, can not be. In explanation,
however, it should be said that the
order relied on simply provided that
the age of 76 years should be legarded
as evidence of inability to poiform
manual labor. Few men are able to
perform manual labor at that age, but
nearly all men are at 62. The first or
der is based' on a fact -that experience
teaches, the other is based on the as
sertion of that which is not true as
a general rule.
The-old inquiry, "What are you go
ing to do about it?" is now stated In
a new form. It is said by the admin
istration ,in reply to the public criti
cism of this order, that "It is easy to
test our opponents' sincerity in this
matter. The order in question is re
vocable at the pleasure of tho execu
tive. If our opponents come Into pow
er they can revoke this order and an
nounce that they will treat the vete
rans of 62 and 70 as presumably in
full bodily vigor and not entitled to
pension. Will they authoritatively state
that they intend to' do this? If so,
we accept the Issue,"
This suggests the suspicion, at least,
that the order was made to create an
issuethat it waa 'supposed to present
a strong strategic position in the bat
tle of the ballots. But as tho making
of that order was, in my judgement, an
attempted, though perhaps unwitting
encroachment upon tho legislative
power, and, therefore, unwarranted
by tho constitution, tho challenge is ac
cepted, if elected, I will revoKo that
order. But I go further and bay that
that being done, I will contribuie my
effort toward the enactment of a law
to be passed by both houses of con
gress and approved by the executho
that will give an age pension, without
reference to disability to tho surviving
heroes of the civil war; and under tho
provisions of which a pension may be
accepted with dignity because or the
consciousness that it comes as a Just
duo from tho people, through their
chosen representatives, and not as
largess distributed by the chief execu
tive. The foreign relations of tho govern
ment have in late years assumed spe
cial importance. Prior to tho acquisi
tion of the Philippines, we were prac
tically invulnerable against attacks by
foreign states. These tropical posses
sions, however, 7,000 mile3 from our
shores, have changed all this, ana have,
in eitect, put us under bono to Keep
the peace. The new conditions call for
a management of foreign affairs the
more circumspect in that the recent
American Invasion of foreign markets
in all parts of the world has excited
the serious apprehension of ail the
great industrial people. It is essential,
therefore, more than ever, to adhere
strictly, to the traditional policy of
tho country as formulated by Its first
president and never, in my judgment,
wisely departed from to invite friend
ly relations with all nations while
avoiding entangling alliances with any.
Such a policy means the cultivation of
peace instead of the glorification of
war, and the minding of our own busi
ness in lieu of spectacular intermed
dling with the affairs of other nations.
It means strict observance of the
principles of international Jaw and
condemns the doctrine that a great
state, by reason of its strength may
rightfully appropriate the sovereignty
or territory of a small state on ac
count of its weakness. It means for
other American states that "we claim
no rights and will assume ho functions
save those of a friend and of an ally
and defender as against European ag
gressions. It 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 respect the in
dependent sovereignty of each Amer
ican state and its right to preserve or
der and otherwise regulate its own in
ternal 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 polit
ical destiny for themselves, fiee from
the coercion of any European state.
Twenty-eight years have passed
since the democratic party of the state
of New York, in convention assembled,
recommended to the national democ
racy the nomination of Samuel J. Til
den as its candidate for the presi
dency, and declared it to be "their set
tled conviction that a return to the
constitutional principles, frugal ex
penses and administrative purity of
the founders of the republic is tho first
and most imperious duty of the times
the commanding Issue now before the
people of the union." This strong ex
pression was called forth by the national
expenditures for the year 1875, which
amounted to $274,000,000 a situation
which, in the opinion of a majority of
our people, justified an imperative de
mand for reform in the administration
of publie affairs. As the expenditure
of the last fiscal year amounted to the
enormous total of $582,00,000, it is evi
dent that a thorough investigation of
the public service and the immediate
abandonment of useless and extrava
gant expenditures are more necessary
now than they were then. This as
tonishing increase is out of all propor
tion to the increase of'our population,
and llnus no oxcuao irom wnaiever as
pect we view uie situation, A no na
tional democratic plauorm declares
mat "large reductions caii easiiy be
made in the annual expenditures ot
tuu government. witnout impairing the
euiciency of any branch oi the yublic
service." Can there bo any doubt oi
cue accuracy of this statement.' Be
tween tho expenditures or tne year
i8U, amounting to $242,000,uu0, anu
uiose or tho last nscat year tno sev
enth alter (Jrover Cleveland ceased to
ue president aggregating obJ,ouu,UUV,
there is a difference so great as to ex
cite alarm in tho breasts ot ail
thoughtful men. Even excluding the
sum of 50,UUU,U00 paid for Uie Panama
canal rights and to Uie state of Pan
ama, the expenditures of tne last hs
cal year exceeded tho sdm of- $dj:s,000,
uuo, being more than double me ex
penditures of the government for all
purposes during tho first year oi Air.
Cleveland's administration.
The expenses of tho first four years
succeeding the last democratic admin
istration amounted to tho enormous
average of $511,000,000 per year. This
large expenditure was due to "a con
siderable extent to the cost of the
b'panish-American war, which occurred
during that period; but the termina
tion of that war brought no relief to
tho treasury, for the averago annual
expenses of the government, during the
three subsequent years ending Juno
30, 1904, were about $519,000,000, which
is the largest sum hitherto reached,
during a like period, since the closo ot
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 ob
servation, "it is a condition, and not
a theory, which confronts us;" for,
although the present incumbent found
at the close of vthe first fiscal year,
during which he assumed coniiol ol
the administration, a surplus of re
ceipts over expenditures of more than
$91,000,000, there was an excess of
expenditures over receipts at the close
of the last fiscal year of $4,000,000,
and the oilicial monthly reports made
by the treasury department show that
the expenditures are continuously and
rapidly increasing, while the leccipts
are diminishing.
In this connection it is interesting
to, note the recent administrative or
ders forbidding government officers
from making public any statement ot
estimates on which future appropria
tions are to be based.
If a man of ordinary intelligence
and prudence should find In the oper
ating 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,
especially when trusted employes' have
been found dishonest and convicted,
and a widespread impression exists
ihat a thorough Investigation nay dis
cover other cases of malfeasance?
When the chief executive reported to
congress that, "through frauds, for
geries and perjuries, and by shameless
briberies the laws relating lo the prop
er conduct of the public service in
general, and to the duo administration
of the postoflice department have been
notoriously violated" there
was a general popular demand for a
rigid, sweeping Investigation by con
gress, in addition to that undertaken by
tho executive himself. Such an inves
tigation the republican majority In
congress would not permit, although
tho minority Insisted that the inter
ests of good government demanded it.
And the minority was right. The lib
erty, patriotism and national pride of
the people should not be made an ex
cuse for waste of the public funds.
Official extravagance Is official crime.
There is not a sentence in the re
publican platform recommending a re
duction in the expenditures of the gov-J
ernmont; hot a line suggesting that tia
Increase in the cost of the war depart
ment from $34,000,000 in 1886 lo $115,
900,000 in.l'JOi should be inquired into;
and not a paragtaph calling for a thor
ough investigation of those depart
ments of tho government in which dis
honesty has bccn recently disclosed.
Tho pcoplo, howovor, can by their
votes, 11 they desire it, order add an
investigation and inaugurate a policy
of economy and retrenchment. It is
safe to say that Ihia will not bir ac
complished by Indorsing at tho polls
the republican majority of tho house
of representatives, which refused the
investigation and made tho nppiopria
tions, nor by continuing in power the
administration which made tho dis
bursements. Reform in expenditures must bo had
in both the civil, military and naval
establishments in order that the na
tional expenditures may be brought to
a basis of peace and the government
maintained without recourse to tho
taxes of war.
I have put aside a congenial work,
to which I had expected to devote my
life, in order to assume, as best I can,
tho responsibilities your convention
put upon me.
I solicit the cordial "Co-opcrallon and
generous assistance of every man who
believes that a change of measures
and of men at this time would bo vise,
and urge harmony of endeavor as well
as vigorous action on the part of all so
minded.
The issues are joined and the peo
ple must render tho verdict.
Shall economy of administration be
demanded or shall extravagance be
encouraged?
Shall tho wrongdoer be brought to
bay by the people, or must justice wait
upon political oligarchy?
Shall 'our government stand for equal
opportunity or for special privilege?
Shall it remain a government of law
or become one of individual caprice?
Shall we cling to the rule of the
people, or shall we embrace beneficent
despotism?
With calmness and confidence, we
await the people's verdict.
If called to u,nici of president,
I shall consider mj,i- tho chief mag
istrate of all tho people and. net of any
faction, and shall ever be mindful of
tho fact that on many questions of
national policy there are honest differ
ences of opinion. I believe in the
patriotism, good sense and absolute
sincerity of all the people. I shall
strive to remember that he may servo
his party best who serves his coun
try best.
If it be the wish of the people that
I undertake the duties of the presi
dency, I pledge myself, with God's help,
to devote all my powers and energy
to the duties of this exalted office.
Very truly yours,
ALTON B. PAltKER.
The S!aco of S1!hc
"You're forever trying to give tho
impression that you're a martyr,"
snapped Mrs. Henpeck. "I suppose
you want everybody to think that you
suffer in silence?"
"No," replied Mr. Henpeck, "I suffer
in the perpetual absence of silence, A
little silence would be a positive pleas
ure to me." New York Tribune.
Terrible Rcvcng
Orpheus was boasting that he could
make the rocks sins to his music.
"Perhaps," retorted Aeolus, "but I'll
bet you can't make the furnace drawl '
Smarting under the insult, the god
of music Invented the cornet player
by way of retaliation, Colliers weekly
btiigfftfit CwmI
Iaewweekwltk Drake's Palmetto Wine. Smt
postal card request for free bottlo to Drake
Formula Company, Chicago.
A,
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