The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1859-08-05
Republican Extravaganza.

ons and brains for ammunition and as we
are here to fight the battles of the Democ-
racy, we shall not-conscious OF possess
| ING the vantage ground Of truth and right
on our side--tear to enter the list, even
with the military editor of the Tribune.
| In our last issue, we claimed that while
the State Government was in the hands OF
the Democrats, burthensome State taxes
were unknown, for the expenses OF our
government were kept within the bounds
of rigid and practical economy" 10
this our friend of the Tribune replies, by
referring us to the administration of Gov.
BARsTow, and charges upon the friends OF
that administration the grossest corruption
and dishonesty. 1t is late III the day Tor
the Iribune's editor to assail the admins
tration of Gov. BARsTow, for during the
time of BARsrow's governorship, and for
long time after, the editor of the 1r'6une
was fast adherent and Jealous defender
Of "BARsrow and the balance" and that,
too, after the charges made against that
administration had been investigated by
Legislative committee of Republicans, who
failed to discover anything to complain Of
| in the conduct of the State Officers; and
we defy the Tribune man to point to any
wear Of Democratic rule in the State when
the State tax was high, or considered by
the people oppressive. 1t is true the Re
publican press and orators used to cry out
and decaim against the corruption and ex-
travarance of the State administrations,
but they failed to point to facts, or offer
any proofs to sustain their general charges,
and it is a fact that the people were never
called upon to contribute by taxes to the
support of public extravaganza.
But the Tribune tells US that the bur
densome STATE taxes of the past three years
is owing to the enormous public debt OF
the State which was created by Democrat
ic State officers, and has been paid oil by
the Republicans; and for proof Of the truth
of his statement, cites us to the message of
Gov. RANDALL, of 1S5S, WHO claims to have
made a discovery which his Republican
predecessor Gov. BAsHFoED) and Re
publican Legislature failed to find out IN
two years of anxious search. We deny
the assertion of the Tribune, and of Gov.
RANDALL, neither Of whom specify any
item of Indebtedness accruing under Dem
ocratic State government, and paid by the
Republicans. We deny that the State is
any less in debt than when BAsHFORD-
observation-disclosures Governor. We 90
| farther, and affirm that the State to-day
owes fifty thousand dollars more than when
BARsTow left the chair of State.
By the Constitution, the State cannot
contract any debts which in the aggregate
will exceed 100000. That amount the
State now owes, and her bonds drawing
six per cent. interest have been issued
therefor. OF this Indebtedness, fifty thou
sand dollars was authorized by the Legis-
lature of 1857, which was nearly two
thirds Republican, and was approved by
Gov. BAsHFoRD and the Republican Le-
gislature Of 1858 authorised the levyirg of
State tax to pay the interest on that
100000, and absolutely collected from
the people at the time Of our greatest fl
nancial embarrassment, over seventy thou
sand dollars for a purpose which required
but six thousand. And this is but one of
a hundred cases of bungling Legislation by
an incompetent majority.
The TriJune exclams triumphantIy that
we have full and overlooking public treas
ury. That is not a thing to boast Of at a
time when the people are struggling
against severe and long continued financial
adversely. How came the treasury full
and OVERLOOKING, while business and indus
try is suffering for the want of money >
1t is because the hard earnings of the peo-
pie have been filched from them by enor-
nous State taxes. 1t is because dshon-
est and incompetent Republican majority
in the Legislature, supported and sustained
by Governor of the same stripe, has COM
PEELED item to pay serenity thousand dol
lars to the State for purpose that requi-
red but sir thousand. How can this Re
publican State administration justify the
extorting from an oppressed people, more
money than was needed to defray the ne,
cessary expenses Of an economical State
government, and to pay the interest Oh
our State debt? They do not seem to
think even that it requires justification,
but is on the contrary thing to boast Of
The hi yhwayman who EFFORTS purse from
some honest traveller has the same right to
boast of its weight and value, and the poor
traveller, we imagine, would have the same
right to rejoice and feel proud Of the ex-
tent of his loss, and of the robbers gains,
as the people of Wisconsin have to feel