The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1867-10-18
Who 'Thre aten Reputation.

Republican prints charge that
the Democracy are "disloyal" to
the nationel debt and not stauncf
supporters of the untaxable bond.
holders-that they do not welcome
with enthusiasm the taxat tion that
consumes the yearly savings of the
peoples industry. It may be that
the Democratic sense of obligation
IS not increased by the reflection
that the national debt was in large
part incurred in building up vast
private fortunes for republican fa-
vorites, that this debt represents to
a great extent the successful rob.
berries and frauds of Republican
leaders and the price paid for the
political support of venal Demo
Gratis, and that in many cases the
government got only thirty-fve to
forty cents for what the people are
now required to pay one hundred.
Democrats may not, perhaps, pay
a thousand forms Of taxation with a
thrill of pleasure as each impost and
assessment is drawn from their
pockets. Nor is it any increase of
satisfaction to them, nor, we be-
lieve, to republicans, that the rev.
enue machinery is controlled by some
of the basest and most unprinci-
pied creatures that ever abused an
odious power. And when they find
that for the expressions and exac-
tions of these petty tyrants there is
no remedy, no appeal to the law,
no resort except by the arbitrary
discretion of their oppressors, a
system not loyal itself, because
more hateful by the manner and
instruments of it's execution.
But Democrats do not forget that
national honor and national pros
perity demand the payment Of the
debt. Those concerned for the
preservation Of the public faith
should recall the fact that about all
the National and State debt that
ever has been paid, has been paid
under Democratic policy and stew
ardship. A frugal economy and
provident husbandry of resources,
as clearly distinguish Democratic
policy, as lavish and spcndthrift
waste of the public money, and the
reckless multiplication of debts and
taxes, mark the ascendancy of the
Republican party.
The people will not be likely to
seek relief in reputation. They
will not, unless republican admins
tration makes the burthen intolera-
bic. Those are the true repudiators,
whose administration compels to
that dire necessity. The men who
govern the peacable and law abid-
ing people of ten States by stand
ing armies, and by swarms of po-
litical and partisan cmissaries in
the pay Of the treasury arc prcpar-
ing for repudiation. A war expen-
diture of $3.50, 100000 a year in
time of peace, over and above the
interest upon the national debt is
what forebodes national Insolvency.
The blasted prosperity of the South
and the consequent drying up of the
springs of Northern industry,
ten states made burthensome
charge upon the treasury, while
proper policy would make them a
very India at the doors of north
ern producers, are the measures of
a mad misrule which threaten to
make default in the payment of
this debt and taxation not a choice
but necessity. Twenty thousand
officers swarming like locusts, and
gnawing with omnivorous taxation
at the substance of the people, will
not be endured when it is seen that
they are collecting hundreds of mil
lions to subserve corrupt extrava-
gance, partisan sel6shness and par
ty hate.
A party that taxes the whole
people to oppress a large portion of
them by military power, which ex-
pends hundreds of millions of reven-
ue to colonize and control the South
for its own partisan purposes, which
grants largesses by the twenty or
thirty millions annually, to secure
the support of the banking interest,
and which subsidies the great man.
ufacturers by granting them CARTE
BLANCHE to put in their pockets
special taxes upon consumers, fully
equal to what is paid into the pub
lie treasury, will, ere long, leave no
resources for paying the national
debt. A party which spends as if
the treasury had no bottom, and
taxes the people as if their resour-
ces had no limit; party which
uses the money extracted from the
people for revolutionary and un-
constitutional purposes, is making
the most dangerous argument for
reputation.
The tax warrant that comes to
seize the property Of the people
must be legal warrant. Schemes
"outside" of the Constitution and
which are founded upon a "repudi-
alton" of that supreme law, can
make no lawful requisition for our
money. Republican leaders and