The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1868-03-23

thereby save another $loo, 900, as we'll
as perjury, fraud, deceit, and outrageous
stealing which are brought into existence
and perpetuated by our revenue laws. Do
sh;s-' sir, saving in. che grand aggregate,
$500, 0o0, 900 yearly Of the peoples money.
lDut Of this great saving set apart an annual
sun to constitute q sinking fund, out of
which to pay by degrees the public debt
VIXEN reduced or converted into greenbacks,
and in comparatively short time our debt
will b paid, our taxes be discontinued, our
| national credit fully sustained, our laboring
classes literally rewarded, our people pros
porous and happy.
But. sir. this cannot be the result of con-
tinual radicalrule. Radicals protest against
the navment of the public debt in green
backs. hut prefer to withdraw the greenbacks,
and increase the bonds. The result Of this
is 20 make money for poor people scarce,
but for rich men plenty. Until lately our
secretary of the treasury, under direction of
a radical congress, was Withdrawing $4,000,
| 600 per month of greenbaeks from ciscula-
ton: and even now that process is only for
the time being suspended. By radical rule
the burdens Of the prdsent hour were fast-
ened on the people, and will not be reno
ved bat by . change in the political control
of the government Not branch of in
dustry escapes taxation. Assessors, collec-
tors, inspectors, agents, seek out every av.
enue through which toll produces wealth,
and lay their unyielding fingers in eager
clutch on the hard earnings of honest pow
erty. Not the living only are sought out
and laid under tribute, but accounts are
kept with the dead; and by the operation of
the succession tax" the meagre pittance
which fathers frugality saved up fog his
helpless child is counted over andsa PORTION
taken therefrom, under plea o. public ne
cessity," before the child receives the or
phan's portion. s.sr,s
And what proportion of this money thus
| wrune from the people finds its way into the
treasury to be used in payment of either
beads or ereeubacks under Radical rule ?
Not one half mot one half No, sir; there
| is no hope of improvement but by peaceful,
political revolution. That only will save US
| from ban kruptcy as a nation and demoraliz-
alton as a people. If wrought out that rev.
olution will save US from both; and the peo-
pie are now laboring under loads unbeara-
BILE and understanding the evils and will APP
ply the proper remedy.
But. sir, we will be told this fall that
| athese questions are not in ISSUE" That
has been the answer to all protestations the
people have hitherto made against negro
suffrage; ut is not in ISSUE" But il is in
issue. The great mass of the people, hon
est, patriotic, willing TO bear necessary bur
dens, but unwilling to be trampled down by
Legislative tyranny and surrender all their
hard-earned means to the demands of the
wealthy. petted bondholders, have decreed
that this demand shall be met. Another an
swer will be in the mouths of politicians, and
given to the people by those who are them.
selves powerless and fsithless TO perform
what they promise. Radical candidates,
when unable to satisfy their people by evasive
replies, will exclaim in the boldness of prac-
ticed falsehood, awe, too, are in favor of
paying our debt in greenbacks."
Already, sir, have several members on this
floor made speeches looking in that direc-
ton. But what is done whilst they are talk
ing? Nothing-absolu.ely nothing for pub
lie relief. But much in another direction is
being accomplished. Our debt is increasing
and our interes. growing larger day BY day.
This individual vaporing of our radical
friends is only to appeass the people, to 9ui
ct apprehension, to beget hopes not 10 be
realized, and secure return to Office and
power. If they are in earnest in wishing to
pay the national debt in greenbacks, as the
people demand, let them first admit that the
question is in issue; and then, taking the
peoples side in a practical way, let them
help US elect George II. Pendleton, or some
one equally favorable to the peoples inter.
est as next president, and the financial re-
form will commence. Taxes will be reduced
one-haf, expenses largely curtailed, our debt
h L. Il
country restored to unity, peace and pros
perity.
But, sir, let US not be deceived in seeking
a remedy for existing evils, or in applying
corrective to errors glaring and enormous.
Relief from the financial burdens of the hour
is practical question. That relief cannot
be secured by mere general declaration, nor
will it come in answer to professions of SUI
perior patriotism and wisdom. 1t viii not
even be commanded into being BY the tails
manic influence of a great name. National
prosperity and individual thrift are inse para
bic. Individual prosperity cannot be true
and permanent while irregularities mark all
pubic Transactions, and proficiency charac-
terizes all public expenditures. There is,
between the various communities of the | nj
ted States, relation of necessary Deepen
dence and one portion of our people sepa-
rated from another by mere geographical
lines cannot enjoy permanent prosperity,
while another portion is borne down and OPP
pressed with burdens. And here | may re-
mark that no true, general, permanent pros
perity can be secured TO our people until all
communities of our citizens are secured in
such enjoyment of peace and industry as
will enable them by their trade, produce and
labor, to bear their Just proportions of the
public burdens, and, at the same tine. re
ceive and enjoy their share of the public ben
fits and advantages resulting from free gov
eminent properly administered. IN p
Let the southern states be restored 20
their constitutional relations to the other
states in the Union, and, as result, the peo-
pie of those states, realizing the blessings of
liberty regulated by law" will add their
offerings to the substantial wealth of the ma
ton, and contribute their proportion of tax
alton for the public good. They would
cease TO be idle consumes, without resourc-
es and void of energy, and become producers