Mineral Point weekly tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1859-1868, 1868-07-15

Sarlly been, they have vet been on
scale of economy and fidelity quite
unknown during the last Democratic
administration that afflicted the coun-
try. And i assert further. and | call
both political friend and foe to the
witnesses tand in support Of my declar-
alton. that whenever and wherever
Gen. Grant has been able to control
government expenditure, economy. in
S4;.4e.yp, -ll---4a-.-l -.-a.,al,,, a,,
and reduction have been the unvary-
! ing result
Consider further, Mr.. Chairman.
that, while the Republican party has
been providing the means for these
expenditures, they have been at the
same time effecting immense reduc-
tions IN the public debt and continu-
ally and largely reducing taxation
Within the three years that have
elapsed since the war closed and the
army was mustered out, we have re-
duced the public debt between two
and three hundred million dollars {;
and at each session of Congress.
while this reduction Of the debt was
going on, we have taken off millions
upon millions Of taxation from the
productive industry of the nation
At the first session of the thirty ninth
Congress, the first that convened af
ter the close of the war, taxes We're
removed that had the preceding year
yielded a revenue Of 100000 600 and
at the second session Of the same Con
gress S4l 900 900 more Of taxes were
promptly repealed. The fortieth Con
gress has not been behind the thirty
ninth IN this respect, for we have al
ready repealed taxes that last year
gave US a revenue of ninetr millions.
\ nd to-day the taxes Of the Federal
Government are so wisely adjusted
and collected from such few sources
that no man feels them burdensomc,
oppressive or eAactIng. Demagogues
may misrepresent and partizans assail,
but the people know and feel that to-
day the taxes levied by the Federal
Government are not an oppression to
the individual and not a hindrance to
the development of the industrial re-
sources OF the land.
The history Of the Republican par
ty, Mr.. Chairman, is indeed a proud
record. Inheriting a bankrupt Treas
ury, dishonored credit, and a gigant-
- rebellion from the traitorous admin
istra ton which preceded their advent
to power in 1861, the Republicans he
roically and successfully grappled
with and conquered all these obstacles
to the life and progress Of the nation.
They replenished the Treasury they
redeemed our credit; they subdued
the mightiest rebellion that ever CON
fronted civil power since governments
were instituted among men; they
struck the shackles from 1000, 900 Of
human beings, and gave them every
civil right under the Constitution and
laws. And, while accomplishing
these Hurcu'ean tasks, the Republi-
.cap party administered the govern
'nent so wisely that Prosperity has
been all the time abroad in the land
great business enterprises have been
undertaken and successfully prose
cuted factories have been built the
forest suhdued farms brought under
cultivation navigable rivers improv-
ed |; thousands Of miles of railway con
structed the continent spanned by
telegraph wires the two oceans we'll
nigh connected by road Of iron; the
emigrant protected on the remotest
frontier; territories carved out Of the
wilderness domoin; and new States
Of promise and power added to the ma
tional Union.
What other party, in the history Of
this country, ever confronted such diff
hculties? What other party ever
gained such victories? But great as
its achievements have been, its work
is not yet finished Out of the fierce
conflicts Of the recent past, conflicts
indeed still raging, order and harmo-
ny, civilization and friendship, are vet
to be evoked not, indeed, by unwise
concession and timid compromise, but
by that firm policy which is based on
Right, and under the leadership Of
one who. so-terriblv earnest in war, is
yet to-day the embodiment Of peace,
the conservator of public justice, the
hope Of loyal millions.