The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1868-08-20

form. The people are thinkine eH'ne s:.
te'V 40 .abiect now. This fact IS OBSERVE
S ~ Il every part OF the country 1t IS eI
~, that these vital questions must pe
enasdilv determined at the bsllot'bo1, py
Hing The power from the hands ofthst par
20 wbicb has epregiously betrayed the'f
ans, and he reposed in the hands OF hoheS'
49,. Immediate action is required at the
honds of the people, for their own Pro'ec
So lao, the remedy be too late. Ever!
Cor,ner every laboring man, every mechan'I'
| Lasan esneeial interest in the questions
Iii discuss, for they involve his liberty Us
n citizen, bis rights as free man: ~ 'r
matter Of neglect in the economlcol 'na na
a gement Of the machine OF government, ".a
and in taxing the non.bona'hoiuelS W
snpport the extravaganza, it IS IN ms POWei
and to his interest to right himself at 'uo
nronose. in what have to say to YOU
today IN let the issues which agtated the
nation four years ago rest in peace Inc
nov has No reference to the great interests
nfto.dav exeept that they are its outgrowth
I'd tho legacy il has left US. The WARMTH
Inc violent animOsities and intemPerae ma
treds which characterize all wars, shonIa W
snnt and sunk 10 rise no more; and those
who would revigify them are opponents 10
tbe restoration of peace aud UNITY IN our
t'nd Tbe requirement OF all true patriots
now Is to restore, in peace ana nat non,'
that glorious fabric of free government! "a.
stituted By our fathers, composer ot 't"''
cemented By their blood, and go'efh'l ny
their wisdom, under that glorious instrument
which we democrats recognize "a the oniY
4 lpreme law, to-day. -.
While have no ep,thet to apply to those
who are opposed to US in this great WORK OF
restoration, | would notify my republican
friends here present that intend to bring
bor,e IN them some wholesome truths, ana
would request their attention to facts OF as
much importance to them as to any wI'hiu
tLo sonnd of nv voice, and which will SUD
stantate with the proper official doeum '.,a.
| am going to bring an indictment aVHlus'
the officials whom you have Piaceu III po%gi
and for whose actions you are Responsible
Gov orava offences against the government
and against the pc )pe who look for its pro
| toction and / ask for their verdict upon inc
| audience | shall submit to them, to be de
| cIarod Inv their votes and with their voices
on the coming November, if they lind them
guilty. ,.r.... wur,
The first countu this indictment Is, Williu
and criminal extravaganza IN the use OF the
neoples money. Let US consider this:-
When our fathers formed this government
thew knew that its peculiar necessities re
ouired economy, during times oil peace an
they SO formed it they no especial amour
of revenue was needed to support IT. excep
during times of war For the first 10 years 0
its peaceful existence the people saw no tee
erai officers. except the postmaster and occt
sionally a collector of duties at some port {
| entry. But now our revenue department, u
stead of being the cheap imp lie machine that
was in those days, which a child might under
| stand. has become the most complicated an
costly of all governments under the sun, an
| neople are paying more taxes, to-day, tina
| any other people, of any other country
Now. instead of the meager and contracte
force. which was all that was required to co
Iact the entire revenue before the war, "
have 10000 officials delegated with especl'
functions torthat purpose;a largernumoeTt ina
the entire army,prior to the war. And thu
after the enjoyment of three years OF peac
with debt contracted during the war, who
still retains its pristine magnitude, and, hH
the ghost of the murdered Banquo, will NJ
down -
| But to the charge: charge the radio
party with being guilty of extravaganza
f What are the facts During civil war
four wears duration, prosecuted under RAJ
cal rule, vast debt was contracted but
, forgive them that give them iuii
CENT for that. But, during three years
naace. when the same faction retained pn
ar with the control of its various depai
ments. how has it been2 Here Is the POI
q that / beg YOU carefully to consider al
q lend me your closest attention. have
fore me the report of the United states l
ternal revenue collector, for the last thr
wears, land | do not fear that any OF my ?
@ Gtical opponents will question this el
2 dence.l ior the fiscal years, beginning L
). LIST of july 1865 aud ending the lst OF Ju
r 1868. showing the assessment OF taxes !
II internal revenue to be $500, 000,O 600 or SZ7'
II 600. 1000 annually, and this during threcyea
+ of profound peace, and in addition to oth
h taxes assessed by the government. ADD
y this the interest on the public debt, al
, the entire average annual expenditures
/. the federal government during that TIN
. was largely in excess of : 0,OOO,O0O.
t enough to have paid one,haf the pun
e debt.
Y This is not the first administration WIN
0 has been charged with extravaganza, l.
|. Ma compare In 1860 the republican ca
/. vention met in Chicago, and in the plattor
/. then and there adopted, embodied like gra
{ charges of extravaganza in the mansG
r. ment of the public finances, against the
}. ministration of James Buchanan and IN
It prosecution of the campaign prepared an
n raw of figures in confirmation OF their asst
q, ton. | confess we made but weak
i. fence, and it was this plea, on the part
the republican party for reform in the ma
u epement Of the finances, and their prom
/. to carry it into effect, which defeated StePh
II A. Douglas and placed the reins of gove'
t, ment in the hands of Mr.. Lincoln and
e republican party.
al Now let us compare the expendItur
lie which were so generally complained
n. at that time, with those of the three ye
eh since the war: The aggregate. expenditur
te during the Administration of Mr. Buchan
Sc were 1886, 900, 900, making an average
Id nual expense of $64OOO, OOO-lsss than o
MS fourth Of what we have paid in taxes dur
III the years Of peace since the war,--and VIII
to was expended in the payment OF interest
MS untaxed bonds, the support OF the ire
SIX mems bureau, the sustenance OF au unne
an sa-iy large army, and the payment OF
ms sions and bounties.
ad This last, am, by no means, opposed
The | would not be in favor of any system
au. economy which would foreshorteu the p
ms err recompense to the widows and orphan
the brave defenders Of our country IN
in field.
ich The vast expenditures, to which
is alluded, is the Wanted economy which
cal | m follow close Oh the accession of the re