The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1868-09-25


The Democratic Science of Deception.
THB Democratic party bases its claims to the
votes Of the people on tissue of misrepresen-
tation, which in some cases goes so far as to
amount to positive falsehood. 1t presumes on
the ignorance of its followers, and they receive
with immeasurable credulity all the fabulous
statements made to them. In fact, they are
exoellently situated for just such deception.
They are out of from the grand channel of
communicating truth. Most of them are not
in danger of being cursed as disciples OF Faust.
Few Of the Democracy can read. It requires
but the evidence of the senses to see It. In
all branches Of business the supply is gra-
dated exactly by the demand. In Philadelphia
there are eight Republican dailies to tue Demo-
cratic. With such field as this, the Demo
cracy do not hesitate to make facts suit
theories, and to delude with the most bare
faced boldness the adherents of their party.
We propose to show that the deception is
systematic and that it is the great cardinal rule
of action by which the opposition hope to carry
the campaign.
First. On the financial condition of The country
tiey seek to deceive.-The addresses published
by Mr.. Wallace, Chairman of the Committee
on Coffee of that party, assert as facts figures
which are deliberately false. The old proverb
that figures cannot lie is shown to be an error.
He tells his readers that the public debt mas
increased-we think he says, one hundred and
forty millions-sinoe the close of the war;
that the Freedmen's Bureau costs something
fabulous, and that it is still increasing. Now,
the official reports of the Secretary of the Trea-
sury show a decrease of too hundred millions
since the final suppression of the Rebellion.
In this respect, therefore, the system Of decep-
tion is practised.
Second. AS to the LawS of taration.-You
can read in any Democratic paper, or hear
from any Democratic orator, the assertion that
the bondholders escape from the payment OF the
five per cent income tax; that the rich men
who are receiving this Government tax in the
shape of interest do not pay to the Govern
ment anything in their incomes. Now, this
is wilfully and maliciously false. Every form
of income, whether from Government loans or
any other class of property or security is taxed,
at five per cent. if it is between one thousand
and five thousand, and ten per cent. If it ex-
ceeds five Thousand dollars per annum. From
this rule no one is exempt. Thus in a most
garing and evident manner Is the science of
deception attempted.
Third. In regard to the condition of the
Southern StateS.-This is a most frnitf.I
means of deceit The feeling existing between
the two sections is such as to prevent any very
general knowledge of the state of the South
by actual observation. Therefore the
romancers of the Democracy give us wonder
full accounts of the hslcyon times in the late
Rebel territory. There is, if we can believe
them, state of fraternal regard existing be-
tween the late slaves and their late masters.
True, there is every now and then some
awkward evidence to overcome. $50 negroes
are killed in single month, and this
must be explained away. To do this
bold game is attempted. The White Sulphur
Springs and its comedy of convention is the
result. By gigantic and systematized effort
is the real condition of the Southern States
sought to be concealed from the people of
the North. The Democracy fear the re-
suit If the truth should be known. The
warm heart of the Northern yeoman would
soon be bsating in unison with the oppressed
Unionists, and majority such as would
annihilats the party be the result. They
both falsify facts and originate statements.
To an art have they reduced the plan of
turning real events into an entirely different
channel of deductions than is allowed by
logic. They appreciate the truth of Tenny-
sons lines:-
"a lie that is part the truth is ever the blackest
A lie that is all lie can be met and fought with
outright
But a lie that is part the truth is harder mat
ter TO fight"
1t has been, however, an idle task, this
seeking to deceive the people. Popular intel
ligence is too widespread. Popular knowledge
ls too much extended to make universal de-
ception possible in this age and country. The
ialsehood if not self-detecting, is soon ferreted
out, and is soon nailed. The great body of the
Northern masses read facts through the Almy
curtain of misconstruction. They see the
TACT that hundreds of negroes are killed even
If there be peace at the South. They see the
fact that the printed income returns do not
exempt Government bonds. They see the fact
that the debt and the taxes have been de-
creased, and they care not what unfair infer
enoes the Democracy may draw. By majority
we predict, that will settle all hopes in thu
future of successful deceit, the people will
evince their opposition to the party which.
building itself on popular ignorance is pressing
one at en- too far on popular credulitv