The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1868-09-15

expenditures, and we find ourselves
the heaviest taxed people in the world.
| can very we'll understand all this.
Senator Sherman, tho leading financier
of the Republican party, promised us to
! support the Government and pay the
interest on the national debt by tax
on whisky and tobacco. He really be-
lieved this, and his party, so believing,
has felt itself at liberty 10 make the
most profuse expenditures. Our Rep
resentattve in Congress, my worthy
friend Judge Lawrence, introduced
bill to make a ship canal from the Ohio
river to Lake Erie, touching at the
Lewiston Reservoir, in this county. OF
course, believing that We were relieved
from the burden of taxation through
whisky and tobacco, the Jadgo felt he
could do no better with few millions
than TO expend it in Logan coanty
about the Lewiston Reservoir. Laugh
ter. ..f .H..H
The tax on whisky and tobacco has
proved failure. Instead Of collecting
a great deal of money for the good of
the Government, we have collected vast
sums for the benefit of a corrupt few,
that now, organized as ring" take a
hand in the control Of our Government.
On the other hand, the tax collector is
ever at our door. Ii he does not come
III one shape, he is there in another, and
You scarcely compute your income re-.
turn before the State officials make their
appearance, aud in their absence the
stamp is in continual use.
CORRUPTION.
Idon't mean to assert that the Repub.
lican party is a corrupt party. believe
il TO be as pure and honest as any polit-
ical organizations; but do assert that its
profuse expenditure, unequal taxation
aud monstrons system of boun-
ties have demsralized the people and
carried corruption into every depart
ment of our Government. One of its
leaders, and you see quote only Re-
publican authority, Laughter aud ap-
plause had the frankness TO say in u
late publication
Through the unsettled condition of
q country suffering from civil wars we
have developed more rascality than any
organization ever called into existence.
We have filed the offices with thieves
and their pockets with stealings. We
have organized rings that in turn create
office holders and control the Govern
ment. Men 60 in poor and come ont
millionaires. For one dollar paid To tho
Government from hard-earned taxes
hundreds stick 10 the dirty fingers of
official scoundrels. We have whisky
rings, Indian Bureau rings, manufao.
turers rings, National Bank rings, rail
road rings, land d-jobbing rings, aud in
ternal improvement rings. From tho
10 ~ est officials up TO Senators and Cabi-
net officers, the taint of corruption
runs, until the people, dazed and con.
fused, confound the right and listen with
Indifference to the threats of exposure"
Ii this continues, and becomes chron-
ic, we may bid farewell to n republican
form of government Our fathers based
their beautiful structure on the virtue
and intelligence of the citizen. 10 has
no other foundation, and falling in that,
10 will soon be mass of ugly rnins.
And money corrnptly ssed and factions
blindly led are sappinE that foundation,
This moneycd power meets us at every
turn aud on every side. IL can offer
fortunes to the greedy, and high Office
to the ambitious. Already We see
soldier, eminent ia the field and stroDg
in the councils Of the nation, giving his
name aHd influence to this power, that
in turn IL may elevate him tn the Chief
Magstracy, and crafty his feveiish am.
bition. We are being sadly tried. All
the stormy passions engcndored 10y
terrible war; all the blind prejudice
built by partisan strife all the pride OF
section and the admiration for the
great are being appealed to 10y the un-
scrupulOu leaders who have long since
sunk their love Of country in their 10y
atty to party and tho selfish gratiiica-
tion of their avarice of their ambition.
Applause. II we arise calmly above
these Influences; if, as patriots, we shut
our eyes TO temptation, and look only To
the good Of all, we shall have won for
our party great praise, and for Tour
country renewed strength and longer
life. Loud cheering.l
CONCLUSION.
Again thank you for the compli'
ment. am glad TO bc with you once
more. ] return, after q separation Of
nine years, To the associates of my
youth, aud | breath frcor in the pure
atmosphere of the old Democracy. Let
us be slow to forget all that is good in
the past, and quick % learn all thatjs
true in the future. As party Of pro
gress-a party Of intclligcnce-the par
ty Of the people-the representative Of
labor am with you. Ny voice may
be weak, but please God | propose that
my words shall be strong. Aud for your
kind welcome ] return my heartfelt
thanks. GApplause.l
WHEN Gen. RosecraDs' army vas