The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1868-09-03
A Plea for Dishonesty.
July %, 1868.


A strong effort is being made, by class
of politicians of doubtful morality, to per
suade voters that the election of the Dem
ocratic candidates, will be the means Of
an avoidance of the burdens of taxation.
Such is the appliance we learn, which the
small Democraticlig in this county, are
continually attempting to impress upon
the tax payers. These appeals to the
selfish interests of men, are not always
without effect; the love of money attaches
to most men, and with some it requires no
great amount Of argument to satisfy them
that taxation is chiefly unnecessary-that
it had better be dispensed with and the
money saved. The persons who so easily
catch at suggestions for getting rid Of the
National debt, do not stop to inquire as
to the morality of the method proposed
dishonesty they seem to think is just as
good as honesty, provided only the debt
is in some way got rid of. The man who
seeks to evade a contract made in good
faith with his neighbor for the payment ola
debt, is by common consent regarded as
dishonest; it is no less dishonest to de-
fraud the creditors of the government
The government creditors have made their
investments in good faith they are not
generally "bloated bond holders" as the
copperhead regulators would have the
10 hoIf l,,A l. 7
made up of the middle classes, and in
very many cases, bonds are held by the
widows of deceased soldiers, who have
made the investment as safe resource
for support, and the education of orphan
children.
When then you hear small Democratic
politician advocate the election of Sey
mour and Blair, as means of Kidding the
people of taxation from the payment of the
public debt, you may safely set him down
as dishonest knaYe. 1t is Just as much
an act of dishonesty to defraud a bond
holder, as to cheat the merchant, mechanic
or common laborer. The debt was con
tracted at period when the life of the
nation was imperiled the Treasury of the
government was exhausted, men and SUD-
plies for the army must be had, or else
the rebellion could not be put down.
Patriotic men came to the rescue
loaned their money to the government,
and in return the government pledged its
faith for the payment of the money ad-
vanced. No one who has any respect for
honesty and decency, will pretend to say
the debt OF the nation was not fairly CON
tracted
The Chicago Times usually reckless in
statements, occasionally plumbers on the
truth; in its issue few days ago it made
the following declaration:
THE question to be answered is, not
who created the debit nor how the debt
was created The debt exists that every
one knows. How shall the debt be paid.
the proper answer to this question is
what every one wants to know"
Truly the question is, how shall the
debt be paid The Republican platform
presents the true solution to the question:
it says:
1--WE denounce all forms of reputation
as National crime, and the national hon
or requires the payment of the public in
debtedness in the utmost good faith to all
creditors at home and abroad"
at is due to the labor of the nation
that taxation should be equalized, and re-
duced as rapidly as the national faith win
permit"
THE National debt contracted as it
has been for the preservation of the
Union for all time to come, should be ex
tended over fair period for redemption,
and 1t IS the duty of Congress to reduce
the rates of interest thereon, wherever it
can possibly be done"
THAT the best policy to diminish our
burden of debt, is to improve our credit
capitalists will not seek to loan us money
al toWef rates of interest than we now
pay ana must continue to pay 30 long as
reputation partial, or total, is threatened
or suspected"
Who that has respect for honesty will
question the fairness of the method pro-
posed in the Republican platform for paw
ing the public debt All the variations
and notifications which have been sug
gested by Democratic orators, partake of
repudiation-therefore, of dishonesty
There IS but one way to pay the debt;
that IS, according to the original agree
ment To change or alter the terms of
the agreement without the consent of the
creditors Is villany which deserves the
utter detestation ofhonest people.