North Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1867-current, 1869-09-15
Geo. Gillaspy at Newton, Iowa.

once allude to the negro question. Hi
speech was entirely in accordance with the
democratic platform adopted ut De!
Moincs in July. He began by abiding tt
the fact that it had been tho usual prac
ticc of both parties TO nominate lawyers
doctors. judges, and sometimes gentlemen
| of high military distinction, to Office; but
| the speaker could make no claims &c
either rank. Neither was he "banker OF
bondholder, but only plow-holder and
n pork packer" He had been n hard
laboring man all his days and he was
opposed to high salaries-somc of his
friends told him that this vas because he
had always worked for low wages. Some
persons claimed that the salary should be
hauged according to the niche where the
Office is located. But the speaker conten-
ded that high Office, with less labor to
perform, should not pay higher salary
than small Office which takes up all of a
mans time. He had never been able to
see the propriety of paying man a high
or salary to fill an Office than is paid to fill
smaller Office which takes just as much
ability as the larger Office. Many men in
Office get four or five times as large saar
les as they are worth.
The speaker was in favor of economy
and in order to be- economical it was nee
essary to avoid paying interest as much as
possible. The democratic party say that
we ought to begin now to pay the princi-
pal of the public debt, by redeeming bonds
at their par value, as expressed on their
faces, instead of allowing the secretary Of
tho treasury to buy them up at the price
to which Wall street spectators may have
inflated them. Republicans claim that
the debt ought to be extended to far
period. The democratic party was in favor
of redeemng the bonds as fast as possible
ut their par value. The speaker would
ask any republican lawyer if the secretary
was not violating his oath hy paying Sl2p
for 500 worth oil bonds, on Wall street,
instead Of redeeming them at their face.
as he should do. The interests of the
pecpl, demanded that the bonds should be
redeemed at their face. The time had
come when taxes should be equal. Ii was
a libel aud q SANDER to say that the peo-
pie want that men who can put their
hands In their pockets and draw out gov
eminent bonds should 20 scot free Of
taxation such as people who osa other
kinds OF property 10 tha same amount hare
TO pay. The question was asked, If we
could Tx period when the debt can be
paid, The Democratic party claimed that
the Interest can be re1ueed to-day bus il
WILL not be done unless YOU get 4 new see
OF men ia power. The partv In POWER are
anu cannot be expected to
alake laws that viii operate against their
private interests. The people paw S55O.-
poo, 600 annually into the treasury. OF
his, Si2o, ooo, 600 is paid as interest Gu
the debt; as vet. only $1,000. 800 has
been appropriated toward paying the
principal of the debt. The speaker was in |
'avor of stopping the leaks and was
wiling to vote for any man who would |
honestly, and impartially dis /
.harge his duty. He had no fault TO fnd /
Nth bankers themselves. The law allow I
d them to hold bonds without paving /
axes on them, and it was with the law
hat he found fault. A law which was
ound to operate unequally should be
epealed.
Col. Gillaspy next proceeded to discuss
he temperance question. He proclaimed
himself temperance man. For q years
e had not tasted lager beer, whisky. or
randy. He believed that drunkenness
vas a misfortune. lie could say to q
runkard. ''Look around on your family
nd see what you are bringing them to-
'ut the poor, miserable drunkard was no
lore to be blamed than the man who sold
i'm the liquor. and j. would be all right
0 take him to jail. The speaker had &C.
Aor,ination on the democratic
tate platform IN good faith; no party and 7,
o power on earth had the power to make
i'm do what he thought was wrong. In
lluding to the assertions of the repubG-
ans that the democratic party, Colonel
'illaspy playlully related an Incident
'hich took place in sleeping>car in
'hich he was riding from Chicago to Iowa:
n the morning, about 20 young fellows
rank from little willow glasses something
'hich gave strong odor of whisky; and !
a order to test the whisky side of politics,
'ol. Gillaspy remarked to friend that he,
he were betting man, would be willing
0 bet that the majority Of these young
elbows who were taking their "norning
od'' belonged to the republican party.
The question was accordingly put and it .
Vas ascertained that Is Of the % voted
With the republican party. This illustra- .
ion Of the way in which republicans
'racticed their moral precepts elected
much laughter and applause.
Col. Gillaspy concluded his speech with
discussion of the tariff law. remarkine
t the outset that the democratic party
we're opposed to the present tariff law. as
protecting the rich domestic manufacturer,
nd knuckling to Johnny Bull, by prac-
ically admitting the cheapness of En- glsh
foods. The speaker argued that 'home
protection" corrupted this nation. The
lain that articles of luxury are taxed
ighcr than the necessities of life could
ot be sustained. In proof of this posi-
ion, he cited the ad ralorem duties on
!,ree articles of luxury, as follows:
' lne.. ..........".............6 per cent.
'igars... ......................60 per cent.
J. ks .........."............9O per cent
In contrast with this statement were the
uties imposed by this same tariff law on
rticlcs indispensable to the use and con, !
umption of the people, and which should I
o selected for the lowest duties. The
peaker cited a list of these necessaries
nth the present rate Of duty attached, as
blows:
!, ooien oyercoatlng............l27 per cent.
oolen hosiery .l22 per cent.
Blankets, according to weight, from 40
, 3l2 p"r cent.
The same held true of other indispen-
able articles. People who must have 1
vercoats and hosiery paid the highest /,
evenne to the manufacturer, while those ,
tho INDUCED in the luxury of wines and
igars paid the lowest The speaker ar G
ued forcibly and clearly that this system 8
hould be reversed, SO as to favor the /.
reat mass of consumers instead of few