The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1870-08-10
Schuyler Colfax ON the Coming Cam
pafgn.

paign.
THE WORK OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY
WHAT CONGRESS HAS DONE.
Let us turn from this brief review of the
structures to which have alluded, to an equal
ly abbreviated statement of what has been
done by the Republican Administration and
Congress, for which it deserves well of the
country.
L. Reconstruction. When Congress con-
veDed, last December, four of the insurrec-
tionary States were still unrestored "to their
practical relations to the government" When
it adjourned in July they were all restored,
and every star on our banner symbolized
State.
| 2. The Fifteenth Amendment. Not only
was this rreversible guarantee of equal rights
and self protection enshrined in our national
constitution, but Congress enacted legislation
against the bitterest opposition, TO enforce
the thirteenth, fourteenth and fifteenth
| amendments against all who would seek to
nullify or violate tt EN-.
B. The National Recenues. The fidelity of
| the Administration in collecting the revenues
is signally illustrated by comparison whose
| figures are more impressive and conclusive
than the most potential argument. General
| Grant, in his first sixteer months of service
from March 4, 1859, to July 1. 1901 collect
ed 1872 006,735 more internal revenue than
was collected in the last sixteen months OF
| Mr.. Johnson's service from November l, 1867,
| to March 4, 1861 no taxes having been in
| creased during Gen. Grants term, and having
the same country to collect from and the
same laws to collect under During the same
sixteen5 months Gen. Grants officers collected
| 9,4O1 1913 OF duties under the tariff more
than Mr.. Johnson's officers collected during
his closing sixteen months.
4. The Debt. The few millions of The ma
tional debt paid during the last sixteen
months OF Mr.. JohnsOn's term will be remem-
bered, ard the contrast between that exhibit
and the S140,O00O00 paid by President Grant
during his sixteen months rejoices all who
hold that the national debt must be paid to
the uttermost farthing.
5. Retrenchment In every department
there have been retrenchments. The clerical
force at Washington has been reduced by the
thousand, every year finding it smaller.
g.. Reduction of Tariff and Tdres. With
all this healthy financial result the Republi-
cans in Congress were able to pass bill, for
which the Democracy refused to vote, reduc-
ing the burdens OF internal and external tax
alton in the aggregate about eight millions
per year.
Z. Funding. Congress also passed, over
|
bill for funding the national debt, on which
six per cent. interest is now paid, into bonds
TO run 30, Is and ten years respectively, at a,
IL and 5 per cent interest saving, if all are
funded, twentp-six millions of interest per
year.
8. Increased Banking Circulation. With
out initiating the currency, but at the same
time saving nearly million and half oil
interest per year to the Treasury, Congress
authorized seventy-nine millions of addition.
al circulation to the South and West. which
had now less than their share of national
bank circulation.
.. Pensioners. A much desired change
was effected by Congress in providine for the
payment of all pensioners quarterly hereafter
instead of semi-annually, and in checks sent
to their homes.
10. Peace. Despite our strong and undis.
suised sympathy with all who struggle fol
liberty and selt-government, we have been
fortunately preserved from any ENVIRONMENTS
at home-from war or entangling alliances
as well as from the threatened Indian war on
the palms.
l must not trespass further on your space
The picture thus imperiectly presented is one
OF which none need be ashamed. The Re-
publican party represents the power, grow th
progress, development and humane and lib.
eral ideas OF the American people. Every
lover of liberty and human rights through
out the world sympathizes with it. Millions
at home as well as abroad rejoice over its tri-
umphs or are saddenei over its reyerses.
Unity in its ranks guarantees the one: dis
affection and divisions hazard the other.-N.
Y. Independent.