Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1870-10-06
THE ISSUES.

41G 4o0OG0s
ED REPUBLICAN I'm order to hear the
issues or The day ably and thoroughly
discussed by that Democratic statesman,
b. w. Hanna, we attended the great
Democratic mass meeting held at Plym-
outh on the 2Sth ult. We cannot attempt
/ to- describe the enthusiasm of the audi
tence that partly filed the court room, for
the speech was so entertaining that the
enthusiasm escaped our notice but win
content ourselves with recapitulation OF
the political issues as presented TO the
citizens of'tbis county by the Democratic
candidate for Attorney General.
In Lis Introductory remarks tibet gentle
man said: al propose TO discuss the
issues that are before the people of lndi-
ana, and'to give reason for my political
faith" Carefully noting them as they
were presented, we obtained the follow
ing as issues:
First-Tbe cause Of the Rebellion.
Sccond--The' obstruction of the Con-
stitutiou.
Third-The recent legislation of Con-
gress to guard the ballot box, and punish
illegal voters.
Foscrth-The payment of the National
debt.
FUth-The economy of the present
administration.
Sirth-The tariff
.Scvcnth-The donation of the public
lands.
In discussing the first issue, he claimed
that the Republican party caused the war
by not accepting the compromises offered
by the Democrats of the South--that Re-
publicans told tlo South to secede, and
when it did, they (Republicans) made
war upon it and thereby caused the
slaughter of thousand DIS of human beings
and that'no Demo- cratic statesman or pa.
per in the North favored secession.
The destruction of the Constitution.
he claimed, was accomplished by three
amendments to it, which completely
changed tho character thai heretofore
glorious instrument, and which made
white men stoop to the level Of Negroes
and Cinnamon.
His comments upon the Third issue
were laughable. He said
ave have large number of Negroes
inehe southern part of this State, and il
], by chance, should step on their large
feet which generally spread all around
the body, and thus 'bindse them from get
ting TO the polls on election day, l would
be subjected to fine of $500 or imprison-
ment for one year, probably both"
He made a pitiiul cry about having to
retain Negro tenants If they did nat vote
to snit him, and about having 10 sleep
with them at taverns.
These issues are forever passed. The
Rebellion, the leaders of which were all
Democrats, was crushed by Republican
Administration, with an army principally
Republican commanded DO generals who
are now Republicans.
Our great Republic ewes its present
prosperity 10 the Republican party. fit
had accepted the nonevercive policy of
northern Democrats, We would today, be
cropping among the ruins Of fallen Re-
public.
The constitutional amendments add adj
ditional lusters to that powerful document
1t now stands peerless among all other
printed or written matter, except the BIZ
ble, and is the bright guiding star OF the
governnent that furnishes hume with
equal social and political rights to the op-
pressed ofevery cline Notwithstanding
the Democratic cry of Cumbersome tax
ation and Republican tyranny, the hearts
and hopes ofthe poor and down-trodden
of ali other countries turn 10 the Ameri-
lean Republic.
We were surprised that tie learned
Hanna should class these questions that
have been laid aside, as issues now before
the people, but will PASS TO the fourth,
the payment of tire national debt, and the
most important OF all. lie objected 10 all
the provisions of the administration by
which it is now so rapidly paying the
debt, and advocated the theory Of issuing
$500, 600, 600 per year in greenbacks
which should be applied TO the payment
of the debt until il was paid.
He disputed the economy of the admin
istration, and 10 prove bis point, referred
to she difference in the prices of dry
goods and groceries now and ten years
ago. We wonder if ss,c thought That
even the Democracy would consider that |
an argument against economy on the part |
misjudged the intellect of Marsholl coun- |
ty.
He opposed the tariff for protection,
and the donation of public lands to rail-
roads. AS the Republican party is divi
ded in sentiment upon these questions,
and the Democracy is not unit in its |
opinion of ,hem, they arc n1 really issses
that divide these two parties. The only
true issue that the gentleman referred 10
is the payment Of the national debt.
His proposition in which we recognize
the policy the Democrats propose 10
adopt if they come into power, demands
the prompt consideration of the legal vo-
tiers of the union.
His policy of paying the national in
debiedness with greeDbacks is simply
paying the face of a note by giving an
other note. The government bonds are
notes drawing interest from date, while
greenbacks are notes that draw no interest.