Litchfield enquirer., 1870-08-18

realities. h.the progress of the ages it has been giyan to few, in any form or by any modes, 10 achieve work so vast, so grand, so bd1efcent, so sure to be record ed by histor! and applauded and remem- bered by coming generations.
 Having achieved this grand work, having passed through these three eras of it's his- tory, the republican party, entering on its fourth era, MS summoned to deal with questions reIding to the national debt, the currency, finances and taxation, to reforms in the military, naval and Indian service, and whatever Remaining burdens and lega- cies were left by the war. Concerning these questiols there are apparent diyersi ties of interests and real differences of opin- ion. The solutions of some of them are embarrassed by grave difficulties. They require timesR Mell as financial skill and practical statesmanship for their adjust ment. Differences of opinion on matters 1 so recondite and complex, in an organiza- l tion embracing so many men of large in- telligence, traIued to habits of independent thought, expression and modes of action, are inevitable. They are indeed to be ex- pected and desirsd, for from such freedom of discussion truth is elicited and proper modes of action are deduced. The men, therefore, who stood firmly while in mi nority, amid the denunciations, arrogance and scorn of power; the nien who met the stern exigencIes of civil war with such he- roic courage, who assailed the slave power and extirpated tle slave system; the men who grappled so succe ssfully with the per- picking andpregnant issues of reconstruc- tion, lifted helpless freedmen up to citizen ship, exalted them to the heights of civil and political rights and privileges, and made the nation free in fact as we'll as in name, should not shrink from the less mo- mentous and less embarrassing questions now before them.
 Patriotism, principle, tbe continued ex- istence, reputation and renown of the re- publican party, and @ due sense of self respect and pride of character demand that republicans now, as in the past, should have faith in it's capacity to carry for ward to completion reforms so suspicious ly begun. It came into being as an or ganization of reform and progress, and should be ever ready to accept the living issues of the hour and march abreast with the spirit of the age. Unaided it has fought the battles of reform with con- stancy and courage Nor in the work still before it can it hope for aid for those who still cling to the traditions of the past, pride themselves on their conservatism, and who, during the conflicts of the past twenty years, have resisted all reform, and mourned over every effete and hateful abuse as it fell. If there are republicans who are weary of the ascendancy of a par ty which has achieved such crowning vic- tories, who are tired of the ,responsibili- ties of power, and would relinquish it to other hands, they Should remember that thu fn ft surely they cannot fail to see that the de- mocratic party, by its policy during the closing years of it's power, and by blind and unrelenting opposition to reformatory measures while out of power, even now. as if smitten by judicial blindness, refu- sing to accept the constitutional amend- ments as fixed and final, has demonstrated it's utter incapacity for such trust.
 Accustomed to success even against fear ful odds, and undertaking perhaps the in- trinsic difficulties of the pending issues. many republicans looked to Gen. Grants administration with high raised expecta- tions. Of course they have been impa- tient, and not always satisfied with results. But while these expectations have not been president or of congress, much has been
 
 them that the difficult problems will be wrought out and the hoped for results &C., complished.
 General Grant came into office pledged to maintain inviolate the public faith, re- duce the national debt, diminish taxation. appreciate the currency, reform abuses in the civil and military service, and main tain order in the states lately in rebellion. By the combined action of the president, the heads of departments, congress and the general of the army. many abuses have been corrected and many reforms inaugu- ted. President Grants Indian policy is bringing forth evidences of it's justice, it's humanity and it's wisdom. The firm, just and generous policy of the administration toward the states lately in rebellion, has brought much of order and security. and crimes have largely diminished. In the interests of economy, the services of thou sands of employees, both civil and militia ", have been dispensed with. The cur l rency has been appreciated in value by tens and scores of millions of dollars, and the national credit has been largely strengthened.
 ] Without any increase in the articles sub- l ject to taxation, or in the rate of taxation, the revenues of the fiscal year ending the 3Oth of June, 1870, were nearly four hun dred and nine millions of dollars against less than three hundred and seventy one millions for the year ending 30th of June, 1869, showing 8 gain of nearly thirty eight millions of dollars. On the other hand, the expenses of the fiscal year, 1870, were less than those of 1869 by more than twenty-nine millions of dollars, thus show ing an increased revenue and saving in expenditures of more than sixty-seven millions of dollars in the first fiscal year of General Grants administration. In the last sixteen months of MT. Johnson's s administration, the receipts from customs and internal revenue were less than three hundred and seventy-two millions of dol lars. During the first sixteen months o1 General Grants administration, they were J more than four hundred and sixty-nine millions of dollars, showing an increase oi nearly ninety seven millions of dollars.
 Republicans will remember that during the last two years of Mir. Johnson's g ad. ministration, he removed republicans ap pointed by MT. Lincoln and others who adhered to the principles of the Republi can party, and appointed democrats where he could do so. The character of these appointments and the demoralizing infiu ences which his opinions and conduct hat upon them were seen in the loss of scores I of millions of dollars of reyenue in those