The weekly standard., 1870-08-17


rassed by grave difficulties. They require
time as well as financial skill and practical
craftsmanship for their adjustment. Differ
ences of opinion on matters so recondite and
complex, in an organization embracing so
many men of large intelligence, trained to
habits of independent thought, expression.
and modes of action, ore inevitable. They
are indeed to be expected and desired, for
from such freedom of discussion truth is
elected and proper modes OF action are de-
duced. The men, therefore, who stood so
firmly while in minority, amid the denun- |
Citations, arrogance, and scorn of power;
the men who met the stern cxigences OF |
civil war with such heroic courage, who as
sailed the slave power and extirpated the
slave system the men who grappled so
successfully with the perplexing and preg-
nant issues of reconstruction, lifted helpless
freedmen up to citizenship, exalted them to
the heights of civil and political rights and
privileges, and made the nation free in fact
as well as in name, should not shrink from
the less momentnus and less embarrassing
questions now before them.
Patriotism, principle, the continued cxis-
tence, reputation and renown of the Rcpub-
lican party, and due sense of sslf-respect
and pride of character demand that Rcpub
licans now, as in the past, should have faith
in this capacity to carry forward to couple
ton reforms SO auspiciously begun. Itcame
into being as an organization of reform and
progress, and should he ever ready,to accept
the living issues OF the hour and march
abreast with the spirit OF the age. Unaidcd
it has fought the battles of reform with cnn-
stancy and courage. Nor in the work. still
before it can it hope for aid from those who
still cling ss the tradi3ions ss sAf Put RRFAAs wis.,
during the conflicts OF the pust20 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 ascen
dancy of a party which has achieved such
crowning victories, who are tired of the re-
| sponsibilitics of power, and would relinquish
it to other hands, they should remember
that there are none worthy to accept it. For
surely they cannot fail to sec that the Dem
ocratic party, by policy during the clos
ing years of its power, and by its blind and
unrelenting opposition to reformatory meas
ures while out of power, even now. as it
smitten by judicial blindness, refusing ro ac-
cept the Constitutional amendments as fixed
| and final, has demonstrated its utter incapac-
| ity for such trust.
| Accustomed to success even against fear
full odds, and undertaking perhaps the intrin-
sic difficulties of the pending issues, many
Republicans looked to Gen. Grants admins
tration with high raised expectations Of
course, they have been impatient, and not
always satisfied with results. But while
these expectations have not been fully real
lied in the action of either the President or
of Congress, much has been achieved !;
enough, at any rate, to satisfy them that the
difficult problems will be wrought out and
the hoped-for results accomplished.
Gen. Grant came into office pledged to
maintain inviolate the public faith, reduce
the national debt, diminish taxation appro-
ciate the currency, reform abuses in the civil
and military service, and maintain order in
the States lately in rebellion. By the COM
bined action of the President, the Heads of
Departments, Congress and the General of
the army, many abuses have been corrected
and many reforms inaugurated. President
Grants Indian policy is bringing forth evi
dences of its justice, its humanity and its
wisdom. The firm, just and generous poll
cy of the administration toward the States
lately in rebellion, has brought much of or
der and security, and crimes have largely di-
minished. In the interests Of economy the
services of thowanas of empiayes. ..Lotl, c,vii
and military, have been dispensed WITH
The currency has been appreciated in valnc
by tens and scores of millions of dollars. and
the national credit bas been largely strcng-
thened.
| Without any increase in the articles sub.
ject to taxation, or in the rate of taxation,
the revenues of the fiscal year ending 3Oth
of June, 1870, were nearly four hundred nd
nine millions OF dollars against less than
three hundred and seventy one millions for
the year ending 3Oth of June, 1869, showing
gain of nearly thirty eight millions ofdol-
lars. On the other hand, the expenses OF
the fiscal year, 1870, were less than those uf
1869 by more than twenty-nine millions OF
dollars, thus showing 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 Mr.. Jchnston's
administration, the receipts from customs
and internal revenue were less than three
hundred and seventy-two millions of dollars.
During the first 16 months of Gen. Grants
administration, they were more than four
hundred and sixty-nine millions, showing
an increase of nearly ninety-seven millions
of dollars
Republicans will remember that during
the last two years of Mr.. Johnston's admin
istration he removed Republicans appointed
by MIR. Lincoln and others who adhered to
the principles of the Republican party, and
appointed Democrats where he could do SO.
I
The character of these appointments and
the demoralizing influence which his opin-
ions and conduct had upon them were seen
in the loss of scores of millions of dollars of
revenue in these years. The large gain in
the collection is mainly due to the deter
mined and avowed purpose of Gen. Grant
to secure an honest administration of the
revenue laws and the appointment of Re
publicans to office earnestly devoted to his
economical policy. H
| During the recent session of Congress
taxes have been reduced more than $75,-
100000. The taxes have been removed
from transportation by canals and raifways,
from sales by dealci5 and manufacturers.
The iocome tax has bern reduced to 2t per
cent. on all incomes above $4,000; and it is
to expire at the end of two years. The tax
on tea has been reduced from 25 to Is cents
per rpound /; on coffee from to cents; and
the tax on sugar and molasses has been re-
ducetl in the aggregate s12,OOO,OOO per an
num- By this reduction of taxation the in
dustrics of the people and the necessaries of
life have been relieved of burdens amounting
to millions. The funding bill is an impor-
tant financial measure, which contempiates