Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1870-08-19
INDEPEND DENCE IOWA. FRIDAY, AUGUST 49, 1870.

ures. To secure citizenship and civil rights
to wronged and hated race, they proposed
and adopted the Fourteenth Amendment,
and enacted the bill Of Civil Rights. To
establish by irreversible guarantees equal
political rights and privileges, they adopted
the Fifteenth Amendment, and as crown.
ing act for freedom they provided by law for
the enforcement of these amendments thue
newly enshrined within the Constitution.
Thus the Republicans, against the sternss!
opposition, against Misrepresentation,
against appalling obstacles, having strug-
gled on until the rebel States reconstructed
on the basis Of impartial liberty, had besh
restored, and the sublime. doctrines Of the
Declaration Of Independence made assured
and practical realities. In the progress Of
the ages it has bean giveu to few, in any
form or by any mode, to achieve work 90
vast, 80 grand, so bens6cent, so sure to be
recorded by history. and applauded and 70.
membered BY coming generations.
ITS FOURTH ERA.
Having achieved this grand work, having
passed through these three eras of its histo.
ry, the Republican party entered upon iss
fourth era, was summoned to deal with
questions relating to the national debt, the
currency, finances and taxation, to reforms
in ths military, naval and Indian service.
and whatever remaining burdens and lega-
cies we're left by the war. Concerning these
questions there are apparent diversities Of
interests and real differences Of opinion
The solution Of some Of them are embar-
assed by grave difficulties. They require
time as well as financial skill and practical
craftsmanship for their adjustment. Differ
ences of opinions on matters SO reconcile
and complex, in an organization embracing
SO many men Of large intelligence, trained
to habits Of Independent thought, expression
and modes of action, are inevitable. They
are indeed expected and desired, for from
such freedom Of discussion truth is elected
and proper modes Of action are deduced'
The men, therefore, who stood SO firmly
while in minority, amid the denunciations
arrogance and scorn Of power; the men
who met the stern exigencies Of civil wal
with such heroic courage, who assailed the
slave power and ex,rpaed the slave sys'
TEN; the men who grappled SO successfully
with the perplsxiog and pregnant issues O
reconstruction, lifted helpless freedmen uf
to citizenship, exalted them to the heights
of civil and political rights and privileges
and made the nation free in fact as we'll al
iu name, should not shrink from the les'
momentous and less embarrassing questions
now before them.
WORK TO BE ACCOMPLISHED.
Patriotism, principle, the continued ex
is,ence, reputation and renown of the Rs
publican party, and due sense Of self.re
spec, aud pride OF character demand tha
Republicans now, as in The past, should hav'
faith in this capacity to carry forward 4
completion reforms so auspiciously begun
II came into being as an organization Q
reform and progress, and should ever b
ready to accept the living issues Of the hou
and march abreast with the spirit Of the age
Unaided it has fought the battles Of reform
with constancy and courage. Nor in th'
work still before it can it hope for aid from
those who still cling to the traditions Of thu
past, pride themselves on their conservatism
and who, during the conflicts Of the pas
twenty years, have resisted all reform, ant
mourued avery effele aud hateful abuse a
it fell. If there are Republicans that arr
weary of the ascendancy Of party which
has achieved such crowning victories, wh'
are tired Of the responsibilities of power
and would relinquish it to other hands
they should remember there are none wor
thy to accept it. For surely they csnno
fail TO see that tho Democratic party, b.
its policy during the closing years Of it
power, and By its blind and unrelenting op
. ,stion to retormatory measures while ou
Of power even now, IS II smitten BY judicia
blindness, refusing to accept the Constitu
,ional amendments, az fixed and final, ha
demonstrated its utter incapaci.y for such I
trust.
PRESIDENT GR.Nr's ADMINISTRATION.
Accustomed to success even against fear
full odds, and undertaking, perhaps, the in
trinsic difficulties Of the pending issues
many Republicans looked to Genera
Grants Administration with high raised ex
pec.a,ious. OF course they have been im
patient, and not always a.isfed with results
But while these expectations have not beer
fully realized in tie action of either th'
President or Of Congress, much has beer
achieved, enough, at any rate, to satisfy
them that the difficult problems will b
wrought our and the hoped-for results &C
complished. General Grant came into Of
fee pledged to maintain inviolate the pub
lie faith, reduce the national debt, diminish
taxation, appreciate the currency, reform
abuses in the civil and military service, ant
maintain order in the States lately in rebel
lion. BY the combined action Of the Presi
dent, the heads Of departments, Congress
and the General Of the army, many abuses
have been corrected and many reforms IN
augurated. President Grants Indian poll
cy is bringing forth evidences of its justice
it's humanity and its wisdom. The firm
lust and generous policy of the Administers
ton toward the States lately 10 rebellion
has brought much Of order and security
and crimes have largely diminished. II
the interests OF economy the services oI
thousands of employees, both civil aud mill
tary, have been dispensed with. The cur
rency has been appreciated in value by tens
and scores of millions Of dollars. aud the
national credit has been largely strengthen
ed.
THE REVENUES.
Without any increase IN the articles sub
iect to taxation, or in the rate OF taxation,
the revenues OF the fiscal year ending the
3Oth Of June, 1870, were nearly $409,000,.