Tama County Republican. (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1867-1872, 1870-09-22
THE POLITICAL ISSUES.
A Searching Letter from Speaker
Blaine.
AUGUSTA, Me-, Aug. 4, 1870.

AUGUSTA, OlE., Aug. 4, Io1V.
Hon. JosEpn BAKER,
Chairman District Convention:
DEAR SIR: Various circumstances
have caused a delay in my formal ac-
know!edgement Of your favor advis-
ing me of the fact that I had again
been nominated for Representative
from the Third Congressional DIS
trict. ! desire through you to ex-
press to my political friends the pro-
found sense Of obligation l feel tor
this renewed aud emphatic expires.
sion of their confidence. Appreciat-
ing asI do most fully the moral worth,
the general intelligence, and the high
character OF my constituency, I con.
fess that it is q source of grateful
pride that I have been enabled to re.
tain SO steadfastly aud for 80 long .
period their good will. their sympa-
thy, aud their support In accept
ing the nomination with which l ann
thus again hopored, l may be par
doned, / trust, for dwelling at some
length on the issues involved in the
pending election, and the relative
claims Of the Republican and Demo
cratic parties to popular confidence.
REDUCTION OF THs DEBT.
1t is seventeen months to-day
since General Grant was inaugurated
as President OF the United States.
When he was invested with the Ex-
ecutive authority, the National Debt
amounted to 2,525. .463 ,260. On the
first day of the present month the
total debt vas q, 1865, 1924, ,476, showr
ing q reduction in the period referred
to of the enormous sum of 3156, 1885,
784-at the rate of considerably more
than one hundred millions per year.
During the seventeen months imme.
diassly proceeding General Grants
secession 70 the Presidency, when
the Democratic party had control in
the councils Of Andrew johnson, the
National Debt was increased more
than thirty millions Of dollars. Lam
writing with the official reports Of
Secretary McCulloch and Secretary
Boutwell, before me, and the accura-
cy Of these figures cannot be success
fully questioned.
But suggestive as these results are,
the wholetruth is not yet told-for
it must be remembered that tho
enormous reduction of the National
Debt under the administration Of
General Grant has been achieved
with diminished sources of taxation
as compared with those in existence
when the debt was SO largely increas-
ed under Andrew Johnson. This
fact demonstrates very conclusively
two very important points, VIZ:
First that the revenue has been COL
lected with far more scrupulous hon.
esty and exactness under President
Grants Republican administration
than it was under President John.
sons Democratic administration
aud second, that the public money
has been disbursed with far greater
economy and care under the one than
it was under the other. Contrasting
the two periods of equal length. the
one under Democratic influence the
other under Republican influence,
and the difference to the National
Treasury in favor OF the latter ex-
csads one hundred and eighty six
millions OF dollars, just about eleven
millions per month-well nigh four
hundred thousand dollars per day.
And this difference is exhibited, be 1t
remembered, when the Democratic
party did not have full sway in the
Government. They had control OF
the President, but we're under the
continual and wholesome restraint Of
. Republican Congress. What the
Democratic party would do, il clothed
with entire power in all the Depart
ments Of the Government, will, We
truat. be left for q long period to the
imagination Of men, without giving
us the bitter fruits Of its practical re-
alixation. What forms OF repudia-
ton Of the National faith would be
rasorted TO may be inferred from the
declarations OF their, conventions and
the speeches OF many Of their lead
ing men. fsf tq8 4