The Fremont weekly journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County, Ohio) 1867-1877, 1870-08-26
FRIDAY AUGUST 26, 1870.

rOlc courage, who aSSalled the slave
|. power and extirpated the slave
system; the men who grappied so
successfully with the perplexing and
pregnant issues of reconstruction,
lifted helpless freedmen up to citi-
zenship, exalted them to the heights
Iof civil and political rights and priv
IiIeges. and made the nation free in
fact as well as in name, should not
shrink from the less momentous and
less embarrassing questions now be-
fore them.
Patriotism, principle, the cOntin-
Iued existence, reputation and re-
lnown of the Republican party, and
a due sense of self-respect and pride
of character demand that Republi-
can snow, as in the past, should have
faith in this capacity to carry for
ward to completion reforms so aus
piciously begun. 1t came into be-
ing as an organization 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
constancy and courage, Nor in the
work still before it can it hope for
aid from those who still cling to the
traditions of the past, pride them
selves on their conservatism, and
who, during the conflicts of the past
twenty years, have resisted all re-
form, and mourned over every efete'
and hateful abuse as it fell. Ifthere
are Republicans who are weary of
the ascendancy of a party which has
achieved such crowning victories,
who are tired of the responsibilities
! of power, and would relinquish it to
other hands, they should remember
that there are none worthy to accept
it. For surely they can not fail to
see that the Democratic party, by its
policy during the closing years Of
| its power, and by its blind and unre
llenting opposition to reformatory
measures while out of power, even
now, as if smitten by judicial blind
ness, refusing to accept the Consti-
tutional amendments as fixed and
final, has demonstrated its utter in
capacity for such trust.
Accustomed to success even
against fearful odds, and underrat-
| ing perhaps the intrinsic difficulties
of the pending issues, many Repub
licans looked to General Grants
administration with high expecta-
tions. OF course, they have been
impatient, and not always satisfied
with results. But while these ex-
pectations have not been fully real
lied in the action of either the Pres
ident or of Congress, much has been
achieved; enough, at any rate, to sat
lisfy them that the difficult prob
lens will be wrought out and the
hoped-for results accomplished.
Gen. Grant came into office pledg-
ed to maintain inviolate the public
faith, reduce the national debt, di-
minish taxation, appreciate the cur
rency, reform abuses in the civil and
military service, and maintain order
in the States lately in rebellion. By
the combined action of the Presi-
ldent, the Heads of Departments,
| Congress and the General Of the ar
Imy, many abuses have been. correct
ed and many reforms inaugurated.
president Grants Indian policy is
bringing forth evidence of its JUS
ltice, its humanity and its wisdom.
The firm, just and generous policy
lof the Administration toward the
Estates lately in rebellion, has brought
lmuch of order and security, and
crimes have largely diminished. In
the interests Of economy the service
of employees, both civil and military,
have been dispensed with. The cur
lrency 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 atti-
cles subject to taxation, or in the
rate of taxation, the revenues of the
fiscal year ending 3Oth of June,
1870, were nearly four hundred and
nine millions of dollars against less
than three hundred and seventy-one
millions for the year ending Both Of
June 1869, showing a gain Of nearly
thirty EIGHT millions of dollars, On
the other hand, expenses of the ifs
cal year 1870 were less than those
|. of 1869 by more than twenty-nne
millions of dollars, thus showing an
increased revenue, and saving in ex +
penditures of more than sixty-seven
millions of dollars in the first fiscal
year of Gen. Grants administration.
In the last Is months of Mr.. John
sons administration, the receipts
from customs and internal revenue
were less than three hundred and
Iseventy-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..
Johnson's administration he remoY-
ed Republicans appointed by Mr..
Lincoln and others who adhered to
the principles of the Republican
party, and appointed Democrats
where he could do so. The charac-
ter of these appointments and the
demoralizing influence which his
opinions 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 de-
termined and avowed puopose of
Gen. Grant to secure an honest adj |
ministration of the revenue laws and |
the appointment of Republicans to
office earnestly devoted to his econ
omical policy.
During the recent session of Con
gress taxes have. been reduced more
than $75,O00,O00. The taxes have
been removed from transportation |
by canals and railways, from sales
by dealers and manufacturers. The |
income tax has been reduced to q /
per cent. on all incomes above So |
900; and it is to expire at the end Of
two years. The tax on tea has been |