The St. Cloud journal. [volume] (St. Cloud, Minn.) 1866-1876, 1870-08-25

pated the slave system the men Who.
grappled 50 successfully With the per
picking and pregnant issues Of recon-
struction, lifted helpless freedmen up to
citizenship, exalted them to the hig hts
of civil aud political rights and privi-
leges, and made the nation free in fact
as well as in name, should not shrink
from tho less momsntous aud less en-.
harvesting questions now before thcm.
Patriotism, principle, the continued
existence, reputation and renown Of tho
Republican party, and due sense Of
selfrespect aud pride Of character de.
mand that Republicans now as in the
past should have faith in this capacity
to carry forward to completion reforms
80 auspiciously begun. 1t came into
| being Is an organization Of reform and
progress, and should be ever ready to
| accept tho living issues Of tho hour aud
| march abreast with the spirit of the
| sxe. Un,ided it has fought tho battles
of reform with coastaucy 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
themselves on their conservatism, and
who, during tho conflicts of the past
twenty years have resisted al reform,
and mourned over every effete and
hateful abuse as it fell. If there are
Republicans who are weary Of the as
tendency of q party which has aohiev-
ed aueh browning victories, who are
tired Of the responsibilities Of power,
! and would reliuqu,sh it to other hands,
they should remember that there are
none worth ~, accept it. For surely
they canot 1s'l to see that the Demo-
cratic 1,rty, by its policy during
the closing years Of its power.
nd by its blind aud unrelepting
opposition to reformatory measures
while out of power, even now, Is If
smitten by judicial blindness refusing
to accept the Constitutional Amend.
ments as fixed aud inal, has demon
trated. utter inoapaeity for such q. trust.
Accustomed to success even against
fearful odds and undertaking perhaps
the 10 rinsic difficulties Of tho pending
issues, many Republicans looked 70
General Grants administration With
high raised expectation. Of course
they have been impatient, and not a.
ways satisfied with resolts. But while
these expectations have not been fully
realized in the action Of either tho
President or Of Congress, much has
been achieved ; enough, at any rate, to
satisfy them that the difficult problems
VIII be wrought out and the hoped for
results accomplished. ~
Gen. Grant came iuto Office pledged to
maintain inviolate the pbblie faith, re-.
droe the nationsl debt, diminish taxa
ton, appreciate tho currency, reform
abuses in the civil and military service,
and maintain order in the States lately
| in rebellion. By the combined action
Of the President, the heads Of depart
ments, Congress aud tbs general of the
army, many abuses have been corrected
aud many reforms inaugurated. Presi-
dent Grants Indian policy is bringing
forth evidences of its justice, its hu-
manlty and its wisdom. The firm, just
aud generous policy Of the administra-
ton toward the States lately in rebellion
has brought much of order aud security
and crimes have largely diminished.
In the interests Of economy the
services Of thousands Of employees, both
civil and military, have been dispensed
With. The currency has been appreci-
ated in value by tens and scores OF
millions of dollars, and the national
credit has been largely strengthened.
Without any Increase in the articles
subject to taxation or in the rate Of
taxation, the revenues of the fiscal year
ending 30th of June, 1870, were near
ly four hundred and nine millions Of
dollars against less than three hundred
and seventy.one millions for the year
ending 30th Of June, 1860, showing
gain Of nearly thirty-eight millions of
dollars. On tho ether hand the ex.
penses Of the fiscal year 1870, were less
than those Of 1869 by more than twen-
ty-nino millions Of dollars, thuss showing
an increased revenue and saving In ex-
penditures Of more than sixty.seven
millions of dollars in the first fiscal year
of Geu. Grants administration. In
the last sixteen months o. Mr.. Johnson's
administration the receipts from Gus.
toms and internal revenue wero less
than three hundred and seventy-two
millions Of dollars. During the first
sixteen months of Gen. Grants ad-
mioistratioa they were more than four
Hundred and sixty-nine millions, show.
ing ~ increaae Of nearly $97, 900, 900.
Republicans will rem ,mber that
during the last two years o. MI. John.
sons administration he removed Re-
pablicans appointed by Mr.. Lincoln
and Others who adhered to the prin-
ciples Of tho Republican party, and ap-
pointed Democrats where he could do
so. The character Of these appoint.
ments and the demoralising influence
which his opinions and conduct had up
on them were seen in tho loss of scores
of millions of dollars Of revenae in those
years. The largo gam in the collection
10 mainly due to the determined and
avowed purpose Of General Grant %
secure 40 honest administration Of t;,s
revenue laws and tho appointment Of
Republicans to Office earnestly devoted
to an economical policy.
During the recent session Of Con.
gress taxes have been reduced more
than seventy.6ve millions of dollars.
The taxes have been removed from
t: Evaporation by cana's and railways,
from sales by dealers and maaufac.
tarers. The income tax has been 70.
duoed to two and half per cent. on
all incomes above two thousand
dollars; and it is to expire II
tho end Of two years. The tax on ten
his been reduced from twenty-five to
fifteen cents per pound on co. e. from
five to three cents and the tax on an.
gar and molasses:' has been reduced in the
aggregate twelve millions Of dollars per
annum. By this reduction Of. taxation
the Industries of the peope the neoessariea