The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1871-05-04
MoRToN's SPEECH AT IN
DIANAPOLIS.

That audacious, bold and bad man,
Senator Morton, of Indiana, is the
special champion of General Grant,
He, for some consideration, has sus-
tanned all the official acts of this cor
rupt Administration. He nominated
him for President in 1872 in Grants
presence at Washington. Grant jour-
neys with him to the West. He is re-
ceiYed by Morton at indianapolis
Everywhere ii is the same. Morton
is the chaperone of the President
Grant nominated him (AIorton) to
take the place of Minister to England.
He declined, because, if he accepted,
the people of his State, through their
Legislature, would elect Democrat
and an opponent of Grants Admins
tration in his stead to the Senate. In
order to defeat the will of his constit-
uents he consented 10 remain and mis-
represent Indiana fer two years to
come. He gives the credit to the Ad-
ministration of Grant for paving off
in twenty-five months S210,000,000 Of
the National debt-not. as he says,
"by increasing taxation, not by in
creasing the burdens, but by an hon.
est and faithful collection of the reve-
nues."
Now, in reply to the above, it is suf-
ficient to state that the expenses of
Grants administration have been
greater than those of Johnson's, with
the single exception of the army and
navy, which the Republicans in Con-
gress-Morten among them-refused
to reduce in numbers under the last,
but have diminished under the pres
ent Administrations. For this Grant
is not entitled to the least credit. On
the contrary, the Republicans in Con-
gress are deservedly censurable for
not making the reduction before. and
so saving tens OF millions of dollars
that were lost in the johnson Admin
istration. The Democrats in Con-
gress were for making the reduction
then, but they were outyoted, and
since, if they had had their way, the
army would have been only half as
great and expensive as it is at present.
If Grant has paid any thing on the
National debt, which is doubtful, it is
owing mainly to the fact we have sta
ted, that expenses have been cut down
Nv a Republican Congress which
Republican Congress fastened upon
Andrew Johnson. The Senator says
that under Grant there has been 'no
increpse of taxation and no increase of
burdens" We appeal to the official
figures. They show that from 1867
to 1S6D the people paid in taxation for
customs 1898, 100000, and in internal
revehue $294,000,000. From 1869 to
1917 the taxes were 353, 100000 in Gus
toms, and 33S, 100000 in internal reve-i
nue.. In all, the difference of taxa
ton is S1O0,00O000. That is the sum
which the people have been charged
with more than they were when Grant
came into office. Is it the people or
the President who is to have the cred
it of this? Morton claims it for the
President. We believe the people
would have been better satisfied to 4
have had less taxes, and to have had
the Administration boast of how /
much they had reduced. instead of in |
creased, them. ....i
The Indiana Senator makes plea |
for Grant on account of his Indian |
policy being so wise and judicious.-1
In regard to this the people are not
Informed. So far as we know and be- |
lieve, there have been quite as nany |
Indian wars and distractions as at any
other time in our late Administra- /
tions. The expenses of that depart
ment are within trifle of what they |
were in Andrew Johnson's day. |