The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1871-09-07
For the Republican Journal.
Mr.. BIaine's Speech at Saratoga.

1t is curious to note the fimsy argu-
ments and shallow lodges the leaders of
the republican party resort to, to hide
their own iniquities and divert the atten-
ton OF the people from the great questions
that are pressing with tremendous weight
upon the public mind
For The last three OF four Years Mr..
Blaine has assumed, in New England, to
be the apologist and champion defender
OF prodigal and corrupt national admin
istration. 1t will be remembered that for
several years past, just before State
elections in New England, especially in
Maine or New Hampshire, he steps forth
in all the dignity of his official position to
tell what great and good things the
national administration has done, and is
still doing for the people. His speech at
Saratoga was not an impromptu thing,
called out by the mere incident of sere-
made. The New York Tribune says the
meeting was held sin anticipation of {,
speech on the political issues by Mr..
Blaine, according to previous announce
ment"
The speech, no doubt, was prepared in
advance OF the meeting, and especially
intended to have an influence in the
elections soon to take place in California
and Maine
What are the live "'issues" discussed bv
Mr.. Blaine in his Saratoga speech? The
principal question discussed by him was,
whether the municipal government of the
city of New York or the government at
Washington was the most protiigate and
corrupt. Thus, seemingly, to admit that
the present national administration is only
| honest by comparison. The laborng
| people take broader view Of the issues
now pending, and to be ultimately decid-
! ed, than merely to make invidious com
| parlson between municipal corporations
| and a corrupt and prodigaI national adj
ministration. And Mr.. Blaine will prob
| ably find that the people are not much
| longer to he deceived and misled by sucf
| talk as he made at Saratoga If all that
| is said about the extravaganza of the city
| government of New York be true, SO fa1
as comparison may be made, it is more
than balanced by the prodigalities anc
corruptions of the "carpeg- bag" republi-
can State governments in he South
Not only so, but even in the pet repub-
| lican municipal government in the city o
| Washington the condition of the thing i:
| still worse where even the grossest licen
tiousness is added to pecuniary extrava.
gance by city officials, and so stated il
republican papers. And yet says Mr.
Blaine 1.-The Republicans are in full honol
| at Washington"
| Now for a few FACTS AND FIGURES
| In taking 4 financial view of the doings
of the republican admin istration since The
| close of the war, how does the boosted
honesty, prudence and financial economy
| of Nh Blaine manifesi itself? The ma
| tional debt at the close Of the war was not
| less than 81, 800, 00G 900. Giving the adj.
| ministration credit for all they claim tc
have paid on the public debt in six years
| ending June 30th, 1871, which is $780,
| 600, 600, it leaves the sum of s. 900, 00O,.
| 900 still due. The receipts Of the govern.
| mcnt for the year ending June 30th, 1871
| from taxes on the people was S349, 3G9,-
| 56l-yiz, From customs S206, 270, 40S-
From internal revenue S143, 09S, 1873
Thus it may be seen that by taking the
amount of receipts for the past year, and
the same amount for each of the six years
to the sum Of S2,09j, 21l 500. And this is
| NOT ALL Mr.. Blaine says "taxes We're re-
pcaled that were yielding $50 900, 900 pei
annlm when Gen. Grant came in power
If that is 50, the administration has had
the benefit of that amount for three years
after the war, amounting to S240, 900, 00C
moro. Making the enormous sum OF
S2,336, q 800 that the people have paid
to the national government in six years,
and in the mean time only $500, 900, 900 of
the national debt has been paId.
The above amo int of government re-
ceived for sales OF public lands, OF the
vast amount Of war material sold after the
close of the war. But Mr. Blaine says,
''In Washington every dollar that can be
saved above the current expenses is faith
fully applied to the reduction Of the public
debt" Current expenses :" 1t will be
some time before Mr.. Blaine will be able
to satisfy the people of Maine that an
honest and economical administration OF
the national government requires 500
100000 annually 10 pay 'current expen-
Srs." AT the same rate Of receipts and
expenditures for the past six years, it will
take twenty-four years to pay the balance
of the public debt. and s., 3S4, $40, AGA TO
he paid by taxation This Is a hard show
for the future and calls loudly for reform
and retrenchment. Mr.. Dawes, of Mass,
probably made a truthful statement year
or two after the war, when he said there
was more stolen from the government
yearly than the cost of Buchanan's ad-
ministration, Bnt nothing seems to alarm
Mr.. Blaine 50 much as "'Tammany"
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