Iowa voter. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1867-1874, 1871-09-07

five worthless structures, in the shape
of dams, which SO obstructed the
navigation of the river, heretofore
somewhat navigable, that if an Ordl-
nary stern-wheel steamboat succeed
ed in reaching the city of Des Moines
during one season, it ran the risk of
remaining there for the flood of an
other year before it could return.
Thus we have an actual loss to the
State of over 81 600, 200 as memento
Of the fraud and folly of Democratic
craftsmanship. This vast sum is
considerably more than all our Asy-
lums and public buildings have cost
US, under the management of the
Republican party. Had this mag
pificent grant been used for the con-
struction of railroads, as respectable
craftsmanship would have dictated,
the beautiful valley of the Des Moines
and its contiguous country would
have been far in advance of its con-
dition today in population, influence
and wealth.
BENEVOLENT INSTITUTIONS.
When the Democratic party went
out of power, no public structure of
any value had been erected by the
State. What taxes they gathered
from the people had been used with
out any substantial Improvement or
visible benefit being left to attest
;. their enterprise or economy. NOT
one of our benevolent Institutions
had been erected, undertaken or
thought of. There was no place
where the unfortunate Blind, Deaf
and Dumb, or Insane of the State
could be educated, provided for, or
protected. Democratic forecast and
. philanthrophy bad not extended 50
far as to contemplate or embrace the
sad condition and wants Of these
unfortunate classes OF our people.
This criminal neglect to provide for
these worthy objects of christian be-
nevolence was seriously felt, and
universally regarded by all good
men as disgraceful to the chapcter
Of the State. But the Republican
party, with commcndable prompt
tude, applied itself to the grateful
task. Among its first measures was
the erection of the Insane Asylum
at Mt. Pleasant. And the old citi'
zcns will remember how bitterly
this entc Arise was opposed by the
editors, speakers and leaders OF tho
Democratic party throughout The
State. They denounced il as a piece
of extravaganza and folly. More
despicable means were never resort
: ed to for any purpose, than these
men adopted to defeat the erection
of this noble institution. But th'
! Republican party, supported by th'
! enlightened and christian spirit o
. the people, persevered III its efforts
e and the work was completed. To
!. great extent, also, have we been II
l like manner opposed in the Institu
: ii0ns subsequently erected. And n
e the result of Republican persevcr
e ance and tireless enterprise, we nov
point, with becoming State pride, t.
g our magnificent Asylums for the In
: sane at Mt. Pleasant and lEdopcnd
ence; to the Blind Asylum at Nintor
to the beautiful ediiice for the DcaI
. and Dumb, near the city Of Council
/ Bluffs, and To three other Asylums
r where the children Of our martyrco
: soldiers are kindly cared for, fed
: clothed and educated. These are al
! imposing structures, and built Is
= ordinary taxation, and without con
, tracing single dollar Of indebted
: ness. | point you 10 them as tn
I. glorious achievements Of the Rcpub
: lican party, and ] tell you, viii
. cXultatiOn, "thcy are the work o
} our hands" And these magnilicen
pu. 40
: advance, until their walls and col
[ umns shall crumblc and decay, TIN
| proud memorials Of our party, ant
= the glory Of the State.
,, OLD coNsTITUTIoE.
; One Of the most conspicuous mon
T umcnts to perpetuate The failure o
! Democratic craftsmanship in low
is the Old Constitution, which, b.
, reason Of its injurious restriction
. upon Legislative authority, -
! GWarfed the inherent political an,
> municipal powers Of the State as L
become a dead lock to our develop
, meut and progress. Let me cndeav
or to illustrate this by reference t.
, one Of its provisions. You remem
p, Der that this old Democratic Consti
tuition contained an absolute prohi
bition agninst the issuance Of banl
, paper in the State, and required TIT
Legislature by law to make the is8u
, ing Of bank notes penal offence.
$ Did you ever contemplate or real
, iZc the crushing effect which thi
, peculiar constitutional restriction
!, had on the financial enterprise ant
) commercial prosperity Of the State
! 1t struck fatal blow at private
: rights, by prohibiting capitalist
! from the most ordinary and benrficia
/, employment Of their money. While
: all other States were issuing baDA
: paper without limit, Iowa was pro
/. hibited from having any currency
: Of her own. Look at the Legitimate
and actual results Of this blunderins
! Democratic policy. Most Of you felt
, and therefore will remember them
. Instead Of banks which we could
regulate and control by adequate
local laws, and whereby the people
/ might shield themselves from the
, disastrous consequences OF an IRE,