Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1871-05-19
Democratic Promises.

IHE New YORK W0ftd has recently
made a statement showing "what the
Democratic party will do when 1t gets in
power" Among these things it will ad-
minister the government without taxing
the people, it will revive our PROSTATE
shipping and 1t will not permit the army
or navy to aid in suppressing domestic
violence unless the State authorities have
applied to the President for such assist
ance. But the most astonishing promise
is that it will "extend and complete the
system of universal suffrage"
The first and last of these are admirable
in the way of promises, but they have no
foundation in present rule where the party
has power nor in the policy of the party
The Democratic party is in power in New
York, and we are, therefore, able to Judge
by its financial administration there how
far it will administer the national finances
economically. Since the Inauguration OF
Hoffman as Mayor of the city, in 1866, the
debt of New York city and county has
nearly doubled. At that time the debt
was something over $42, ,000,0t 0. while at
the present time it Is over $50 000 000
showing an increase under Democratic
rule of forty millions This debt is to be
still further increased, and the bill by
which this is to be accomplished shows
how the Democracy govern without tax
ing the people. Under the two-per-cent.
tax levy bill, recently passed with num-
Der of others dosiqned to secure tho
power of the Tammany Ring by the aid OF
the vote ofthe apOstae Winans, the people
of New YORK are to be taxed to the ex-
tent of $25,000,000 year for two years.
Besides this, the Legislature authorized an
increase of the city debt to the extent of
. n n l.. l.
the present year. This adds to the city
debt for the year 1871 over $41, 100000 or
nearly as much for one year as the whole
debt turned over to Hoffman when he be.
came Mayor in 1865. We give this simply
as an example of Democratic financial adj
ministration, leaving the public TO Judge
of the probability of financial reform by a
change of regime.
But the World also promises that the
Democracy will extend" and complete the
system of universal suffrage" This is ut.
terly at variance with the past history of
the party, and with the boldly announced
policy of its present leaders. In fact, the
chief issue of the coming campaign will
| probably be upon the validity of the CON
| stitutiOnal amendments which establish I'M
partial suffrage. The Democratic leaders
and a majority Of the Democratic press
continue TO declare them null and void,
and do not hesitate to say that the party
will so regard them when IL gains power
| This opposition to impartial suifrage ex.
tends further than to the African race. In
the conest now going on for the recogni-
tiOn Chinaman as citizen and voter, the
Democratic party, wherever it has spoken,
has opposed not only Chinese suffrage but
Chinese immigration. It's policy now, AS
in the past, is narrow and illiberal, caste
policy which would deny political privil.
eges and even the protection of the gov
ernment to every race save the strong one
which has possessed the continent and
founded the Republic. 1t seems idle, how
ever, to discuss the probability of the
Democratic party extending and complet'
| ing the system Of impartial suffrage. That
system was originated and established by
the Republican party, and at every step
in the progress of the system, the Demo
cratic party fought it, So entirely was
the party agreed in its opposition to ex,
tending suffrage that during the war and
for several years after, the charge that the
Republican party favored negro suffrage
was the most effective one which q Dem
ocratic speaker or writer could make.
AS an offset to the Worlds promises
VIC ohS6Sob Wliab bub INtDuDllCdH
party proposes to do and is doing 1t is
reducing The national debt at the rate oI
$1'0,0O0,000 year. and at the same time
reducing the taxes. At one sweep, $50,
100000 of a burden was lifted from the
peoples shoulders, and this reduction o.
burden will continue as rapidly as the re
quirements of the government will admit
The party proposes to "extend and com
plete the system of univeral suffrage" by
cliuching it. This is already secured sc
long as the Republican party holds power
TO guard it, but the system is threatened
by the Democracy, which declares the
amendments void which establish it. ThC
The Republican party confidently expects
to be retained in power to defend impair
tial suffrage until 1t has taken such firm
root in the American system that nj
party reverses or changes can endanger it
Besides these, the Republican party prom
ises to continue the system of material de
velopment which is quickening into lif,
innumerable manufactures, and opening
millions of acres to settlement. Undel
this policy, there will be abundance o
labor at good wages, with the alternativ,
of selecting farm in the empires nov
opening up in the West, and finding a
once a paying market.-I0ledO Blade.