New national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1870-1874, 1872-08-29
CONCLUSION.
SPEECH OF
Hon. GEORGE S. FISHER,
At Augusta, Ca, July 4 1872.
THE NATIONAL REPUBLICAN PARTY
THE HOPE OF THB NATION.

l
| Beside this bankrupt state, it lett the
| country in state of war which has since
| further added thousands of millions of dol
lars to the Government debt, with an untold
amount of loss of capital, suffering, and
death. Not only was this the legacy to the
Republican party, but tho credit of the Gov
eminent was fearfully undermined, for, on
the 10Th of December. 1850, when the Sec
rotary Of the Treasury opened proposals is
| sued on the 18th of December for So.
OOO, 600 loan, he found rendered but one
half million dollars, and that at from II to
&c per cent. discount for gold. Under
Grants administration Government bonds
are again above par, and prosperity points
to an abundant Treasury. And in addition
to the above, General Grants administra-
ton the past year has cost the country less
per capita than it did in ls60-61, taking in
to consideration the increase of population,
territory, and the natural increase OF public
service, both at home and abroad.
The whole expense of Government in 1860
81 was Sol, 402, 40s.64.
The same for 1901 amounts to $685.
ga ,6Is. 90, showing an excess of only ST.
2s2, 205. %, while the population of 1860
was but 81 ,443 1921, and that of 1901 was
between 80, 900. 900 and 100000.
The per capita tax for 1860 was $l.95 per
cent
The per capita tax for 1871 is Sl.7s per
cent.
Of course the interest of the public debt,
the difference between gold and paper cur
rency, tie increased pension lists, and sun
dry other miscellaneous items incurred by
reason of war are deducted, but taking the
legitimate current expenditures OF the Gov
eminent, We find the present per capita tax
and expenses are less than in 1S60-61.
Sd. The collection of the revenue is re-
duced enormously. In the year 1S6O-6l
the customs collections amounted to $685.
1S7,51l.S7, and the cost Of collecting under
Democratic administration was 1925 per
cent. In the year 1901 the customs col
lection had nearly quadrupled, being $780,
27O, 4Os.O5, while the cost of collection UNI
der General Grants Republican administra-
ton was but $40 per cent. e., less than
one half what i. cost ten years ago. lCries
of "you are are right, that's so."1
And not only this, but under Republican
administration defaulters and plunderers are
punished and sent to prison; and more have
been found guilty and punished than under
any other Administration since the foun-
dation of the Government, not because
there is more rascality now, but because an
honest Administration enforces the penalties
of the law, and because roguery and dishon.
esty is at discount, notwithstanding the
Democratic thieving in New York. [Cries
of "Hurrah for Grant he is our choice ~
We have also the knowledge that the per
centage of loss on collections, disburse
ments, and transmissions Of revenue, and
by defaulters Of all classes, has been less
under General Grants administration of
three years than any other Administration
that ever preceded it. John Tyler says that
he knows that under Van Buren's admins
tration there were but IS receivers of pub
lie moneys, and that sc of those were de-
faulters!
4th. While the debt of the nation under
Grants administration has been steadily re-
duced to the amount Of 1888 go, 9l6,39
since March 4, 1869, and the interest on the
same, at the rate of nearly S22, 4OI 1857 per
annum The internal taxation and custom
duties up to January l., 1872, have been re-
duced nearly $3.50, 900 900, and during the
session of the Congress which adjourned
June 10th last, in further sum for 1928
of between SO and S54, 100000. And this
contraction Of the public debt ard reduction
of interest continues to 60 on. Can any
Democrat say he hopes or can possibly tx
pect the same favorable state of finances and
reduction CT debt and interest and taxes I'M
der the Radical Greeley Liberal Democratic
administration [Cries of no! mol do
net think any sane man, North or South,
will have the temery nor the brass to say
he believes any such thing.
9th. A simple comparison of the admini.-
tration of the Treasury Department under
President Grant and the Republican party
with that Of the Democratic rammany. Hall,
Tweed Greeley party of New York, when
the latter increased the city debt from S29,
324 ,949S So in December, 1869, (eight
months after President Grant went into
power, to upwards Of sos 200, 600 January
l, 1872, establishes the difference between
Democratic and Republican honesty, econo
my, and trustworthiness.
9th. The currency circulating medium
and financial steadine,s of General Grants
administration stands without a parallel in
the history Of this Government, and no man
questions its soundness and permanency in
any part of the land. A dollar note or
greenback to-day is as good in Maine as in
Georgia, or in Texas as in Minnesota or
Massachusetts.
Eth. The foreign relations of the Govern
ment never were conducted with more abili
ty, discretion, and honor, than at present.
and at no time in the past have We had such
assurance and guarantee of honorable and
harmonious relations in the future with all
the Powers of the earth as we have under
General Grant. Mr.. Summers medly turns
out, so far, to be only his own, and the PEG.
pie of the South certainly want no more of
them, nor him either. [Sensation.]
9th. The management of the Indian af
fairs of the nation, under new system de-
vised and carried out under the personal
supervision of the President, is proving eco.
nomical, friendly, and eminently successful,