Ottumwa weekly courier. (Ottumwa, Wapello County, Iowa) 1872-1899, 1873-12-18

THURSDAY MORNING. DEC. Is. 1878.
THE Chicago Times OF the 18th inst
has three columns of special. from
Washington. In behalf OF cotton claim
ants of the South. These claims are
based upon an act OF Congress, very
carefully guarded in its terms, which
authorizes the refunding OF money re-
ceived by the Government for cotton,
where the cotton was seized after the
Both of june, 1865. This date is fixed
because the seizure OF cotton was for
hidden sitter that time.
Benjamin. r. Butler, OF Mass, and
various other parties are accused Of
wilfu,iy aud for gain seeking to en-
hsrass the claimants, or SO Worrying
them that they will sell their claims al
from 50 10 rs cents GU the dollar.
Doubtless this special 10 the Times is
the commencement OF al effort to get
more favorable legislation out of Con-
grsss at this session, in reference TO
the proof made necessary by law 10
snbstautiate the claims.
We are hesrtily tired of these
sbominable war claims. Ii is high
time that their presentation was pro-
hibited, or they will continue to be
presented. and rings formed 10 carry
them through, for The mex, half cen
fury.
We have NO doubt but there may be
some few meriiorious claims, but ia
the main they are bogus. or are the
Claims of once arrant rebels who do
not deserve and should not receive
farthing. While some claims may be
meritorions, we have this to say in
urging refusal 10 entertain these
claims entirely: that the losses, and
merttorious ones TOO, can never he
made up: the widows and orphaned
children can never be remunerated 4
feso!sted homes eau never be compen-
:ated. and we are surfeitcd with this
taking from the Treasury at this late
day of money to pay any losses in
Cured. except for the aid OF the be.
resved parent, widow, or orphan: es.
pecially not for the rebel cotton claim
ant, or the northern sbyster. who
thought Of nothing but speculation
amid National suffering. The charac- !
Ter of the Times, the record it has
made, fimpresses US, with tile belief
that its three columns of indignant lie.
hRnciation Of men AZ scoundrels, in
the interest Of these claims, men Of
better regulations than their accusers
bear. are 90 many words published
broadcast. every one of which lras
gold value, which has been receipted
for and sunk into the pockets of the /!
Chicago Times concern. In our opin-
ION 1t is merchantabie transaction,
common with this great apostolic
journal of reform.
THE Hon. Alexander HI. Stephens. a
1ife-long member Of the Democratic
party and Vice President of the South
ern Confcderacy, signalizes HE APP
pearance In Congress after his season
of rebellion by advocating even 8
bigger salary grab than anything we
have every had. He referred to a |
speech he made just before he left the |
capital under the flag of secession,
wherein be advocated a 100000 sal
airy for Hhe President, and others in
proportion. 1t wonld seem that at
least that portion Of the Reform par
aty, either under the Democratic name
or under some other cogno,nen rep
resentcd by Mr.. Stephens, is not likely
to rcplenish the treasury largely by
the reduction Of salaries ut Washing
ton. Mr.. Stephens is peculiarly a rep.
resentative man Of the South. Per-
haps ne man in all the late Southern
/ Confederacy could have agreater fol-
lowing to-day in the South than he.
II, then, there is to be what is cali
ed reform party moulded to-
gether outof all the opposition to the
Republican party, II cannot be doubt
ed but that Mr.. Stephens and mon
like him are to fornl the landmarks
around which such force is largely
to rally. This thought, therefore, leads
10 to the. idea which we have so often
presented, and which we defy any one
to successfully answer, viz: that the
eisments from which that reform par.
ty Is to be constructed are snch that
not 1.-THE Of the measure of reform
can be expected from it, which can be
Justly expected, and, indeed, securely
relied upon from the Republican par
I II. This reasoning is inst as correct
- IL the axiom that the purity OF the
water in the stream depends upon the
fountain from which ii receives it's
supply.
GrRNAsY has dealt much in U. S.
bonds since the opening Of the rebel
lion. Germany fret invested in our
government bonds and these paid go
we'll hat they began indiscriminately
to invest in all kinds Of American se-
curitiea. The result 10 that they have
been bitten fearfnlty in many Of our
railroad bonds, and the loss during
tbs panic has been fearful. What has
occurred in Germany, to certain ex.
tent. hae also befallen other parts Of
Europe. This has created distsust,
and ~ consequence our government
Ave per cents cannot be placed a. our
securities were wont to be. Indeed,
! no American securities now find :
market In Germany.
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