The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1873-09-05
THE REPUBLICAN PARTY.
What IL has Accomplishment Review of
its Brilliant Record.

lEAtsacts from senator MortOnS Athens (OhlO)
Speech
In answer to the general charges of
corruption, and the allegation that eve-
rything is going on wrong, and that the
country is on the highway to ruin, L
present the actual state of affairs-the
general and unparalleled growth, devel-
opment and prosperity of the nation,-
the peace, contentment, progress, and
elevation of the people.
Here and there exceptional conditions
exist. In some of the States of the
Northwest there is complaint that the
agricultural interest is suffering from
various causes, and especially because
of extortionate charges by railroads for
transporting their productions to mar
ket in others, that the manufacturing
interest is depressed, and in some parts
OF the South that there is a want of
growth and prosperity from causes
growing out of the rebellion and from
local misgovernment For these excep-
tional conditions and depressions the
Democratic politicians have no remedy
of any kind TO propose beyond the res
toration of their tattered, dilapidated,
and blackened organization to power.
Questions of transportation they neither
understand nor care for. For the de-
preston of manufactures they have no
sympathy whatever and for the mis-
fortunes of the South they are above all
other, responsible They are like quack
doctors who approach healthy man in
the full vigor of life and try to persuade
him that he will certainly die unless he
will purchase and swallow their villain
Gus nostrums.
In further answer to their charges,
refer to the fact that since the inaugu-
ration of Gen. Grant, on the 4th of
March, 1869, $50 millions of the ma
tional debt has been paid of. Within
that time the taxation of the country
has been reduced by Republican Con-
gress 100 millions. Within that time
the credit of the nation has been i'm
proved and established throughout the
world. Within that time our difficulties
with England have been settled upon an
honorable and advantageous basis, by
which England pays to us fifteen mil
lions and half in coin, and has, upon
our suggestion, recognized arbitration
between nations as a substitute for war
the grandest triumph in the history
OF diplomacy, ancient or modern With
in that time our chronic differ
ences with England in regard to
the Northwestern boundary, have
been settled III our favor. And make
the general statement that the Govern
ment, in its various departments, is
now administered more strictly in
accordance with law, and with more
system. than ever before.
M WI FOL la MI
the magnitude of the Government, and
the vast amounts of money now collect
ed and disbursed, as compared with
former times. believe it may be truth
fully affirmed that there are fewer de-
falcations, less malfeasance in Office, and
more fidelity to official duties than at
any former period in the history of our
Government.
The vast enterprises that have been
projected and executed within the last
few years, the enormous expenditures
of money for military and civic pur-
poses. and the necessary multiplication
of offices and public agents growing out
of these things, have presented oppor-
tunities and temptations for corruption
and peculation such as never existed
before in the country, and it is the sub
ject of grateful surprise that there has
been so little, and that the public virtue,
instead of being diminished, has been
strengthened and increased.
The clamors of the opposition for
civil-service reform, which were heard
so persistently for the last two or three
years, are now almost silenced. The
President has gone further III that work
than all preceding administrations, and
has introduced great changes IN the adj
ministration of the civil service. In the
departments at Washington, clerks are
appointed only after thorough competi-
tive examinations as to their qualitaca-
tons, and are afterwards promoted from
grade to grade upon similar examina-
tions. This has had the effect to divorce
service in the departments from politi-
cal influence and the current policies of
the day. One of the evils of admins
tration and defects of our system has
been represented to be the influence ex-
ercised by members of Congress Ill the
control of appointments for their own
selfish purposes but a recent rule
adopted by the Civil Service Board, and
approved by the President, provides
that all recommendations for appoint
ments shall be in writing, and that rec
concentrations by all officers of the
Government, including members OF
Congress, shall be considered as those
only of unofficial persons, except where
they have been first invited to give their
opinions. The operation of this rule
must, in effect, greatly diminish the in
reference of members of Congress with
the appointing power and relieve tn,
country from the alleged evils.
The financial administration of the
Republican party has given to the coun
try stability and confidence. Under its
rule the business men of the nation
count with confidence upon the years t.
come. and know what they may reason
ably call for, and enterprise leaps for
ward as it never did before. With tn,
advent of the Democratic party t
power would come vacillation, destruc
ton of confidence, tampering with tn
currency, threats and fears OF repudia
ton. The accession to power OF part.
pledged to free trade, and violen
changes in the revenue system, woul'
paraiyze with fear the great manufactur
ing interests of the country and checl
IL