Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1874-08-13
GRAND RAPIDS WIS., THURSDAY AUGUST l3 1874

h'NiN IIAAC VIC putilSn UuC VIC AidAO
Democrat. For few years that part
has been recruited, not only by thos
knaves we have dismissed from office
but by still larger number who hav
been unable to get office. 1t is no
impossible that by this process the.
may in time recover a majority. Coos
men can not, without uneasiness, con
template the possibility of the countr,
once more falling into the control o
that party. when, in addition TO th,
devils which always paralyzed /
for any noble effort, it shall have beer
re-enforced by all the unclean spirit
expelled from the Republican party.
INTERNAL REFORM.
The success which has attended The
effort of this Administration to effec
internal reform is forcibly indicated
but only partially measured, by thesl
facts:
First In thirteen years it has not
once 6een forced to resort to loans ex-
cept by the exigencies of war. Our
rivals in popular favor, as has been
seen, repeatedly resorted to loans in
time Of peace.
Second. In six years, taxes have
been remitted at various times amount
ing to more than three hundred millions
annually.
Third. The principal of the public
debt has been reduced III the same
time by the sum of three hundred and
tifty-fve millions dollars.
Fourth The Treasury note has
been appreciated from 76 2 10 per cent,
its gold value in March, 1869, to 50 2-10
per cent, its gold value in March last.
Fifth In spite of the financial dis
asters which overlook the country in
September, 1873, the public debt was
diminished nearly FIVE millions during
the fiscal year just ended.
Sixth. The cost of the Govern
ment, excluding expenditures for i'm
provements and disbursements made
necessary to meet obligations imposed
on us by the rebellion, was less pei
capita during the last fiscal year than
during tie year ending June 80, 1860.
Bad men, doubtless, are still left i'll
the Republican party, as bad men are
in the Democratic party. So good
men are in both parties. The differ
ence is this In spite Of the bad men
in the former, it has in thirteen years
raised the country higher in true ma
tional greatness than any country was
ever raised before in the same length
of time; while, because of bad men in
the other party, the country constantly
declined in character aud dignity while
it had control. A party better than
either, loftier in its aspirations, wiser
in its methods, bolder in It's endeavors,
is unquestionably desirable. Such a
party might be attained, if the wise,
She upright, and the patriotic in the
Democratic ranks would unite them
selves with the like in the Republican
organization. But it is impossible to
frame such a party by re-entorcing the
effete Democracy, which has not
achieved a single noble end, nor set
before the country a single noble aim
in forty years, with all the reckless ad-
venturers and hungry place-hunters
who in former years focked to the Re-
publican party, not to aid its enter
prises, but to fatten on is strength.
ELECT REPUBLICANS.
You are about to select Representa-
tives to new Congress. We earnest
ly entreat you to send the truest and
ablest Republican you have. But we
entreat YOU to send Republicans and
not Democrats. You will send one or
the other. No matter what the indi-
vidual may call himself, or what dis
guise he may wear, he will be Re-
publican or a Democrat. There is at
present no room for any ether style
in our politics. If you do not mean to
retrace the past you will select Repub-
licans and not Democrats. If you
mean to go forward in the future, you
will select Republicans and not Demo-
Gratis.
OUR MISSION NOT ENDED.
It is sometimes said that the mission
of the Republican party is accomplish
ed. IF by that no more Is meant than
that the party has discharged every
trust heretofore committed to it, we
admit it. It has been thought when
one was found faithful over a few
things that was a good reason for trust
ing him with more things. Can you
do better than be instructed by such
an example? especially since you must
employ either the party which you say
has fulfilled every trust, or employ
that only other party which has be
trayed every trust.
The occasion for political effort has
not passed. American progress is not,
ended. Other labors lie before you,
lighter perhaps, but not light.
First. You have to see that what
is done shall not be uDdone. Repub-
licanism offers you the best security
against retrogression.
Second. You have to see that the
work of reform goes forward. Three
great labors demand your present con-
sideration.
The fourteenth amendment to the
Constitution is not yet enforced by zap
propriate legislation. p" Millions of
American citizens are denied even the
common law rights Of locomotion be-