Ottumwa weekly courier. (Ottumwa, Wapello County, Iowa) 1872-1899, 1874-09-10
JOINT DISCUSSION.
Between Hon. e. =. Sampson md
T.. N. Gates, Esq.

Il. N. Gates. Esq.
On Motion of j NJ Peck, W. j. Mitchell was
elected Chairman, and on motion of VIM Nc
Nett, Esq, W. S. Briggs was elected Secretary
Mr.. Mitchell then introducedE n Gates, Esq
Anti-Monop candidate for Congress, who spoke
for thee-quarters of an hour, substantially rs
follows:
90 Mr.. Chairman and fellow citizens: am here
for no other purpose than to become &C.
quainted with you--that is the only business
Of the l4th Of July last, as delegate to the Con-
gfessional convention, and in the course OF the
forenoon of the next day it was suggested that my
ton consented this far; that If those who Were
in favor of the reform question thought that the
use of my name would add strength to the ticket
would consent; the result you are familiar with
am an entire stranger to most ofyou, Since
came to the State have devoted my attention TO
farming-since the closing of the war, at amy rate
and those of you who ARE acquainted with that
business, know that the business does not furnish
very favorable opportunity to become acquaint-
ed. Now, regard the candidacy for Congress as
nate man for Judge, Clerk of the Court, or some
local of county Office, and their duties are defined
by law, but when you nominate man for Con-
Congress. Now cannot hear your wishes eN-
pressed, many ofyou and know of no other way
can judge whether my ideas suit you.
The question presented before the people this
year is different entirely from the questions pre-.
bctwixt the politicians and ofceholders of the
country and the people. One would come TO the
conclusion, knowing this is a government OF th ,e
are the most numerous, and of consequence, the
people would have their own way But this is
not the way. The politicians, who are arrayed
against the people, have the money, and they CON
duct the campaign in way the people have not
been accustomed to-, regard the body of the peO-
pie of all parties honest, and the intentions of
| tO-lia
and what is necessary is to understand the issues
As said, at first glance You would be of the
opinion this would not be much Of contest If the
people are one side and the politicians on the
other. But don forget the people have been ac-
cnstomed to let their minds run in party channels
They are in rut, and unless they begin to think
ndinvcstigate, they are liable to stay in that rit
All we ask is for them to investigate, and by this
means they will find out what is the truth. You
know we weTe-up to the war in as good con-
dition in public ailairs as any one would desires
but II is very different to-day To-day youhaye
debt upon you of almost three billions of dollars,
and the people have been quiet attending to their
own business and giving the matter very, little
thought. Why? In the first place, at the close Of
such remuneration that led them to attend to their
own business, The farmers products command
ed almost any price, and so of the laborer and the
mechanic and almost every other occupation, and
they let those who were conducting public affairs
run the machine. 1t was hut natural; il is human
nature to suppose that a man who was put by you
at the head of the government; who had success
fully put down the war of the rebellion could run
the government without much attention from you,
and you would not scrutinize very closely. But
the fault is right here. You knew the man who
was ut the head of affairs almost from the close of
the war; You had given him an education as a
military man, and as military man alone; you
had to attend to your own business, and You cast
your vote for him without stopping to inquire
whether he was statesman or a fnancier or not,
or whether he had ever actually accumulated or
earned a single dollar. Now l suppose it cannot
be found on legal inquiry that President Grant
n M Darn Inv nh of xrY,i he
values money, or if he don't value money, for to
appreciate IT. he won't take care of il whether it is
man for President chohas no appreciation for mon
cyl! After he got his military education he was at
home in Galena, and ! don't suppose he made a
very good clerk in the leather store in Galena but
he was II sort of a waif on the old gentleman s
hands, and the breaking out of the war was of
course, breaking out in the right direction to de-
yelope him--his education was of the same kind
am not going to discuss his military record, but
after you elected him President who did he col
lect around him? Where has been the statesman
found in his Cabinet? and who are his advisers
TO who should have around him, unless directed by
some of his friends? And you can see without any
difficulty how it has come; how this country has
gone from an easy condition, pecuniarily, to have
such an immense debt i can see people here whose
heads are gray, can remember when there was a
dTps Of revep b n in the In X
treasury for which the government had no use.
What will yon do with it? was the question. His
surplus revenue; he wanted the States to loan It to
the counties and take real estate security, and let
the people use it This was done. But 1t is not so
the alarming feature Of the whole Administration
is there is no sort of disposition to pay it off
When You get into debt YOU make calculations
| how you are going to accumulate money enough
to pay IL. You think perhaps You will soon be in
worse condition to pay it than you are now; yol
hs gai aSd S4 yng
everything is dear to You or l, except our families
and friends, mortgage without Limitation, and
ating this debt, though a very large portion OF
that debt, am very well satisfied has not been
appropriated to pay expenses because the heads OF
| departments and all the way through the depart
ments of government have got rich They have
| saved immense sums out of their salaries. 1t is
said, and have not heard it contradicted, GER
mary savinging faculties-and If any of you want
| his name he was appointed by Secretary Harlan
raised 500 600 out Of ss 900 yssy salary in thres
| never could have been contracted unless sOmt
gs SAVED ;T before i ached its place or tn,
tion that is exceedingly alarming to me III,
| trouble OF II is, We are so little accustomed-w,
who don't handle large sums of money--w,
scarcely realize the extent enoity of this debt
A gentleman who is good in figures, was sitting
by on one occasion and heard me give the amount
and he took his pencil and counted it and gave mt
the figures Afterwards he said il was correct,
and that if We had it all in one dollar greenbacks
| and they was lain down end to end in circle
round the earth, it would make ten times around
the earth. He made another calculation-if YOU
had il all in silver dollars il would take-men
il each man counts dollar every second and sixty
dollars every minute, working ten hours each tay
it would require them 159 years to count it, These
figures give you to reflect upon and realize the
| vast amount OF the debt This total amount OF
Indebtedness on the 3Oth of June 1874, was 50 :.
200, 629, 555 80. Does the people desire to have II
paid? Now, rs have to be confined TO time,
| must not dwell will now call your attention te
| the way these officeholders, this party who are in
power, who are making this contest with the peo-
pie, are economzing, saving what should bt
saved with reference to application upon this debt
Ordinarily, people would save every dollar Is
| il so with this Administration? The expense OF
the government for 1872 and 1873 have right here
before me In 1872 they appropriated over &c.
O00, 600 for civil; for Foreign expenses 81 7S9 39
IA; Naval department 1922 ,449 ,s39 90 For 1873
over S2S 600 600 for war and naval purposes, here
IN time Of peace! Is there any necessity in this.
stop and reflect whether there is any necessity fol
~ debt, In this manner in q time of peace The
Keeping up OF the army in time of peace is detri-
mental IN another direction. How many sons OF
good fathers and mothers become tired of home
ana want 10 take little trip away from home,
ana getting INTO the hands OF somebody employed
Dy government, IS induced to drink a little, and
while under the influence of it. enlists and gets
INTO the army. And why? Because the army life
is a HE Of idleness, and he is gone to ruin For
OF government, in 1872 Was appropriated over $2s-
QUO 600, and in 1875 over $40, 100000. This all
was paid for pensions!! For the Indians they ex-
pended over " 200, 600 in 1872; in 1873 over 60
600 ,Oc. Now comes the enormity of enofmity in
the expenses of the government have been read
ing you the names of the different appropriations,
such as they are willing to tell You, but this is