The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1874-08-12
THE PALLADIUM.
WEDNESDAY. AUG. II, 1874.


Of the Democratic party in the admin
istration OF State affairs, and the prom
Uses held out in the platform as the
arguments for its restoration to pow
er, and have shown conclusiyely that
its record is one of continuous abuses
and populations, and its promises
series of mischievous or impossible
projects. The examination of its his 2
tory is important because in that is to.
be found the evidence that its prom
Uses of honesty and economy may be
trusted, and it's promises need to be
dissected to see whether the State
won't be worse for keeping than break
ing them. The whole discussion is
pertinent and inevitable. When a
party demands power we want to know
what it has done, and what it wants to
do, and if we can find no evidence of
integrity in the past, and no rational
hope Of wisdom in the future, we are
bound as intelligent men, regardtul
of public interests, to reject it. This
destitution both behind and before
is conspicuously the condition of the
Democracy. Its seventeen years Of
power, from 1843 to 1860, shows no.
where any striking display of legisla-
tive or executive merit, while the last
ten years-included in our examina-
tion-form one unbrokcn series of de-
falcations, populations and abuses
without parallel in the history of any
State in the Union. Let us group
these for the convenience of remem-
bering, and refuting, if any Democrat
can muster pluck enough to assail
facts established by the public records.
There are four groups OF especial in
tercst: I. Land frauds. 2. Repudia
ton projects. 3. Forgeries and losses
Of State bonds. 4. Abuses of public
institutions and revenues. To these
we may add as of especial interest,
the excessive local taxes imposed
where Democrats control local admin
istrations. The first group, ! Land
frauds, contains two important MEM
bers. I. The theft Of 1900, GOO acres
of land donated to the State by Con-
gress, and appropriated to the school
fund. which Democratic Legislators,
SPECTATORS and State officers manag-
ed to steal bodily, so that the schools
have got nothing of at least - DOC, 600
which they were fairly entitled to from
the donation. 2. The sale OF over
s 800, 600 worth Of lands in Georgia be-
longing to the State, for 81 600, by a
Democratic State Agent to a Demo
cratic swindler named Martin 4.
Green, and ratified by Democratic
Legislature in 1851, led by Willard,
afterwards Democratic Governor.
The second group, Populations, all
so contains two members. 1. The
Democratic Legislature of 1863 failed
to make any appropriations, and a
Democratic Supreme Court-On case
taken from the Circuit Court of this
county by fraud, as attested by its
Judge, Fabius M. Finch-held that
without an appropriation the interest
on our State debt could not be paid:
The treasury was full Of money-held
over 81 100000 at the time-but not
dollar. could be got by Gov. Morton
from the, Democratic State officers,
Ristine Brett and Athon GALL Sons OF
Liberty except Brett), to protect the
States credit. Reputation, by the
direct act of a Democratic State ad.
ministration, was inevitable except by
the payment, from outside and pri
vate means, of the impending debt
Gov. Morton got the means and paiC
it, but the Democrats did their best
by State officers and the Supreme
Court, to prevent it. q In 1871
while the Wabash Canal was under
attachment to pay some Of the bonds
Of 1886, for which the faith of tht
State and the public works were. sol
EMMY pledged" and which the Stat
and national Supreme Courts had helt
valid, and it was notorious that it tn
canal were sold the State would be
come legally liable to pay cash for thu
amount in discharge of which it wa
taken by our creditors in 1876
amounting, with interest, to $4,000,
600. this same Democratic party, by
square party vote, refused to pay tn
old bonds to protect the States credi
and to save the canal from sale, a
positive an act of reputation as wa
ever committed in our out of Missis
sippi. The third group, losses ant
foreeries of State bonds" also con
tains two conspicuous members.
John w. Dodd, Democratic Stat
Auditor in 1858, in direct defiance Q
the law governing the sale Of certai
redeemed but uncancelled bonds Q
1876, sold them at over $4,000 les
than the State had paid for them, an
less than any honorable dealer woul
have given. 2. Daniel g. Slower
Democratic State Agent from 1857
1851. forged $2.3O0,OOO of State bonds
which the vigilance of Gov. Morto
prevented from causing a ruinous los
to the people, The fourth groul
ABUSES Of public institutions an
revenue" contains, like the other
two conspicuous eases. l. In 1897 tn
Legislature, failing to make genera
appropriations, Gov. Willard refuse
to borrow the money necessary.
maintain the Benevolent Institution
or asylums, and closed them, to the
ruin for a time, and at an extra e1
pense of over $100,0 900 to the differel
counties to take care of their helple:
insane. blind and dumb thus turne
ont by Democratic policy to starv
In four or five months he opened the
again by borrowing money enough
support tnem, tnus S'ui,iiyLhS hle pa
refusal to borrow after he had RUNE
the asylums, harassed the poor inmat
and caused the counties tremendol
and unexpected expenses. z. In Is
the Republicans paid off the Sta
debt and gave notice that no intere
should be held for outstanding bon'
after September /. This was main
effected by Gov. Baker, Republic.
turning in upon the debt the mon
maid to the State by the National Go
ernment for war OUTLAWS. Thus
came that the State debt tax OF t.
cents on 500 were rendered unneee
sary after it had accrued, and the rev
nnc. amounting to over 5000, 600, car
into the Treasury on the tnird MO