Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1874-10-02
THE ISSUES OF THE
speech delivered b. United States
Senator Geo. G. Wright. 1t Du.
buque. Sept. 6th. l07z.

Senator Geo. G. Wright, 1t Du.
baque. Sept. 5th. l81A.
At no time, perhaps, in the history
OF the country, has there been man
ifested a greater disposition 70 com
plain Of any party or any admins
t!ation, than has within the past two
years been exhibited in regard to the
Republican party and its administra-
ton Of governmental affairs. In en-
tcring upon another political cam
paign, in asking that that party
shall be again entrusted with power
in the State and Nation, it is but
just and fair that Its standartl-bcarers
and the people should "comc and
reason together" and ask how far
these complaints have a reasonable
and just foundation, and to what cx-
tent they are the offspring Of person.
al pique and the disappointment of
hungry but too often unworthy polit-
ical aspirants for Office.
My friends, l am not here to claim
that the Republican party has done
no wrong. Doubtless it has been
guilty of acts of omission and COM
mission, for which the people have
right to complain. But in nine
cases out Of ten the complaints are
without foundation. There is much
less ground for complaint than is
supposed by many; certainly less
against the Republican party than
against any other party that ever
held power in our nation.
know there are great many
persons who believe that the chief
end of man, or at least the chief duty
incumbent upon them rs citizens, is
to stand upon the strcet-corners and
gather into stores and shops and
elsewhere, and talk about the cor
ruption of the Republican party.
And this, too, in the face of what
they we'll know to be the record Of
th:.t party. There is no subject upon
which such people are so unrcasona-
| bic as upon @ Us one. at HE illus
trate: Do I point them to the grand
record of the Republican party as re-
CARDS our foreign rclations-to the
admirable manner in which our
foreign affairs have been managed
by the ablcst diplomatists Of this or
any other age? To the peaceful
settlement of the Alabama claims,
and other difficult and complicated
questions? These men say, "rhat is
we'll enough, but what of the credit
mobilicr?" Do you refer them to
the finances; how We came out of the
war with al immense debt upon us
debt not to be avoided if the ma
ton were to be saved; how when
that war ended, our currency was
worth two or three dollars for one in
gold; how our bonds were way be-
low par; how our national securities
have since deprecated till our five
per cent bonds are now II to 20 per
cent above par, and our grccnbacks
but or ~ per cent below? These
men say so yes, but what of the sal
ary grab?" DO you point them to
the amendments, constitutional guar
antics of incalculablc value, worth
more than any mere measure Of Con-
grese, of greater Importance than
any law! These men say "l cs, the
Constitutional Amendments are all
right, but what about moi,ies, and
the Sanborn contract" DO you-
to go back Il little in the history of
our country-refcr them to the fact
that the Republican party was the
first to pass homestead act? Do
you point them to the grand national
highways, connecting the remotcr
portions of our union: TO our In
dian policy, III harmony with the
civilization Of the age, in accordance
with the highest humanity? They
respond, 80, but the Administration
is deceived in regard to the charac-
ter of some Of its appointees, and
men who ought never to hold office
have been confirmed by the Senate"
DO you refer them t. the work Of
the Republican party in the recon-
struction of the South, until now
every State is represented i'll both
Houses of Congress, and State gov
crnments arc rc-cstablishcd through
the entire portion of the Union only
lately in rebellion? They will ans
wcr, "Ycs, but Louisiana is burden
ed with debt, South Carolina is
ground down with taxation, and vio-
lence rcigns in Arkansas and Texas"
Do you suggest that these matters of
which they complain are the result of
internal mismanagement, they retort,
"But why docs not the Federal Gov
ernmcnt interfere and drive these
vandals out of power?" If you re-
ply that the Federal Government
had, in some few instances, where it
was clear beyond question that the
condition of affairs imperativc.y de-
manded it, thus nterfercd, they cry
out "Centralization!' "C@sarism!"
"a last and long farewell to the
right of the States!" No matter how
great the achievements of any party,
or how important the measures pass
ed or enforced by any administration,
these men still complain, and find
fault, and say, "Givc as the reins of
power, and we will make all the
crooked places straight, all the rough
places smooth; yea, there shall be a
reign of answering integrity and
unmixed virtue in this land, if you
will just let us, pure Keformers, take
possession Of the government"
When you find man, or set Of
men, who say, "Ifyou will place us
or our party in power, then nobody
shall be appointed to office except
Christian statesmen; then men will
work for patriotism and not for pay;
then contractors will take contracts
for less than they are worth, or if by
mistake they find that they are max
ing profit oft from contract they
they will refund it to the Govern
ment-find such n man, l say, and
the chances are that you will find a
man who is hunting around to find
an opening and an opportunity to
get within reach of the public funds
in order that he may place them
where they will do the most good to
himself and his particular friends.
1t is better policy, l say, to rely upon
thoco vyhorn Won knnw tn hava harn.