The Toledo chronicle. [volume] (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1873-1924, 1875-06-17
RESULTS 0FREPuBLICAN ASCEN-
DENCI.

If required to give Il reason why the
people should continue tie Republican
party in power, We can with confidence
point to tic result or hat asccndency in
Pennsylvania. Fifteen years ago the
Commonwealth was staggering under what
was at that time an almost unprecedented
burden of debt. The people were cp-
pressed by a weight of taxation that pre-
sentcd an unfayOrablc contrast with taxa
ton elsewhere The hardy tpiopeer in
.he least settled regions was Obliged to sit
Town at the beginning of the year and
devise ways and means to save enough,
over and above the necessities Of plain
living, TO pay his taxes. He lay down
yearied with labor only to dream of taxes,
md awoke unrcfreshcd TO think of taxes.
And there seemed to be no way out of it.
FOR the volume of debt rather increased
'han diminished, and paying taxes seemed
- have nothing to do with getting out OF
Gebt. The farmers were greatly discOur-
uged. Every foot of land had its burden,
and any increase OF personally carried
With it an added weight. We had to
how for that great Indebtedness few
Ines of marrow and badly constructed
bitches, dug without much reference to
ne demands Of increasing traffic. \ few
iIen scattered over the State, and having
[ one time Or another something TO do
sith the public improvements, had grown
enormously rich. Every year added to
tneir wealth, and consequently to the
lOlume of debt burden The chief end of
tne publ; works for many yeas certainly
seemed to he political. Place, construc-
lion, repair and supplies came to serve
chiefly a. rewards for party fealty. Mean
while the people pcrspired and groaned.
Dncc in three years the politicians made
their grand rounds and made speeches
stlorifying Democratic rule. The people
listened, grumblcd, and generally let the
cheap demagogues have their own way.
Occasionally they kicked out of the party
races, but did not keep out long enough
20 take all the advantage that sometimes
Accrues to u change Of rulers. But as all
things earthly must have an end, 50 an end
came at last to this political madness.
Fifteen years ago the ShopIc of Penn
sylvania leveHed the party stockade,
Which had for so many years constituted
sort Of C0mmOnW ealth debtors prison.
hey retired the Democratic party in
4Inest, and in good sooth none too soon
be integrity OF the Union trembled in
4g balance, and TO the presence of
republican administration in that
lpIe.e hour the Common wealth owe, its
-ood fame in history The State had lite
lily paid individuals and corporations TO
AXE its bitches off its hands; but it gained
=Omething By what seemed wastefui
lcritce, because its destroyed a system
If politicsi rewards, and so stopped leak
j the treasury. The advent Of war in
he morning Of this political revolution
az not favorable 10 any considerable
ninution Of Tie burden Of debt. II was
p trying hour in which to inaugurate a
Ideal change by new men But the
arork was begun and carried on, Including
8 e assumption Of new burdens. Il vas
netting n boast Of that the administra-
son set about paying the debt previously
incurred for practically worthless in,-
;troTements The efDrt showed that the
l.eople lad wisely changed rulers. And
from that time To- this the wor; Of paying
the debt has steadily progressed in spite
81 all hindrances Tie next blow vas
id At taxation Itself md the time came
.ysisn that incubus no longer murdered !
.he sleep Of the people. rhcn the pros !
Gets of the sturdy producers began 10 1
Men began to improve their I
: rms without fear mat tax levy would I
How enterprise. Men began to pay for .
flicir farms, and in few years those who T
Iad never known the luxury OF being out
Of debt and square with the world began |
- have little balance in bank for emcr- |
eencies, and little Independent income
mat grew while they slept,
Meantime the cr,dif of the Common
,'calth, which had long rested under par
tial obscurity, began 10 emerge from the ,
-iiadows. The interest on its obligations |
vas not only promptly paid, but every
fcar witnessed reduction Of the interest
large. Its bonds came TO be preferred
u the market, and still the work Of reduc-
ion Of the principal proceeded without
Interruption. And a very gratifying Incl
;ent of this policy of debt-paying was the
ducGon.of the tax levy. The lax levy
.ot only followed the decrease of the
olume of'de5t, but it was shifted from
cal property to the shoulders Of rich cor
orations in great measure. Thus the
roftable deveiopement of resources was
lade to repay the wise liberality which
ade that development possible by
.htening the burden Of public indebted
SIS THIS The aspect of State isfinirs was
s1nged. For " horeas, fifteen years ago
c debt Of Penn. jyana was ponled nj