Ottumwa weekly courier. (Ottumwa, Wapello County, Iowa) 1872-1899, 1875-09-15

ness from Republicans, and shall show
them none. ! Intend to show that party
no quarter. Tic Ecpuhlican party is cor
rupt, every inch of il, from top to. bottom,
, aud intend to hold up that corruption to
the voters Of Iowa. This arraignmcnt is
neither new nor strange. That no effort
has been made TO make good this indict-
mcnt is of no moment to this question, for
they can still keep charging. The stock in
trade of the opposition consists in fault
finding and complaining. AS they have
not done anything for fifteen years, as they
have no official or administrative respousi-
bility, they can indulge in the luxury Of
charging every thing, as they suppose, with
perfect imrunity, hoping that in all Their
wholesale ISLANDERS the people may possibly
believe something, or q part Of what they
say, and their party thereby gain n little
Courage and cheer.
Now propose 10 dispose Of these whole
sale ISLANDERS, found in all their platforms,
proclaimed from their every stump, and
heraldcd in all their papers, by very brief
reference to facts, matters of record, mat
,ers of political history.
q.
In 1850 this nation had a bankrupt
treasury. You remember no..one had any
confidence in the currency then 10 use.
Whatever navy or army VIC had was small, !,
demoraized and scattered. There was next
to no sustained authority, and what there
was, was defied in almost one-half the
States, and insurgents held our forts and
arsenals. The party then In power made
no pretense of its ability or right to stem
the oncoming tide Of rebellion and disun-
ion. Indeed it was proclaimed by the then
chief magistrate that there was no power
in the constitution to coerce a state, or stay
the movement which was sweeping the ma.
tion to destruction most certain. Armed
men thundered almost at the doors Of the
national capitol, and the s,ou.est hearts
quailed before the impending great danger.
Under such circumstances the loyal people
of this nation called the Republican party
into power. Theirs it was to preserve the
trust which the Democratic party was
ready to betray. Have you a nation TO.
day. therefore you owe it to the patriotism,
fidelity, and courage OF this party, and by
the side OF this one crowning act of LOYALTY
and patriotism, all the clamors and charges
of the opposition sink into insignifcance,
aud it would seem that the people should
be most reluctant, for this reason, if none
other, to credit charges of corruption, and
violation of trust, coming from such a
source.
But again. The cowardice aud imbecil-
ity of the opposition not only plunged the
nation into war, but during the four years
struggle went to the very verge Of active
treason, and since its close have done all in
their power to defeat the government in its
efforts to save and preserve what was se-
cured as its fruits; and in the face Of these
things. despite all this opposition, we have
provided system Of free homes for all
settlers. We have made labor free and
honorable. Secured for the first time lih-
erty and equal civil and political rights to
all. The states lately attempting to sever
their connection with the Union have been
reconstructed and restored. Taxes have
been reduced at the rate of millions per
month, ana the public debt in propor-
ton. The national credit has been raised
at home ard abroad, and the utmost vigil.
ance exercised in the collection Of the reye-
noe. We have fully settled and perfected
the citizenship Of all adopted citizens. We
show an army OF officials dismissed. Peace
r,aintsiucd by the treaty Of Washington,
aud the national character kept To the poiut
Of highest public respect throughout the
civilized world Expanded our railroad
system from 10000 TO near 100, 600 miller.
The Pacific railroad built, our internal and
external commerce advanced as never
before a sound currency given, having
the confidence of the people. = in
creased our agricultural and manufac-
turing interest, and the crowniDg
glory of all,not STARE IN all the ldnd.
With such q record are you prepared
to believe that this party of action, of
principle and patriotism. its policies
controlled by the men who made ali
this grand history,--grcedy. sore
headed politicians, that such party
has become corrupt, and that those in
power have marrcd and bloiched go
fair record for gain and personal
ends?