The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1875-11-11

ernor Tilden and his friends have tried
10 bring the subjects of State, national
and municipal taxation into the discus
sion of this canvass. They have brought
them forward without regard to the harm
they may do to any party organization.
They have sought to lay bare all frauds
in all places, and, if we believe Republ-
can orators, the results have been TO dis
close Democratic misgovernment in the
State and this city. Their very speeches,
II true, put in the strongest light the
merits of those they assail, When they
shrink from taking issue with Governor
Tilden they say the question is not as to
his conduct, but as to the merits of the
two parties, and they ask the voters OF
New York to show their confidence in
the wisdom and patriotism OF the Ad-
ministration at Washington. This Is
their own proposition. Why then do
they, by thrusting other questions into
the canvass, try to turn public attention
from national taxation? Why do they
disparage the efforts made to cut down
State and municipal taxationP These
are the lessons for the day, the matters
on trial, aid every effort to turn away
our thoughts TO other topics throws
cloud over the vital questions and then
shields the guilty and blinds the eyes OF
the public to fraud and misgovernment.
1t is clear TO every mind that thinks.
that 80 long as taxes crush out the life OF
labor and commerce, we shall have to
bear the load Of personal and public
debts. While this is the state of affairs
wild theories will be hatched about our
currency. Debt has ALWAYS been pro-
life of schemes to make wealth without
labor. In one of Hogarth's admirable
caricatures he gives scene in debtors
prison, where one man who could not
face his creditors drops froL his pocket
scheme for paying the British national
debt, while another unfortunate is alb
sorbed in his efforts to turn lead into
gold. And 30 it has been in the history
of all nations, under all forms ofgovern-
ment, that debt engenders all devices
from the old plan Of clipping coin down
to the fictions ofprinted paper. Strip of
disguises, make plain all tricks OF
speeches, turn deaf ear to all protesta-
tions of honor, look into the facts ofpub-
lie affairs, and you will find that every
man who has without a necessity added
one dollar to the national debt is an au-
thor of the theories of reputation and
of base money. Just 80 far as the Ad-
ministration has failed to pay off the
debt of the country by using the taxes
imposed for that purpose for unwise or
unconstitutional schemes, born of the
theory OF Capitalization, just 30 far are
they responsible for all schemes which
violate the public faith and cheat labor
with a deprecated currency. 1t is re-
sponsible for distress in workshops and
factories, and the anxieties and mental
sufferings in counting-rooms and on
marts Of commerce, so far as the taxa
ton caused by waste, extravaganza and
wild speculation has blighed the pros
perity Of our country.
The distinguished leader who speaks
in behalf of his party turns away from
these topics TO talk about our public
schools, and finds fault with us for not
doing the same thing. If he is asked if
there is anything wrong about them, he
says, "0h! mol they are all right"
Then let us look into our finances, which
are all wrong. This desire to talk about
everything but the condition of the Coun-
try and the causes of its distress has been
shown throughout the canvass by the
Republican orators. A sectarian excite
ment is wanted. Every man can see
that the orders have gone forth from
headquarters to make this the issue of
the canvass. The words of the Presi-
dent and his Lieutenant, put into plain,
soldier-like tel ms, ring out to the men in
the ranks and say: "0ur party is weak
on matters of economy, morality and
wisdom; make a point on religionW
History repeats ITSELF Hogarth exposed
this mockery more than a hundred years
ago, when he delineated the absurd fears
of the invasion of England by French
fleets and armies, and makes his drunken
sailor exClaim with round oath, what
will become Of our blessed religion?" If
this pious zeal means repentance in Off
cial circles, it gives us every reason for
hope. lifts cloak for continued mis-
government we have everything to fear.
1t is then triaing with religion and mock
ing the distress of labor. When they
held their State Convention, TIE tenn
porary President. in his speech, told his
hearers that all pious, temperate and vir-
tuous men belonged to their party, and
that all the wicked and the drunkards,
the keepers of beer and other saloons,
were Democrats; and when he took his
chair he folded his hands and dropped
his eyes, and wore look of religious sor-
row, in view of our sinfulness, which was
most touching in a Custom House officer.
He was mentally praying that Mr.. Chand-
Ter might go into the Cabinet. Men but
toned up their coats when they read that
speech, and wondered if we were to be
afflicted with another brood of that style
of Christian statesmen who had lately
disgraced religion and dishonored the
legislation of our country. / believe Mr..
Cornell is an honest man. do not think
he spoke in this pious strain because he
had done or meant to do anything very
wrong. This cloud of incense was only
raised to hide Washington from public
view, and to make men think of the af-
fairs of a better world and not of the mis-
government of this afflicted country.
The public was surprised when schol-
arly man, one who had spoken plainly of
abuses at Washington and in the main
fairly of reform in this State, was made |
President of that body. But the willy |
managers knew of peculiarity in his |
make which would serve their turn. No |
New England dame was ever more haunt
ed by ghosts and witches than he had |
been by his fear Of the Pope. He islike |
the worthy man in Dickens tales, who |
never could get rid of King Charles head,
which would get into all his speeches |