The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1875-10-23
Hon. Roscoe Conklings Speech.

@Nh' 1chh, WV vs.
The republicans of this city held a large
mass meeting at Cooper institute tonight.
The hall was dcnsely crowded and plat
forms were erected in the square in front
of the hall, from which local celebreties
made addresses. In the institute the prin-
cipal speech was made by Senator Roscoe
Conkling, who was received with prolong-
ed applause. In regard to the claim made
by the democracy that the governor and
his party had reduced the state debt and
reduced taxes largely, the senator said
81 can demonstrate that more unfounded
claim to measured merit was never made
for electionering effect or for any other
purpose For convenience l will take up
together the reduction of the debt and Of
state election and came in power. January
1, 1868 the bounty debt of the state was
then, allowing, for small sum in the
sinking fund 5,S07, 300. The dcmocra-
cy went out Of power Jan. 1, 1872 The
bounty debt then, allowing for the amount
in the sinking fund, was $50, 2G0, 755. 81.
In four years the democrats provided for
the payment of debt amounting to So
JAG, 744.05. Had they observed constitu-
tional requirement the sinking fund would
have been replenished and there would
have been in it about $4,000 900.
But MS the canal frauds and other things
remind us, the expenditures in these gala
years of the Gem ocracy were extravagant,
and 10 carry them on not only were taxes
taken up but recourse was had to the sink
ing fund and that was rifled of upward of
100000; so that there remains of that
fund but 1886, 244.O9.
The republicans came into power Jan. /,
1872, and retained it to Jan. /, 1875. The
republican management found debt of
$50 ,240, 755 and left it after three fiscal
years of $G05,8S7. The first duty of the
republican state officials in Jan. 1879, and
of the legislature was to make good this
enormous deficiency in the treasury, and
they laid deficiency tax in addition to the
regular tax For this act the party suffered
as had been foreseen in the ensuing cleo
tions The necessity for extra taxation
was created in the way have shown you
the fruits of it are found in the figures al
ready stated, and when the need had been
answered the taxation ceased. This is the
whole story. With creating the necessity
for vt,. co. ha haI
thing to do. With the abatement of taxes
they had nothing at all to do. Gov. TIL
den had absolutely nothing to do with it
any more than had the Sultan of Turkey"
In refe.ence to the charge that nothing
had been done by Governor Dix and re-
publican legislature in the way of canal re-
forms, he said: Sin the first place, it was
somewhat reformatory to restore the vast
edltreasury of the people and to retrieve
the credit and honor of the state, but much
was done beside. A republican legislature,
| counseled by Governor Dix, adopted the
amendments to the constitution, which
have imbedded "canal reform in the
fundamental law, where it cannot be rooted
out even by such legislatures as we had in
1868, 1870 and 1871. These amendments
| are break water against such enormlties as
came in an avalanche In 1867 and the follow
ing years-the rascalities in contracts, in
extra compensation to contractors, and in
other things which have lately received
such publicity. These provisions and
other safeguards for the canals are now a
part of the organic law, having been
adopted by republican legislature and
ratified by the people last year. Had they
existed sooner, the harvest of plumber
which has been reaped from the canals
could not have been garnered. Other
amendments, going still further, were at
tempted, and encountered violent and per
sistent opposition from democrats. They
were fought and delayed until their adop-
ton, IN 1879.
The republican party has ever been tho
friend of the canals, but now we are told
1t should he voted down ON the canal ques
ton. You must vote down the republican
party in order to vote up the democratic
party. Why should this be done? Why
Because OF the canal frauds How car
this be? Gov. Tilden, it is said, has taker
ground against frauds in canal contracts
Yes, but Gov. Tilden is not running in thil
canvass. The democratic party is running
demo na,ic candidates u,e running, ant
their name Is legiod. Why, because on.