The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1875-10-14
POLITICAL.
Ex-Goy. Washburn Addresses the Re-
publicans at Baraboo, Wis.
A Strong Argument for Hard Money
and Honest Administration

Ex-Gov. c.. G.. Washburn made his
first speech in this campaign at BarabOo
last Thursday evening to large and en-
thusiastic audience. He was listened to
with great interest, and frequently APP
plauded, especially his remarks on the
bogus Reform Administration, and hlS
argument for return to specie payment.
He prefaced his speech by saying that
he should hesitate to take part in this
campaign, but that his Administration
had been so misrepresented by Reform
papers, who claimed they had managed
matters better and cheaper, and ne was
unwilling to have them think he had
betrayed their confidence.
The Republican party, after having
been IN power in this State for over hf-
teen years, was suddenly overthrown by
the old, corrupt, and disloyal Democratic
party, disguised like wolves in Sleeps
clothing, under the name of Reformers.
AS they were kicked out of office for
fraud and corruption of the most bare
faced and fragrant character many years
ago !; so by fraud, misrepresentation, and
corruption, they managed to again crawl
into power, and by fraud and falsehood
are now seeking to retain it. [ propose
to show yoI1 why they should again. be
turned out, and the Republican party
restored.
The Republican party in the State had
| discharged its duty to the people with
rare fidelity in all those years. No spe-
| cific accusation had been made that the
| State Government had not been admin
| istered with great economy, or that one
dollar of the peoples money had been
| lost, or dollar paid out of the public
| treasury that had not been honestly
earned When the Republican party
came into power, they found the affairs
| of State, which had SO long been in the
control of this Reform party under its
true name, in most deplorable condi-
ton. The State Treasury had been rob-
| bed of its funds by Democratic Treas
urer. The school fund had been drained
as dry as hay by hungry army OF DEM
ocratic vampires. Forged election re-
turns were canyassed by the State Off
GERS, well knowing their fraudulent
character, and a usurper installed as
! Governor. The right Of the people to
examine the public records was denied
| and brazen-faced robbers swooped down
upon the Capitol, crowding it's offices
and creditors, and obstructing all the
approaches thereto. Such was the con-
dition when the people rose in their
might and drove them out and installed
| the Republican party in power. When
that party was so installed, it found that
the State possessed absolutely nothing
but such right of sovereignty as are con-
ferred by the Constitution and laws of
the United States. No money in the
Treasury, no public buildings OF chart
table institution; no nothing, save q
State prison partially constructed, locat-
ed and constructed as a corrupt job for
the benefit of Democratic politicians.
| Though coming into possession of the
| State Government under such unfavor-
able circumstances, it Immediately set
resalutely at work to make the State
Government what it should be, and
| when it finally gave up control TO the
Reformers, it had TO show for it the Capt.
tol at Madison completed i'll all its parts
from tnrret to foundation-stone, inclosea
III its beautiful park by a permanent
fence of iron and stone, and the ground
finished in manner worthy of our great
| and prosperous State, and all at SO small
an expense as to tax the credulity of the
beholder. We had erected one great
and most complete Hospital for the In
| sane at Madison, not surpassed anywh ere
and more than two thirds completed a
Hospital of equal magnitude at Oshkosh.
We had also completed and in success
full operation the large and thoroughly
furnished Asylum for the Blind at James
vile, and the Deaf and Dumb, at Dele
van. At Waukesha, we had completed
and under successful management the In
dustrial School, where hundreds of I'm
ruly or friendless boys were being edrl-
Gated and trained to become useful mem
bers of society. Besides all these, we
had erected three normal schools, noble
buildings of large capacity and the just
pride of the State; and at the close of
the War, established an asylum for the
children of deceased soldiers, where
hundreds of orphans were kindly cared
for so long as the party held control in
the State /; and what is most remarkable,
the peoples money was SO we'll and
faithfully expended iii the erection and
maintenance of all these institutions that
it has never been specifically charged
that one dollar had been unwisely OF
improperly appropriated. With such q
| showing why did the people desire a
change My answer is that they did not
and SO well satisfied were they that all
was well, and that the Republican ticket
would be elected as a matter of course,
that nearly 10, 900 Republicans absented
! themselves from the polls. The State
was Republican then it is Republican
now, if voters will only do their duty.
The present party should be turned
out
First-Becaucse it is the same party
that was disloyal during our great strug-
gle for national existence, which declared
the War a failure, and favor of in peace at
any price a party now In full sympathy
with the Rebel party in the South, and
IS to-day ready, waiting, aud anxious
to strike hands with them, and srrren-
der the Government over to them, with
all the consequences which that act i'm
plies.
Second-Because it came into power
falsely representing that, if they could
/ once get into the Capital and examine
the books, they would be able to disclose
extravaganza and corruption, all of
which they knew to be false, for the
reason that unlike the present Admins
tratlon, which is afraid to show It's
books, and threaten to kick people out
! who ask to see them), the Republican
officials always invited an inspection of
their books, and never refused it to the
humblest citizen /; and now the Refor-
mers, after having been for nearly two
years IN possession, have failed to dis
cover the slightest error, or to point out
any act that does not defy criticism.
Third-Becaase, relying upon the
over confidence Of the Republicans, and
afraid or ashamed to go before the poe
pie and discuss the principles or want of
principles of their party, they organized
a still hunt to cheat them; and, under
the lead of noted Democrat, who had
robbed the Government of hundreds of
thousands OF dollars by illicit distilling.
and who has since been convicted. aud
has vet many indictments hanninor oyer