Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1875-08-26

liatl GaZebUe.
COLUMBUS, o., Aug. Is.
In the present political campaign,
when the Democracy are urging their
claims to the confidence and sup
port of the people on the ground that
their Republican opponents have
been extravagant in the expenditure
of money and the administration OF
public affairs, it becomes necessary to
examine critically and carefully the
nature of Democratic pretenses and
charges, and to attempt to deduce
from what they have actually done in
those localities where they hold
power, and what they are likely to
do when the people shall have tenn
porarily surrendered all authority into
their hands. If 1t were true that
Democratic administrations were,
upon the whole, cheaper and more
economical than Republican, it would
be a powerful argument in their ia
vor, especially with such citizens as
your correspondent, who has never
ceased to entreat the law-giyers and
public authorities of both parties to
be discreet and careful in the man
agement of the public revenues, nor
cease to denounce extravaganza,
| waste, and theft by both Democratic
and Republican officials. For SIX
wears such citizens have constantly
pleaded with the Legislature of the
State and with the local authorities
to diminish, if possible, the public
burdens, to Tighten the amount OF
taxes, and to limit wisely and judi
ciously the weight of expenditure.
now MEN FEEL.
It Is unguestionahly true thai
taxation has fallen for some year:
past with heavy and depressing eft
feet upon the people of Ohio; thai
capital has been to some extent
driven from or kept out of the State
and labor deprived of its just re
ward, by the enormous contributions
levied in the name of the public ser
vice upon industry and property
and that this state of things has in
terfered materially with our progress
in wealth, happiness, and prosperity
Now, if it could be shown that by
substitution of Democratic for Re
publican rule these evils would bt
mitigated, these taxes lightened, ant
these expenditures diminished, th'
great mass of the people to whom
living and the means of living ar
all-important considerations, tn
working classes, whose wages constl
tute their only wealth, and the busi
ness men WHO seek for any method q
releasing hampeped and fettered capi
tai, would have powerful reason 10
voting the Democratic tickets
powerful that for the time being the
would lose sight of the treasonabl
and unpatriotic record of the Demo
cratic party, of its wild and mis-
chieYous plans for inficting an
running the currency of the c0untr,
of it's ineradicable hostility to impa
tial freedom, and even of its ult
= mate object of bankrupting the nj
ton by the settlement of the reb'
war claims and payment for liberate
slaves.
SOME QUESTIONS.
But does the Democratic party pr
sent itself as a friend of eeOnom
light taxes, and reform? Has it
these important respects any claim
e pre-eminence or confidence over i
y Republican rival9 Fortunately, v
d have right here in Ohio abundal
= means for answering these question
intelligently, and In such way tn
even the most unpracticed intelle
!. can understand the result.
r. If ever a party had reason for pra
ticing economy and reform, Il
Democratic party has had it in Obi
- For more than twenty years it h
y in this State, been mainly under t
e ban of the people. Twice only
= that period has it obtained control
the Legislature. When it was fort
nate enough to do this, the simple
dictates of policy should have ma
y. it cautious and careful, even thou:
by nature and preference it we
= reckless and extravagant. 1t b
II everything to gain by acting We
10 everything to lose by acting i'll, Ev