The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1876-10-07
TYAr.1MpENDING PERIL"

Notwithstanding the terrible seriousness OF
this campaign, there are many iuhhy 'e"'u'.'
TO it, and one not the least SO IS tue repuo'i'
can outcry against the democratic thieves
o,d "democra,ic frauds" The point the
oneecbifiers and organs are most Vigorously
engaged in preaching is the payment OF
sou,bern claims-thai Immediately upon the
inaucuration of Tilden, will begin the pay
ment Of the southern debt in the shape OF
claims, etc.
It has been shown cOncluslvely that the
J whole Juror Is a NTH, supplement TO the
dirty linen display, and wholly absurd and
unproven 1t is absurd On its face, for the
whole outcry IS nothing more nor less than
bit of assertion that has no possible iounda-
ton. Bat the more absurd the subject he
comes the more IS it recommended to the at
tention of the genius of the Republican. There
is nothing, probably, however fallacious, that
cannot, with the aid Of false staging, be butt
up into some kind OF story All the lead
ers, the organs, the workers in the Capitol
who send over the country Figures ~
from the departments on the democratic
house, &c, are busy erecting staging to hold
up this scare.crow Of "rebel claims"
The Ottawa whiskyring organ follows in
the van and contributes It's humble efforts
with great heartlness. On Thursday he gave
his readers flaming statement that bills had
been introduced by southern members INTO
congress for claims amounting to NEARLY two
billions five hundred millions of dollars"
Greai Julius Blame says only SGoD,oOo'
900, but Cullen, having about one-iourtleth
the brains of Blaine, increases the amount, ITO
hold his own" as it were. That statement
might be entitled to some weight If 1t were
not for the fact that it is not true, which to
the readers of the TRADER will doubtless make
some difference. But suppose 1t were, con
ced ing, for the sake Of argument, that the
party has no principle In the matter, would
it be so thoroughly Unsupported 1t had
a working majority in the senate as well as
the housc--as to pile $2,5OO,O 100000 or $780,
10000 debt upon the back of the country
Could any better plan he devised for burylng
Democracy past all possibility of resurrec-
ton
The truth abou. these claims is this, that
of the 40 bills introduced by democratic
members, 1l9 are claims which were pending
before previous congresses or presented:.ssto
the commissioners of claims; that 100 are
similar to claims paid by republican con-
crosses. They are for supplies, etc, furnish,
ed or taken by the union army, or for cotton
improperly seized and sold and money con.
verted into the United States treasury, where
there is now over S20,0O0,000 belonging to
somebody, certainly not the government. Of
the $40 claims, SO have been favorably re.
ported by republican committee during the
past 10 years The greater portion of them
were so reported in the senate; which body
has, allowed more claims than the house.
A review of the nep bills introduced present
nothing so terribly alarming, providing all
were paid, except TO the Ottawa organ and to
jim. Blaine, who, though sponsor fora mum.
Der of new claims, southern, and noted
claim broker has told more talented lies
about this subject than any man on the CONT
nent The simple truth is that the democrat.
ic house has given no one reason to expect
the dire results so anxiouslv apparently an.
ucipated by the Republication the contrary
we may exrect the best results Of their watch.
fulness to cut down the bulk of these claims
in congress, as has been done by the demo.
Gratis of Missouri. A democratic administra.
ion will be as far from paying these south
ern claims as republican administration has
been 1t will contribute to the prosperity of
the south, not by reimbursing the victims of
war which the south might have avoided,
but by maintaining democratic form off gov
eminent in the southern states, and allowing
the southern people to manage their own af
fairs IN their own way-subject lays to the
constitution and the laws
The Cincinnati Enquirer has view of the
matter that is most sensible. "The Claims"
II says, "the south used to send up to the
north and northwest were claims for sugar.
mills, and pork and wheat, and corn, and cot.
ton. gins, for the agricultural and manufacture.
ed products of the north. These "solid south.
ern" claims would be sent here again if some
republican journals, and, indeed
the entire party, were not industriously en-
gagged IN fostering enmity between the sec.
tons, in nursing hate TO keep 1t warm. To
call a man dem'd, miserable, low.lived son
Of u sea-cook isn't good way TO coax him to
buy goods of one"
POOR BLUF0RD.