The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1876-08-24

more likely TO retrench and reform than Hayes
and Wheeler whether the Democratic party,
with it's followers and supporters, though con-
demned by you in every issue for years,
is mora likely to retrench and reform
than the Republican party and the meu
who compose it, and who have fought your
battles aud guided your councils with
honor and safety for many years. 1t is not the
cry of an opposition hungry for public plum
I der that must decide this question. It is not
the crime or perfdy of a few men who now
and then in the vast operations of a govern
ment may have violated their public trusts 1t
is the general tendencies and acts of party
that must determine its claims to public con-
fidence And on this broad issue defy con-
trast between the Republican and Democratic
parties.
INQUISITORIAL INVESTIGATIONS.
The administration of Gen. Grant, now about
to expire, has been arranged by House of
Representatives armed with all the powers OF
investigation, and conscious that their only
hope lay in blackening the character and con-
duct of Gen. Grant and his appointees. They
organized the whole House into committees Of
investigation. They have explored every de-
partment, bureau and Office of the Govern
ment. They have called as witnesses peniten-
tiary convicts and the insane from the hospi-
tai. They have seized kilograms by the
| wholesale and examined private books
and papers. They sought to disclose Cabi-
| net secrets, which have always been held
| sacred. They have employed detectives to
watch accused persons. They have examined
| in secret witnesses without number to sustain
secret accusations, and have given the accused
no benefit Of cross examination, no opportuni-
| ty to face their accusers, no specification of
charges and what is the result of all? A
| Secretary of War, always Democrat, appointed
| by Gen. Grant as mark of liberality and for
his distinguished military services, is found to
have appointed post-trader from personal
| considerations and to have shared in his
profits. In this foray they found that promi-
| nent Democrat of Ohio received large por-
ton of claim that ought never to have been
| paid. They examined the Secretary of the
Navy for eight months, and then referred the
| case to another committee to report whether
| he had been guilty or not of technical viola
ton of law. They denounce the Credit Mobil-
| Ter, and find that their candidate for President
was it's confidential lawyer. In nearly every
case they have failed to disclose the testi-
mony, and have only recently ordered it
printed, so as to throw it into the canvass with
out an opportunity for explanation.
| A COMPARISON OF DEFALCATIoNs.
! So far as we know there has been nothing
disclosed that will compare with the Offenses
of Floyd, Thompson and Toucey, three mem
| bers of the last Democratic Cabinet. They
| started for q campaign of scandal, and they
have made no investigation where they have
not run against Democratic misconduct. In
| the meantime Gen. Grant and Gen. BristoW
|
guilty man has been shielded by the Republi-
| can party. Here and there time has shown
! that bad appointments have been made and
| officers have betrayed their trusts but when
we come to compare the general results of a
| Republican administration, we find that there
has been far less proportion of fraud, specu-
lation and embezzlement than during any
| Democratic administration. l have here an
| official table showing the receipts and disburse-
| ments of the Government from Jan. /, 1884, to
dnFN
defalcatiOns and the ratio OF losses per $l 0OO.
| arranged in periods of four years each. This
| table shows that during the last term of Gen.
| Jackson the loss on money received was $50. II
for each 1000; in Van Buren, 8 time, 1901 for
each 81, 600; in John Tyler's time, $3.68 for
each ST. 900; in Buchanan's time, 81 cents for
each 81 1000; in Mr.. Lincoln time, 10 cents for
each $1,000; in Andrew Johnson'S time, 63
&C nts for each 81 000; in Gen. Grants first
term 81 cents for each $1,000; and in Gen.
Grants second term % cents for each 81, GOO.
In the general aggregate the loss from, Jan. /,
1884, to June 80, 1851, nearly all of which was
during Democratic administrations, the loss
was 50 90 for each 81, 900 ; and from July l,
1861, to June 80, 1875, during Republican ad-
ministrations, the loss was 81 cents for each
$1,000.
HONESTY OF DISBURSEMENTS.
In the disbursement of public money this
table also shows that during Gen. Jacksons
second term the loss by defalcation was $1O.O5
for each 1000; in Mr.. Van Buren's term it
was $2115 for each $1,000 in John Tylers
term it was $1037 for each $1,000; in Mr..
Buchanans term it was $6.98 for each $1,000;
in Mr.. Lincoln's time or during the war, it was
Al for each 81, 000 in Johnson's time it was
48 cents for each 81, 900; in Gen. Grants first
term it was 48 cents for each $1,000; and in
Gen. Grants second term 1t was 26 GEMS for
each 81, 900. During the whole period from
Jan. /, 1884, to June 80, 1861, the loss in dis
bursting public money, under Democratic ad-
minstrations was 1902 for each 81, 600 and
from July l, 1861, to June 80, 1875, under Re-
publican administrations, it was 70 cents for
each 81, 900. This table shows at once the de-
gree of fidelity in the collection and disburse-
ment of public money between Democratic and
Republican administrations, as shown by &C
tual results and by authority that cannot be
questioned or denied. In the light of these
facts, how absurd it is to appeal to you to re-
store the Democratic party to power again to
secure honesty and fidelity in public officials.
SHAM RETRENCHMENTs.
But they tell you they are for retrenchment.
| They tell you what Democratic House has
done to reduce expenditures. Well, this House
has slashed away at a great rate. Ihey nave
refused appropriations for the most necessary
wants of the Government They reduced the
pay of clerks fixed by law in 1854, when the
pay was gold, and fixed by Democratic Con-
gress. They reduced the pay of foreign MIN
listers and consuls fixed i'll 1856. They bave
reduced in wild, hap-hszArd way the sums ap-
1 propriated fer public buildings in process OF
erection, and for the support of courts regu-
lated by law and next winter they will be COM
PEELED to make them good by deficiency bills.
1t is the old demagogi"al trick OF party in
opposition wishing TO gain power.
60 The devil when sick, the devil monk would De;
The devil got well, the devil monk was he."
Ii Is easy to cut down appropriations, but
this is not always retrenchment. man might
retrench both bread aud meat and he would
stalve. True retrenchment consists in produc-
ing the best results with the smallest sum
necessary. I do not say the Republican party
has always done this, for know it has not !;
but it comes nearer to it than the wild slash
ing, and cutting down appropriations OF the
Democratic House.
CAUSE OF LARGE APPROPRIATIONS.
Ever since the war. by which our approprla-
tions have been swollen many times. the re-