Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1876-08-02

One Of the chief and most specious argu.
ments used by democratic speakers is the
crushing burden Of national debt which Re
publican administrations have left resting
upon the people. Especially is this argu-
mcnt addressed to the working-men, aud all
the arts so familiar 10 INSCRIPTIONS dcma
gogues and reckless partizans are brought
into requistion 10 array them as class
against the authors of such oppression Their
wages are reduced, il is said aud the cost Of
the necessaries Of life greatly enhanced by
tax and tariff duties rendered necessary to
pay the interest on this enormous public
debt Aud many an honest man is thus de-
luded into the belief that he is uniustly op-
pressed by the party in power aud made to
join earnestly aud hopefully in the crusad,
to put down and out the authors uf this
iniuslice.~
We cannot deny that We have an immense
pubic debt, aud that its burdens bear more
or less directly upon all classes oi our PEG
pie but We also well remember the origin
aud history OF that debt, and we should
think the leaders OF the democratic party
would be the last persons in the world to call
public attention 10 the consideration OF that
subject. That debt represents the money
value of the nations lie--the price paid to
wrest it from the hands of those who sought
its destruction. How came the rebellion
upon us Was it not Matched into life by
the political teachings and the party action
of those very men who are now the loudest-
mouthed in their pretensions Of patriotism
and devotion TO the Union ? From its
reasonable beginnings inside of Buchanan's
cabinet, and the passive acquiescence OF
the administration itself, it soon achieved pro.
portions that taxed the power aud resources
of the whole nation 10 the very utmost But
for the subserviency and devotion Of the
democratic party to the interests of the slave
power the war of rebellion would never have
been conceived and, but for the more than
passive aid and comfort expected-and with
good reasons, too from the Northern wing
of that party, it certainly would never have
convulsed the land with the shock of arms.
No honest-minded man, familiar with our
history in those days, can deny that, had the
democratic party stood up as manfully in
defence of the old flag as did the Republi.
can, the rebellion would either never have
seen the light of day, or have proved less
than thirty day. wonder utinstead Of that,
all methods of coercion were hotly de-
nounced the rights of the several states
were boldly asserted recruiting the army by
enlistment or draft was coyertly discouraged
or actively resisted the administration and
all its measures TO this end were ridicued and
caricatured-and thecreditof thee country was
attempted to be destroyed by the bold asser-
ton that it would never redeem its obliga-
tions. Well do we know what is here asserted
to have been true of many prominent demo
Gratis, who are now almost Extensively jealous
in their patriotic zeal and they are but a fair
specimen of their party leaders in those dark
days. We repeat they boldly denied the
right Of the government TO coerce the re-
bellious states they bitterly opposed and
denounced every aggressive measure of Presi-
dent lincoln's administration to put it
down; they greatly embarrassed the govern
ment by proclaiming its inability to redeem
its indebtedness they not only prophesied,
but put upon record the prophecy, that
the South could never be subdued by force
of arms, and they rejoiced in their heart of
hearts when our armies were defeated in
battle And now, when through the action
of political party whose leaders we have
thus truthfully described, and among whom
are Tilden and Hendricks, the standard
bearers of these reformers par excellence,
the rebellion was nursed into such proper
tions as to require the sacrifice of hundreds
Of thousands of precious lives and the ex-
penditure Of billions of money for its over
throw, are these the men to taunt the Re
publican party with having saddled an UNI
just and oppressive debt upon the country
Out upon such arrant knavery and hypocrisy