Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1876-08-30
TCom munication.7
The Other Side.

The Democrat Of recent date aE.
ter expressing its candid opinion that
the country is fast going to the dogs,
asks the questions, "can Hayes rise
above Grantism? Dare HAYES. If
elected, turn out the corrup onists
now holding Officer? and further con-
tinues: Hayes is the pet and nomi-
nee Of Grant and his faithful ones.
x If you are satisfied with
Grant and his manner of conducting
the government, vote for Hayes aod
Wheeler. If you are dissatisfied with
the management of your government
under Republican rule, vote for TiIden
and Hend The election of
Hayes means a continuation of the
present decentralization.
Ri sht in these few lines, we have
given the full strength of the ONLY
thing that has been found by the
Democratic press, 10 be urged against
Coy Hayes. Nothing can be alleged
against his personal character no flaw
is to be found in his official acts; only
among the m 'ss Of the people whose
unanimous choice he was, are to be
found "Grant and nis faithful ones"
Therefore Gov. Hayes must necessari-
ly continue the present administration
"There are none so blind as those that
won't see!" To any honest, fairmind-
ed man, Gov. Hayes letter Of accept
ance is soumn pledge, gwen with all
earnestness, nat to continue the present
corrupt administration His views on
the subject could not have been ex-
pressed in any clearer or pelspicuous
terms. Back of these pledges are the
Republican masses who will see to it
that they are thoroughly carried out.
We have seen DO clearer view of this
point than is given by George VIII
liam Curtis in Harper's Weekly of
August Sd, he says: "If Gov. Hayes
must depend upon his party, not less
must Gov. TiIden upon bis; and wa.t
possible evidence has been, or can be
presented, to show that the reform eie-
ment is either actually or probably
stronger in the Democratic, than in
the Republican organization?''
We fail to perceive wherefrom come
the Democratic pretentions to reform.
By what acts are we to judge of the
reform feeling working in this party
| Were the draft riots of New York in
the interest of reform? Was the peace
convention Of 1864 a reform move
ment? Was the issuing of steeLplate
currency notes by Mr.. Tilden & Go. in
violation of the laws Of Congress, re-
form? Or to come down to a later
date, was the Hamburg massacre and
sundry other demonstrations Of simi-
lar character, reform? IF so, then the
Republican party must retire from the
front rank Of reformers. Perhaps
right here. the opinion of the Brook
lyn Argus, one of the leading Demo
cratic journals of the East would be
appropriate. "The Republican party
has become corrupt and has been large
ly controlled by bad men, but this is
no reason why the democrats who re-
leased Tweed, shared in the Credit
Mobilier, stole s4O,00O,oOO in New
York, robbed Brooklyn ofs2O, 100000,
and who are to-day only out of the
Penitentary by virtue of the executive
clemency, should have added to their
plunder the custom Houses and treas
| ury of the United States. So between
tbs two sets of thieves, We believe In
keeping the old set watching their
hidden swag until they are nabbed, or
until they can be driven away by hon.
est men," We do not want to make
any stronger arraignment of this So
called democratic-reform party, than is
made here by one of their own party
papers. There has not been time
since the election Of Jackson, that the
democratic party has not abused the
power entrusted to them by the people,
and the mass Of the people have no
desire to try the experiment again.
The names of Rutherford B. Hayes
and William A. Wheeler, are, and al
ways have been a synonym for all
that goes to make pure, upright gov
erning officer.
With Gov. Hayes in the Presiden-
tial chair there will be no grand on
slaught all along the line on the treasury
of the United States nor any political