The Lake County star. [volume] (Chase, Mich.) 1873-current, 1876-09-21
Political.
Republican Meeting at Nirrana-
Speeches by L. H. Nc C0ilun and O.
o. Stanchfctd, Of Ludington.

On Friday evening last, the citizens
of Nirvana and vicinity gathered in
the school house in that village for the
purpose of listening to n discussion of
the political issues of the day, by /. H..
McCollum and o. o. Stanchfield, of
Ludington.
The house was well filed. The aud
fence was called to order by Marc Num-
son, and ID. c. Warner chosen chair
man.
The first speaker introduced was Mr..
McCollum, who proceeded to speak of
the st. Louis platform as full of the cry
of "reform," from beginning to end.
1t was merely cry; hobby by which
the Democratic party expected to ride
into power. All the reform they want
ell was to reform those in Office out and
the outs, in. There were great ques-
tons ut issue, and why didn't the Dem
Ocrats raise them? There was the fl
nance question! why didn't they raise
that? 1t was because they had head
at the East who was a hard money man,
and tail at the West, who was of the
soft money principle. They could not
make the two unite and agree. They
could raise the "reform" question, be-
cause there was no principle involved.
The speaker next spoke of the danger
OF allowing the Democratic party to
gain power, for the reason that the
Southern element would he sure to con-
troll the loyal minority of the North.
The action in the last House of Repre-
sentatives was abundant proof of this
fact. Another danger would be, that
they would, after obtaining power,
audit and pay vast amount of South
ern claims. The Constitution prOhib-
tied the payment of the rebel debt, but
it did not prohibit the payment of such
claims as those for property destroyed,
for slaves, &c.
He then paid glowing tribute to
Gov. Hayes, the Republican candidate
for PRESIDENT; and reviewed Tildcn's
record rs II performer" AS for Tilden's |
reduction of taxes in the State of New
York; Il Republican administration of
the State had paid off a large indebted
ness previous to Tilden's advent, leav-
it unnecessary for him to press high |
taxes. The taxes for current State en-
penses under Tilden were as large as |
under Republican administrations.
Hon. y. o. Stanchfield was then in
troduccd, who first spoke of the late
war, charging its origin upon the DEM
ocratic party, that for years had en-
deavOred t0,fOrce African slavery upon
our free States. He did not cast any
reflections upon loyal Democrats, and
admitted all due credit to individual
loyal Democrats.
Next, he spoke of the sham Demo-
cratic cry of peculation and fraud OH
the part of the Republican administers
ton, and denounced in vigorous terms
the recent action of the Confederate
House of Representatives in its whole
sale reduction of appropriations, Grip
ping the departments Of the govern
mcnt.
He then explained the Democratic
cry of Il great increase of expenditures
in the managing of the government.
The Democratic contrast was between
administration and the
present Republican one. In Buchan-
ans time, there was simply the ordi-
nary expenses; now, the. government
had to pay an enormous amount us in
tcrest OH public debt, created by n
Democratic war; and over S2O, OG0, 900
annually to widows and orphans Great
ed by the same war.
After showing up the losses to the
government through dcfalcations, &C.,
during Democratic administrations,
and the great decrease during Republic
can rule, the speaker closed.
Three cheers for Hayes and Wheeler
were given; three more for the speakers,
and the assembly dispersed, the speak
ers being escorted to the depot by a
crowd of citizens and q hand of martial
music.