Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1876-08-24
WASHINGTON.
From our own Correspondent.


WeSsrs Editors:
The dead lock on the principal APP
preparation bills still continues. 1t is
the general impression that there will
be an agreement as soon as the differ
ent smelling committees have time to
write out their reports and have them
adopted by the Southern Democracy.
What confidence can be placed upon
Reports based upon hearsay evidence,
given in the absence of the implicated
parties, which is eagerly sought, for
the purpose Of duplicating some prom
inent Republican? In every case
where the parties implicated have been
given fair opportunity to meet the
evidence brought against them they
have not failed, by unimpeachable tes-
timony, to show the true nature of the
charges brought against them, viz: to
make political capital for the Presiden-
tial election, with the exception of ex-
Secretary Belknap, who let it not be
forgotten, could not have been i'm
peached even, had not President Grant
granted protection to Mr.. and Mrs.
Marsh, the only witnesses upon whose
Testimony he could possibly be i'm
Ipeached.
The time has been when the Democ-
racy would have scorned the effort to
blast private character upon hearsay
evidence, for the purpose of advancing
their party interests, but that was in
the days of lthe Republic before the
Democratic Party had become, through
Southern dictation, the foundation Of
the institution Of slavery and the great
wrongs arising thereform. Nothing
better could be expected from persons
who fought for years to destroy this
glorious Union, and whose real sympa-
thies are with the principals of the ex-
Confederacy. Witness the speech of
Hon. B. II. Hill, at the commence
ment of the session. What Democrat
from any section Of the country has
condemned the sentiments of that
speech? True they have condemned
it as impoFtic and have taken action
to prevent the repetition ofiike speech
es. Why? Not because they did
not Esympathize with his sentiments
but because it would injure their party
at the North in the coming Presideu-
tial election. The Tnden and Hen
bricks Flag suspended from the Demo
cratic Headquarters Of this city has
| 'Retrenchment aud Reforn'' printed
upon it. The Democracy must have
full faith in their ability to humbug a
| loyal people. The idea Of Retrench-
meat and Reform in connection wish a
ticket nominated through the united
influence of the Southern Democracy
who forced debt OF nearly $3,000,-
100000 upon the country to maintain
It's National sustenance, and compelled
it to levy an annual tax Of $103, 0GG,-
900 to meet the interest, 500, 000,G coo
to pay pensions, and $50, 100000 to
provide for The payment Of the princi
pal, and the entire expense Of the In
ternal Revenue system, aided by one
Of the greatest gamblers, reformed
prize fighter, the country has ever pro-
dueed, is the last source honest people
would look for reform,
Would Mr.. Tiiden have had 8 unit
ed South for his nomination had be
net re fused to sign the following in
1861, viz +: "Citizens Of New York in
favor Of maintaining the laws and Con
stitution of the United States are re-
quested TO attend a meeting at Union
square, on Saturday, April Goth, at
10 O'clock" and had he not been one
Of the committee on Resolutions at
the Democratic Convention in 1864
which reported the following resolu,
ticn, Resolved, That this Convention
does explicitly declare, as the sense of
the American people, that after four
years of failure to restore the Union
By the experiment Of war-during
which, under the pretense of a nail
itary necessity or war power higher
than the Constitution, the Constitu-
ton itself has been disregarded In ev-
cry part, and public liberty and private