Ottumwa weekly courier. (Ottumwa, Wapello County, Iowa) 1872-1899, 1876-08-02
s.AmgLess ,MpvpEMcE.

the neduluS Va n OattCUt IttWsN
sscence," makes the following argu
; ment in behalf of the Democrat
party:
In 1860, Governor Thomas A. Hen
bricks and Hon. Henry S. Lane wer
opposing candidates for Governor 0
Indiana. The writer heard thes
gifted orators in joint discussion du
ring that memorable contest.
:. Succeeding events have often caused
him to think of Governor Hendricks
speech upon that occasion, and a
now Mr.. Hendricks is PROMINENT,
before the people as candidate fol
the second Office in their gift-Vic,
President of the United States--i
might be we'll to give an idea of tha
part of the discussion which made
such lasting impression upon hi
mind.
| Mr.. Hendricks, speaking for the
Democratic party, pointed with pride
to the then prosperous condition Of
the country, the enterprise and pros.
perity of the American people under
the economical administration Of the
Government by the National Demo.
cratic party. He claimed that the
farmer and the artisan were remuner.
ated for their daily toll; that the
tradesmen were driving prosperous
business, and that the American
merchantmen were discharging their
cargOes in every port, and their white
sails were fluttcring upon oil seas.
Mr.. Lane, in his reply, did not at
tempt to deny the prosperity of all
classes of people, but said his oppo-
nent would appropriate the gifts of
heayen,-the gentle dews, the nour-
ishing rains, and the invigorating
sunshine; that the country was pros
porous, not on account of the Demo-
cratic party, but in spite of 1t.
Since then the Republican party
has been in power, and the seasons
have come and gone; all the gifts of
heaven have been layishcd upon our
country the same bright sun has
shone ; the clouds have dropped their
garnered fullness down as of yore
but where is the prosperity of the
American people? Can Mr.. Lane, or
Mr.. Hayes, or any other honest Re-
publican look an American audience
in the face, and say that the country
is now prosperous in spite of the Re-
publican party?
The fact is, that under Republican
rule the burdens of the people have
been more than quadrupied. Under
unjust revenue laws and an ipiquitons
tariff, all avenues of business have
been clogged and the prosperity of
the people has vanished.
Let the tree be judged by its fruit.
Let that party-the Democratic-that
safely guided the ship Of state thro'
sunshine and storm, be called to the
helm, as the only hope Of tax-rid-
den and outraged country.
We publish the above because it is
fair sample of the specious decep-
tions of Democratic journals all over
the land to-day. The writer of that
article is not fool, and knew all the
while he was penning it that he was
striving to deceive, striving to make
truth out of most egregions false
hood.
Let us examine little. 1t is true
Henry S. Lane beat Hendricks for
Governor in 1860 in Indiana. That
was during the Lincoln campaign.
and when the Republicans of this
nation had the audacity to beat the
Democrats at the polls, the latter
at once refused to submit, and
commenced the rebellion before Lin
coin could be inaugurated. A Dem
ocratic President sat in the chair and
folded his hands and let Democrats
seize our forts, or navy, our guns, aud
teal tho traoep,,. drr Wol, whom
Did Abe secretly slipping through the
hands of rebel plotters for his life,
got into Washington and was inau.
gurated, he and the Republicans went
10 work to whip these Democratic
traitors and defeat the wishes and
hopes of thrcc-fourths of the Demo-
cratic party North, who were the
warm well-wishers of their friends
South. Well, for over four years the
country ran with blood, and five
thousand millions of money were ex-
pended. All, all brought about by |
the treason of Democrats, - not
treason to unjust laws-not treason
because of oppression-but treason,
in behalf of the cause Of
human slavcry-to bind and rivet
forever upon five millions Of slaves,
the most accurscd and debasing fet-
ters to body and soul. Three thou
sand millions of this great debt has
been cancelled by the American peo-
pie, or nearly that, but still large
debt remains, which Republicans have
been steadily reducing and as stead
lily reducing the taxation of the peo-
pie, until now but very few articles
arc taxed.
Previous to 1860, of which Hen
bricks spoke, this country had been
over twenty years at peace, and for
fifty years had had no war of any
moment in the way Of expenditures.
Still the reader will remember that
we had, i'm 1857, under Democratic
rule, the fearfullcst kind of wildcat
money-money that no body dare
hold for twenty-four hours, and the
times were as much harder than the
present as one can imagine. But,
says the Gazette man, the Republican
party has been in power, and the sea-
sons have come and gone, and where
is our prosperity? Yes, the Repub-
lican party has been in power-but
for five years the Democrats We're
in rebellion since that time, and a
good many of them are not any bet
ter in disposition now, according
to that lifelong Democrat, General
Tuttle, and we think he is just right.
Well, during all this Democratic trea-
son we have got heavily in debt; we
have got an irredeemablc currency,
which the faith Of the nation is
pledged to make good we have been
trying, and are still trying to get
back to a sound basis. We must do SO,
and we will do so just as soon as is
consistent with our plighted honor,
and at the same time with a reason
able share Of sacrifice on the part of
the people. Now comes the traitor
| who made the debt, who mortgaged
the country, and seeks to blind the
people that he, the villain, may again
get into power, because the country
is not as prosperous as it might be
/ without an enormous debt; without
an irredcemable currency. Such is
the impudence of once traitors OF
sympathizers with treason. 1t issnat.
ural enough that from suchR source
we should have such aresult. Shame
never mantles the face of those whose
I H. <I.Ak