New-York tribune., 1876-10-26
ADDRESS OF ATTORNEY.GENERAL TAFT.


ADDRESS OF ATTORNEY-GENERAL TAFT.
The greatest phenomenon of the present po-
litical campaign the fact that the old Democratic
party OF 1860 continued to the present day, and now
assumes garb and bearing OF TefOrmer The stand
ardbearers selected for the present campaign by that
party were prominent members OF that organization
when IL OF power l6 years ago. aud have been
identified with the ant-war measures, anticon-
| stitutiona amendments antreconsiructon, and,
generally anti greenbacks, when the greeubacls were
needed to carry the war, and antresumpton when
the greenbacks longer necessary egllender.
In the series Of DISCUSSES which the party is prac
ticmg by its platform and otherwise, il is wonderful
that there should be no disguise in the candidates
! The candidates were cOppeTbeads, politically, then
and now. The Democratic platform Is a rare document
We must take il the attempted expression Of the pur
pose and character OF the party IL seems 10 have been
contriyed by way Of the most garng false pretenses
Reform the word it begins and ends with. But 1t
really gives no ntcllgible description statement OF
the things known as actual reform. The Democracy
declare by this platform that they believe In the Union,
and also IN the amendments" am glad they have now
committed themselves 10 the "UnOn." because they
have been to put forth the doctrine Of State
Rights and the right Of secession announced In tho
resolutions OF 9s They even go now for the amend
ments the adoption OF which they violently opposed and
the validity OF which they have been accustomed 70
deny. II was well TO have them commit them
selves to these important consequences Of the war But
such a profession would have been necessary in
platform OF the Republican party which was the author
and fnlsher OF these amendments This platform de-
clares with singular mOdesty that reform necessary
10 restore the credit OF the country Observe tha moth
M said OF the antccedents OF these rcformers. The
R obvious There has been party since the for
nation of parties whose antecedents dscouraging
in the matter OF reform the Democratic party. What
ever abuse they found in the Government when they
came in they preserved. Conservatism has been their
boast II has always been the reactionary party But
who are these politicians who profess to be abol TO
restore the national credit They the same
Democratic leaders who sixteen years ago went
out OF power, and who had reduced the credit OF
this great country. time of profound peace 10 such
pass that is per bonds sold by Mr. Buchanan
to nay debts incurred during his administration at II per
cent discount Al such rates they were pedded in Eu-
rome To paw, not debt, but peace debt incurred
not by preceding Administrations but by that which was
then in power That the credit OF the Government
under the last Democratic Administration Six per cent
bonds at II per cent discount! They were sold for 50
cents on the dollar The kind Of bonds which these
Democrats under Buchanan sold for II per cent discount
are quoted in the market at from 10 TO 20 per cent
premium depending upon the time that they have 70 run
with twenty ycaIs to they sell as high as % or 20
per cent premium. The difference between Democratic
and Republican credit Is not less than 20 per cent III
favor Of the Republicans.
These Democratic politicians ST. Louis said that the
Republican admin istraton is honeycombed with cor
ruption Undoubtedly this like other administrations
has made mistakes and has and then, been infested
with dishonest politicians in Office Nothing short Of
omnscience could avoid occasional impostions OF this
sort But it has the practice OF the Republican
party to have frequent investigations OF the conduct Ot
those whose conduct seemed 20 require investigation,
and discharge such appeared TO be guilty And
to the general idea that the Republican party has been
ana Is corrupt s management Of the financial affairs
Of the nation-in its receipt and disbursement OF the
MONEYS collected by taxaton-there Is record far bet
than this irresponsible platform Of tie DemOciauo
party. speak of the record kept in the Treasury De-
parncn OF the United states government IN wlch en-
tered all the pccary transactOnsa the receipts and
all the disbursements OF the moneys OF the Government
and which shows nfallby how much has been lost in
the handling whether by stealing corruption mis-
rake or neglect Gu the call of the Senate, made In the
prese year, that record was produced IL shows In
general the following facts: That during the Admins
% Jackson, which lasted for eight
the average upon every $1,000 collected aud
bufsed during that tine was SlO 55 about one per
that in the succeeding administration Of Martin
Van Buren, the loss S2l and upward or little moro
than per that during all the Intervening Demo
losses approaching So until come down 70 the
last Democratic adminstratiOnthat OF James bucnnn
IN which the losses upon the receipts and ds
averaged {O 0S $1,000, ana here ehu hc Dco
cratic admnisra iOns-et hope forever. lhat same
record shows that during the nrst RepuOicsn
ton under Mr. Lincoln, the losses upon All he unsac-
tons OF the Governmental the NJ T. co of SG os
meuts-aycraged 81 fl the SlOOO, III pVS vi 20 90,
which reurcsen led the losses the time Oi MI 'cnanAh
and that loss has been reduced in the Va
Gen Grant 40 cents on the lOoO IN nis mrs -.
tr,ton and 20 cents the $1,000 III MS secohu a
cnrent adminstrat In place OF - W uhueI 81,
Rnchan1ntbe best that could be done y the Dcnoer1Ss