The weekly Oskaloosa herald. [volume] (Oskaloosa, Iowa) 1855-1885, 1876-08-24
SPEECH OF
Hon. o. p. Morton,
DELIVERED AT
Indianapolis, Ind, Aug. II, 1875.

|
slavery abolished, to the establishment of
equality before the law, to Government
well administered, and to its principles re-
plete with justice, humanity, and the ad-
vancing civilization of the age. The Dem
ocratic party asking its past to be forgot
ten, with no arguments in its favor to be
drawn from history, comes in the mask of
reform, protesting superior purity and
relying only upon its general assault upon
the integrity and patriotism of Republi-
cans.
In such campaigns with slander as the
chief weapon, Republicans must be ex-
cused if they speak plainly of the political
character, history, and purpose of their
antagonists
If the Old World should believe what
is said by the leaders of the Democratic
party, by sham reformers, and the night
ravens of politics, they would conclude
that the people of the United States are
the most corrupt and degraded of all ma
tons on earth claiming to be civilized.
They would believe Republican govern
ment hopeless failure and our institu-
tions to have resulted in total rottenness
and prostitution. The persons to whom l
have alluded have done everything in
their power to destroy the American name
at home and abroad, and to prove that the
people are incapable of self-government
If only 1.-THE of what they proclaim was
believed, our Government would have no
credit in the financial circles of Europe,
immigration would cease, and the rela-
tives of those who have come to us from
abroad would use all the means in their
power to procure the return of their err
ing kindred, and republicanism through
out the world would surrender its last
hope in view Of its disastrous failure on
this continent Happily the good sense
and intelligence of the inhabitants OF the
Old World have comprehended the true
character of our infamous hbelers, and
the good name of America stands higher
than ever before. The foul birds that
would defile their nests are spurned with
loathing and contempt, and the eyes of
liberty-loving and hopeful people of other
lands are turned towards ours more earnest
ly than ever. The mostvenomous enemies,
and those who deserve to be lashed
through the land with whip of scorpi-
ons, are the miserable creatures who con-
tinually labor to cover our Government
with shame and disgrace in the eyes of
mankind.
SANDER OF THE NATION.
Mr.. Tlden, the Governor of New York,
was serenaded the other evening in honor
of his nomination for President by the
Democratic Convention, and in reply said
What next do we find in the public ad-
ministratiOn? Everywhere abuses, pecu-
lations, frauds and corruptiOns, until we
are almost ashamed of the institutions OF
our country, and instead of holding them
up as examples for the imitation of the
oppressed people of other countries, we
are cOnfessing them up as scandal in the
eyes of mankind. We find the Office hold
ing class have become 50 numerous, pow
erful, and unscrupulous that they assume
TO control the elections, and, if the people
are Indifferent, or at all equally divided,
are liable to exert a corrupt influence Suf-
ficient to perpetuate their own power.
At last we are reaching the worst condi-
tion of the countries of the Old World.
The Government no longer exists for the
people the people exist only for the Gov
ernment. Our Centennial product is the
evils, license, and wrongs to escape which
our ancestors abandoned their homes in
the Old World and planted themselves in
the wilderness.
The fact that candidate for President
should have made such speech is the
strongest evidence that can be produced
of our political degradation. When he
says that all business is ruined, that the
wolf is at the door Of nearly every house
in the land, gaunt and hungry, and that
our Centennial product is the evils, license
and wrongs to escape which our ancestors
abandoned their homes in the Old
World, he uttered ISLANDERS shameless and
erroneous
The nearest approach to the condition
of things he describes is to be found in
the city of New York under his own ad
ministration, in those Democratic purlieus
and among the people who gave him his
large majority. The crying evil of the
day is malicious falsehood, which covers
alike the President and the humblest citi
zen, and permeates public and private life
HAVE OFFICIAL MORALS DETERIoRATED Z!
So far from official morals deteriorating
the public service becoming debauched
and the country on the brink of ruin, ]
pronounce this and all kindred statements
which make up the body and trimmings
of Democratic platforms and speeches tc
/ be unmitigated bosh and demagoguery
and that the very opposite is the truth
On the 9th of February last the Senate
by resolution, called upon the Secretary
of the Treasury for statement of all the
balances due the United States from de
falcations or failure to make settlement
beginning on the first of January, 1884.
DEFALCATIoNs GREATLY DIMINISHED.
The answer was sent the Senate few
weeks ago, and l submit an extract ::frou
a statement made by Mr.. Anthony, Senator
from Rhode Island, Chairman of the Com
mittee to whom the document was re
ferred:
Mr.. Anthony-The aggregate statement
. der the list is paper exceedingly credita
bio in the American Government. | de
not mean to any particular party, but t
the financial history of the United States
There have been disbursed since 1884
can hardly read such big figuIes-$13. 1886,
SIC, ,072 .05, of which is marked upon these
books $22, ,266, 900, being about half mil
lion of dollars a year, and great part of
this is nominal, not real.
The losses on the 81, 900 of disbursements
were, in the Administration of jackson,
$1055, Van Buren. $21 10; Harrison, $40
73; Taylor and Fillmore $7.64; Pierce
1886; Buchanan nearly $6.98; Lincoln
81 Al; johnson 4S cents; Grant the first
four years, 40 cents; the second four years
26 cents-showing a constant decline
which is owing in large degree 70 the inn
proved manner of keeping the accounts
and that is due very largely to the Com
mittees on Finance and Appropriations
who have introduced legislation here
J which has compelled much greater accur-
acy and responsibility. The average per
centage of losses during that whole period
ON the disbursements is 1850 on the thou
sand. j do not believe that the aggregate OF
any class of corporated or private business,
banking, commercial, or any other kind,
can show so small a percentage of loss as
| tuioi anu IL ID SiuliiyiuS tiaS thC pCICCut'
age of loss is continually decreasing, com
ing down from $2l 80 in the administra-
ton of Van Buren, to an average of %
cents on the thousand dollars, or only
about one-sixth as much as under the
present administration. This is exclusive
Of the post-office which administers its
own revenue. In the post-office the loss
has gone down from $1l.18 on the $1,000
in Jackson's administration, and $26 10 in
Van Buren's to 81 so for the first term OF
Grant and 81 OIL for the second; with an
average of $357 for the whole period.
From the foregoing statement it appears
that the losses during Grants first -four