The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1876-09-30
REBEL WAR CLAIMS.

. claims for refunding the cotton tax, for dar
D. ages TO buildings. fences and every species
: property, even to the tramping of crops ar
grass by our soldiers when on the marc
X These claims, to the amount of q thousar
lg millions of dollars, or thereabouts, are no
q on file and in the hands of COMPRESSION
W Committees, awaiting the result of this eie
ltion Should the Coniederates be successful
> ere long bills will be presented for the poy
e der, balls and shells which destroyed the liv'
= of our brave boys in blue-Ottdwd Republ
: can.
% The above Is a fair specimen of the arg
= ments INDUCED in by Republican papers an
5 stump speakers to influence voters to supper
y Hayes and Wheeler. The use of that kind {
5 reasoning is anything but fattering to tn
intelligence of those to whom it is addressed
and its effect on the people, who are calle
upon TO decide who shall be the next Pres
dent will be great or small according as me-
are devoid Of powers of reflection and though
or endowed with common sense. Languag
of that kind assumes that the representative
in congress from the northern states VIII
compose three-fourths of the lower House ca
be led by the vicious influence of few
southern members TO assist in robbing tn
treasury of the United States, without hope o
of sharing in the proceeds of the steal, con
trary to their own interests, the interests o
their constituents anc of the whole country
for the benefit of a few dishonest rogues hav
ing trumped up claims against the govern
ment 1t assumes that every democrat who
Is elected to seat in congress to watch over
and protec. the interests Of the people who
elect him and labor for the we'll being of the
whole country, Is so ardent a sympathizer
with that class of citizens of the southern
states, who n light be disposed to saddle the
country with the rebel debt and the payment
of a multitude Of unjust war claims, as to
shut his eyes to his sworn duty and expose
himself TO perpetual infamy by betrayi1g the
trust reposed in him.
This great bugbear of rebel war claims is
calculated to frlghten only those who, from
their extreme Ignorance or want of intellect
are unable to think or reflect for themselves.
Men of ordinary intelligence who pretend
to tear the awful consequences that will re,
suit from the election of Mr. Tilden, are of
that unfortunate class of beings who have be-
come SO depraved in morals Os to have lost
all confidence in the integrity and honesty of
the rest of mankind. But even their own self.
Ish natures ought to teach the latter class of
men of the absurdity Of such propositions as
Cullen lays down for the edlfcation of the
readers Of his paper. Aside from his duty to
his constituents and to his country which of
itself is sufficient TO induce honorable and
upright action, member of congress has his
to influence him In preventing
lis own property from being overwhelmed
with taxes levied for the purpose of paying
fraudulent claims To say that any man
Gould obtain seat in congress from a north
I'm state, who would lend hand to aid dis.
honest men to plumber his own constituents
8 the height OF absurdity.
That there are class of men IN the south.
IN states who, If they had the power, might
'e disposed to saddle US with the payment OF
fraudulent and unjust claims arising out of
he war, and who hold confederate bonds they
would gladly have paid by the government
'e are not disposed TO deny. But to assume
hat those men constitute majority of the
outhern people and that any of the members
{ congress from the southern states are work.
ng for their interests Is 10 assume that which
} unproven and improbable. The great ma
'rity of the southern people have no claims
} urge against the government and they are
5 much interested in having dishonest
laims rejected as the people OF other states
re, and even more 80 as they are already
verwhelmed with debt and oppressed by
.xaticn, and every addition to the public
ebt Is at the same time an addition to their
lready almost iasuppOrtable burdens.
The interests of the north and of the south ,
re Identical and all portions of the country
re equally interested In Its prosperity and In
aving an honest and economical admins.
alton Of the general government. The at
mpt on the part of the republican party to
'eate sectional prejudice and prevent re-
Grafton OF harmony and good feeling is
ade only for political purposes. "The dear /,
ought results of the war and the principles 3
} long and earnestly commended for in the ,
yes of Cullen are nothing but the spells of ,
office. Ali the principles commended for
y the republican party have been too firmly -.
Established to be shaken and the election of
Ir. Tilden is all that is now necessary to :,
ring about an honest and economical admin. !.
tration of the government, and TO restore be. !,
'een the north and the south that harmony :
id good feeling which is so essential TO our
When four years administration
Mr. Tildcn has re-establshed those essen.
ais the cry of war" rebels" "traitors,n =,
ebel claims" &C. will be heard no more. :,
The republicans are very much alarmed II
solid SOUTH" but hesitate not to use all
eans... TO make it "solid' for Hayes and