The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1876-09-07

l
to one million and a half of dollars.
No one is responsible for the introduce
ton of a bill. but the man who offers
it. And frequently the bill is intro
duced without intention to press it,
even by the man who offers it. 1t is
a significant fact that none of these
bills have passed. The House passed
hundreds of private bills for the res
lief of Union soldiers, for every one
of which l voted when present. But
if it passed any war claims. it was not
by my vote nor with my knowledge.
My position can be briefly stated upon
this question. If a southern white
man proves his loyaltysas the law now
requires, l believe that in nine cases
out of ten he does SO by perjury. And
if he was a soldier, or assisted or aided
in the rebellion, he took the risks OF
the war and should not be paid.
But people who live in glass houses
should not throw stones. am amaz-
ed that our republican friends should
allude to this matter of the payment
of Southern claims. 1t revives recollec-
tioDs of what they themselves have
done. Mr.. Sherman is my authority
for the statement that the Republican
party, through the various branches
of its administration, has already paid
one hundred millions of dollars to so
called loyal citizens for losses by the
rebellion, and that payment still con-
tinues. l challenge denial. l refer
you to his recent Marietta speech.
And yet after this stupendous effort to
corrupt the Southern voter by the pay
ment of this enormous sum, Mr.. Sher-
man stands aghast at lat little bills for
the payment of II millions of dollars
NOT ten of which will probable ever
see the light of day! l do not think
any good citizen need lay awake Of
nights for fear of these bills or others
like them. he last session was re.
markable for its freedom from jobs.
The lobby was not filled with corrup.
tionists, as in the days Of Republican
rule. The soldier had the ear of the
House at all times. But the jobbel
and the lobbyist, never.
RESUME OF REPUBLICAN LEGISLATION
The history of Republican Congresse:
does not justify the public in a desire
for their return. Public experience
has been fearful in this connection
And when we recall their doings, we
are amazed that an effort should be
made to hand the lower House wei tt
the Republican party!
Who gave away the immense tract:
of your Western lands to railroad cor,
poratious? Who voted the credit o.
the government, to the extent of sixty
four millions of dollars, to the varlou:
Pacific railroads; and hen ~corruptly
transformed the first mortgage of the
government into a second mortgage
thereby utterly destroying its value
What party fastened the odious nation
al banking system upon the country
so firmly that time alone can tel
whether we shall ever be able to throw
it off? What party made the lega
tender money Of the country money
for the soldier the farmer and tn,
workingman, but not money for thu
bondholder? What party created privi
legged classes by its policy of issuing
bonds o fthe government without max
ing them liable to taxation as othe.
property? What party has put ruinou
tariffs and internal taxes upon the PEG
pie of the west; and permitted tn
income tax to expire? What party
voted large subsidies to the Pacific
mail under the corrupting influences o
five hundred thousand dollars admit
ted to be in the lobby =? What part,
organized the corrupt ring in the dis
trict of Columbia, and robbed tn,
people of millions of dollars? Who or
g%anized the Freedman's bank and stol
the millions of savings of the confd
ing colored men of the south? VIVA
party violated its solemn pledges t
the people in 1868, and by the infa
nous gold act of that year added fv
hundred millions to your burdens b
making the five twenty bonds payabl
in coin .? What party IN 1873 secret
and c%orruptly and by false statement
on the floor of the House demonetize
the silver dollar, the acknowledge
equal of gold in the constitution, an
thereby compelled the debtor to pa
his debts in the most costl
coin? What party fastened upo
the country the present impractical
and oppressive specie resumption bill
destroying confidence, credit and en-
terprise throwing the country int
confusion; embarrassing business
gripping manufactures and bringin
ruin and distress to the family of tn
working man ? What party has 10