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

COuIsS VI pdllcuG WdllIuS pelOIe VIC
can hope to transform the Southern
country into u model Northern com
munities, has joined the army of the
"Bloody Shirt" And we are told
upon every stump that the war is not
over; that rebels are in Congress ;
that they are seeking power that
peace does not exist; that republicans
are being killed in the South and
that democrats in the North were and
are no better than rebels.
My friends, the Republican party
has existed upon this style of argu-
ment for many years. 1t has several
times escaped the reward of its cor
ruptions by similar pleading. And so
long as occasional disturbances in the
South are available to continue this
party in power, you may be sure that
disturbances will occur. And they
will occur in the future, as in the past.
upon the eve of important elections.
1t is easy for adroit knaves to lead the
colored people of the South into posi-
lions where they will be harshly dealt
with. If you desire peace aud pros
perity for the whole country, give
these leaders to understand that their
tricks have been detected. Let US
have a-change of administration, and
quiet will find a permanent abode in
the South. IF it be true that peace
does not exist there, what better rea
son can we desire for a change. Our
radical brethren have had unlimited
power for eleven years of peace. And
if they have brought us out of the
wilderness no farther than we we're at
the close of the war, it is tune that
new men and new policies should be
tried. But | doubt the honesty of
men who indulge in these bloody
harangues. / commend to every can
did mans consideration the unanimous
resolution of the House which l have
already read and ask him what has
happened since to justify the assertions
of Office seekers or Office holders that
we are now engaged in the same war
hat was waged in 1861, or that we
are fighting the war Of. the rebellion
over. What evidence have we that all
the good feeling spoken of in that res
olution has so suddenly disappeared ?
What has happened to cause this
change of front? 1 can tell you what
has happened. A Democratic Con-
gress has established its right to the
confidence of the people by a fierce
and successful struggle for retrench-
ment, economy and reform. A Demo-
cratic Congress has exposed the cor
ruption, imbecility and rottenness of
nearly every department of your Cows
eminent. A Democratic Congress has
convinced the people that reform is
probable by a change of men and
parties; but impossible by a change
of men only. subjected to all the old
influences.
To prevent the change of policies
upon which the people are bent, we
are insulted with these ~harangues
| about the war. And when business is
at. a stand still manufactures are
closed; commerce is neglected; labor
is unrewarded, aud the whole country
in stagnation, Republican demagogues
seek to add to our troubles by array
ing the North against the South, by
dividing the country into sectional
parties, by reviving hate where six
months ago peace, fraternal feeling:
good will, and love of the Union were
the common sentiment of the whole
country.
1, for one, do not propose to be LED
away by these evasive issues from the
great topics of the day.
1t is important that you should be
informed somewhat in detail OF what
was done by Congress during the las
session. Both parties were upon trial
and, for one, l am willing that by the
result both shall be judged.
RETRENCHMENT.
The Democratic House began the
work of economy as soon as lis com
mittees were organized. We started
with the hope of saving forty millions
of dollars for the coming year. Tit
first step We took met the fierce resist
ance of the whole Republican side
and from the beginning Of the session
until the very end that resistance wa:
continued. Our committees found op
position in every department, either II
the reduction Of salaries or the mum
Der of employees of the govern
ment. Every department was flle'
with political pets who rendered
no a%ppreciable service to the people
W. undertook to dismiss 1900 Of these
The Senate resisted until the very las
days of the session, when by compro
mise it reluctantly consented to tn
dismissal of about seven hundred. W
reduced the salary of the President t
$4,000 a year; but the bill was We
toed by him. The Senate would no