Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1876-01-07
Democratic RerOrmcrs.

WE are promised by the Democracy in
the present session of Congress rigid
inquiry into the financial affairs Of tho
Government, and committee has been
appointed for the discovery of various
dishonest practices on the part of tbs Re-
pubicans, Of which our Democratic
leaders assert they have long been con.
scious but which they have never yet
been able 20 define. In fact, their accusa-
tions are so general, their charges so
cloudcd by party zeal so obscure or so
violent, that IL is difficult to understand OF
what they complain or where they mean
tO point their attack. If they can succeed
in revealing any real center of corruption,
II they can bring TO justice any public
robbery, rctrench any extravaganza, de-
wise any wise economy, they will have the
support of the great majority of the Re.
publicans, and will do n real service to tho
country, which had long ceased 10 hope
for any benefit from their labors, Tho
financial administration of the Govern.
mcnt is that department in which the
Republicans have been most successful,
In the midst Of Democratic disorders at
the South and peculations at the North,
through panics that have covered tho
world, while foreign and domestic agen.
national credit and cut off the national
resources, the Republican Administration
has succeeded in reducing taxation while
paying off the debt, has maintained tho
national honor, yet practiced an extreme
economy, and has honestly toiled to re-
duce those burdens which have been
brought upon tho people by Democratic
rebellion and by the unpatriotic conduct
OF the Democratic leaders, who prolonged
the war by their factiOus opposition to all
the necessary measures OF repression. But
for the dangerous aid of the New York
Democracy it is not likely that the re-
bellion and slavery would have outlivcd
the fall of Vicksburg The vast national
debt is Democratic legacy TO the nation.
Ii is a remarkable proof Of the economyof
the Republican Administration that, eX-
| elusive OF the expenses arising from the
war, lis whole annual outlay is not by
more than third greater than that of the
administration that preceded the war
The cost of the Government has scarcely
kept pace with the growth of the country.
The attempt of the Democratic leaders
TO discover fraud in the Republican man
agemcnt of the finances must naturally
lead TO II fresh study of the notorious iinan-
cial calamitics that have followed Dem
ocratic rule in nearly all our chief cities,
and from which Democratic candidates
for Office have, 1t is rumorcd, often largely
profted. Mr. s. S. Cox, who moved the
resolution to appoint the Congressional
Executive Committee" modcstly declined
to become its Chairman. lie no doubt de-
cided wisely; for the district to which Mr..
Cox owes his seat is one of those that have
been most largely implicated in every
species OF fraud Mr.. Cox comes from the
city of New York, and might possibly be
called upon to describe minutcly to his
committee the way in which his Demo
cratic supporters have managed the finances
Of the unlucky metropolis. A com
parson between the wise economy of the
Republican National Administration and
the waste and the dishonesty OF the Dem
ocra;iC rulers of New York could not fail
| to be instructive. For nearly twenty
| years the Democracy has held the control
| OF the city Of New York almost constantly,
and of the Stale sufficiently often to indi-
cate its peculiar financial tendencies. And
no one is unfamiliar with the result.
! Within few years the debt of the city OF
| New York has been trebled. 1t now owes
probably more than 100000, 900. And
besides this immense sum it eXpends an
nually S3G, ,0OO, 900 Tor u government dis
reputable in nearly all its departments.
| The cost of its municipal administration
| is $36 for every inhabitant; itsdebt, $l60.
1t is admitted, too, that the greater part
of this money has been wasted or stolen.
Nor does any reputable Democrat deny
that his party has been the chief agent in
an unprecedented series of robberies.
| Their noted perpctrator has Just escaped
by the connivance of Democratic courts,
! Judges and jailcrs. But Tweed was only
the leader OF host of peculators, and
many rs guilty, perhaps, as he now sit
safely at home, under the shelter OF the
Democratic rule.
To such comparison Mr.. Cox might
well invite the attention of Congress.
Within seven years the national debt has
been diminished by nearly $400, ,000,0 600, +,
in the same period that of the city of New
York has more than trebled 1t costs,
under Democratic rule, $36 for each in
habtant, or $50, 100000 annually, to gov
ern city with population Of 1000, 900.
For 81 per head the Republican Admin
istration governs population of more
than 40 100000 But if we look into the
details the contrast becomes still more
striking. In the National Government
the courts are, in general, highly respect
able; the city Judges arc often the com
panions of thieves. The national officials
aTe COntenlcu WIN mOuesG salallcS; the
city officials have set no bounds to their
rapacity. Errors, frauds and gross decep-
tions no doubt have place in the Ma
tional Administration, but compared to
the extraordinary robberies OF the Demo
cratic leaders in New York or Albany
they sink into insigniticance. We need
continue the parallel no farther Messrs.
Cox and Wood might well explain to the
Democratic Executive Committee how it
is that they represent so dishonest n sec
ton of their party, and why they labored
so faithfully to the last TO continue the
rule Of TanlmanY Hall --Harperls IYeakLu