Northern tribune. [volume] (Cheboygan, Mich.) 1875-1885, 1877-01-20
NORTHERN TRIBUNE.
SATURDAY. JANUARY 20, 1877.


WE'RE THEY SINCERE
During the Presidential campaign,
Democratic orators and papers declared
that that party did not desire to pay
Southern war claims, They knew that
the majority of the citizens of the North,
both Democrats and Republicans, were
opposed to any measure looking in that
direction. They knew that unless the
masses of their own party felt that there
was no danger Of any such payment,
that they had no hope of success and In
answer to the charges of the Republican
sneakers and press that the success of the
Democratic party meant the payment
of the Southern claims, the Democratic
leaders made strong and emphatic de-
NAL. and Just upon the eve of election
Samuel J. Tilden issued his famous man.
;festo. in which he declared his determi-
nation TO veto any and all such claims.
Were the leaders of the party sincere In
these declarations? That the mass OF
that party believed so, wefirmly believe
but do the actions of the party confirm
their declarations on this subject? 1t is
an old saving that factions speak louder
than words and what have besn their ac'
lions ?.How have they conformed to their
declarations previous to the election
Let MS examine into it and see. On the
18th day of last December Representa-
tive Hunter, of Indiana. offered resoltl-
ton i'm the House that the Judiciary
committee report an amendment to the
constitution prohibiting the United
States government from paying TO any
disloyal person any money on any claim
for property destroyed or damaged by
United States troops during the war of
the rebellion. The House instructed
that committee to report such an amend
ment within twenty days; and this action
of the Democratic House was heralded
by the Democratic press of the country
"a an evidence of the sincerity of their
party in their promises during the cam
paign. This looks we'll enough upon its
face; but even if such an amendment
was adopted, would it prevent such pay
ments ? 1t is true it reads to prohibit
the payment to any disloyaI person, but
are there any disloyal persons at the
present time. i'm the full acceptance of
that term? The Southern people all
claim to be loyal nolU. But even in this
ambiguous form, let us see how the
Democrats i'm the House stood upon the
question. We find that great many
lodged the question, and that the major
ity of that party voting npOn it voted
against it. The twenty days went by,
and, Notwithstanding the judiciary COM
mittee had specific instructions to report
within that time, they did not pay the
least attention to the request of the
House, and on the Sth inst. Mr.. Hunter
again called up the matter, and moved
that the committee be required to report
the amendment within two days. What
was the result this tint? We find the
Democratic chairman OF that committee
furiously objecting, and a majority of
the Democrats voting, again voting
against prohibiting the payment OF
Southern war claims. even when present.
ed by disloydl persons. Does not all
this show that the Democratic party, if
they obtain the power, will pay these
claims, and that their actions upon this
question i'm the House substantiates the
charges made by the Republicans during
the campaign.
ssReform" was another of their cries
during the campaign. Were they sim
cerc in that? Upon this plea they made
the fight of the campaign. In Detroit
they succeeded in electing majority of
the common council, and. of course, re-
form was to have been expected. What
was the result? The party caucus was
called and nominations made for the
various positions in the city which the
council had the power to fill. Some of
the nominees were VIGOROUSLY unworthy
Of any place of public trust, and of such
a character that even some of the Demo-
cratic aldermen could not support them,
and the consequence was that three Of
the Democratic councilmen bolted and
allied themselves with the Republican
members, as the only hope of saving the
city from being disgraced by these OBJ
noxious appointments by the"reformers,"
having majority i'm the common coun.
ell of that city, and the great reform
organ of the state, the Free Press of that
city. said of these nominees of the ''re-
form" caucus: 1T is useless to ignore
the fact that the majority of the Demo
cratic majority i'm the council has deter
mined in caucus upon certain appoint
ments which are repugnant to the better
sense of the Democratic party in the city,
as they are to all good citizens" The
Free Press also approved and sustained
the boiling members of their party i'm
their action, thus virtually conceding
that notwithstanding their persistent
cries for reform" during the campaign,
the only salvation for the good name of
Che city of Detroit was i'm the Republican
party, as represented by the Republican
members of the common council. and it
applauds the few members of the '.re-
form" party who, having some regard
for the honest administration of the af-
fairs Of the city. could not swallow the
of the caucus, bolted and