The Russellville Democrat., 1877-02-01
NoRRIsTowN, ARK, Jan. 20.

To the editor of the DEMOCRAT:
 The great event of the past year, has, of course, been the Presidential election, and iD some cases state elections. The decis- ion of the people, as declared at the polls, has been unmistakeably in favor of the democratic candi dates. But the republicans, by series of efforts ofsthe basest kind, and by the action of Returning Boards created under their rule, have endeavored to set aside the clearly expressed will of the peo- pie, so that .heir nefarions reign would be continued in the United States. During their administra tion the public revenue has been shamelessly defrauded largely di- rected to the maintainancc of their leaders and supporters.
 In fine, ever since the war the administration of the Republican party has been such as has brought to the Republic, disaster at home, and scoin abroad.
 Were the people tamely to sui fer their usurping designs, Amer ca would no longer deserve to be ranked amongst free nations.
 But the country may rot be driven to the dire alternative of war to preserve the honor of the Republic, and restore prosperity to the people. It IS idle to con ceal the fact that much suffering has prevailed amongst working people, other than agricultural labors, both skilled and unskilled during the past year, owing to the continued depression and distru which has prevailed since 1873.
 This evil has been largely in creased since the elections. as the uncertainty of the future from the present contest of parties, ut terly prevents any improvement in trade. Every city oi the Union is thronged with unemployed me chanics of all classes, clerks, &c. In an Ohio town of 10000 inhab itants, of carpenters alone there are at present five hundred un- employed-this is from reliable information. Lately in the city of San Francesca there appeared an advertisement of petty clerk ship of $600 per annum. For this there were HOO applicants. These are straws which show the country-unfortunately it IS a troubled one. The distress amongst working people is very great and wide spread in the Northern cities at present. The political condition has aggravated this evil greatly. "Our congress men scarcely appreciate the in tensity of feeling with which the mercantile classes are compelled to consider the long continuance of the present uncertainty. The suspense has necessarily deaden- ed trade; and coming as this de- pression does after a tenison since the panic seldom, if ever, in our history equalled, it is producing great distress, and threatens even greater. The fall and winter trade has already been distroyed; and if this contest is allowed to continue through January and February, and to grow :in bitter ness as during the past month, the spring trade must also he con sidered dead; and what next?"
 The past year closed in gloom, and the doubt whether a peaceful settlement of the presidential claim shall be obtained, causes great anxiety to patriotic citizens. They are not without fear that the Republic which was ushered into existence with splendor, may be extinguished in the darkness and blackness of night. They are op- pressed with mechanically, and fill ed with shame when they com pare the leaders of the Republic at it's birth, with the wretched | money-grabbers who are in the high places of the land. What d contrast between such a galaxy of men as ashington, 1 Hancock, Franklin, Jefferson, Ad l ans and the nobly unseltish Ham ilton, and such rubbish as Grant, Schenck, Babcock, Robeson, Belk. nap and others of their political faith. B. w. C..
 Worth Thinking Of.