The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1877-05-17
THE CONTRAST.

The Philadelphia Pree, of a recent
date, after speaking Of the prospect
ty our country enjoyed for many
years before the late rebellion, and
for some time after, concludes its re-
marks by comparing those times
with the present ~deplcrable condition
of affairs. The Press says:
How painful is the contrast our
country now presents. Capital finds
70 employment in productive pur-
suits, and can be safely invested on
ly in unproductive and untaxed Gov
eminent bonds, while masses of Ia
,borers who would gladly contribute
to the revenues of the Government
were work and wages to be had, are
living in enforced idleness, and sink
ing into deeper depths of despair as
each week passes. Not only do our
cities and towns no longer grow, but
within a week a leading New York
%journa, has declared that the debt of
that city must be r~epudiated, or its
real estate pass into hands that will
hold it at such low prices as to ena-
BILE them to derive from it reasonable
commercial profit after paying the
heavy taxes with which it is burden
ed. And in this city we are inform
ed by credible authority that 5000 of
our homes are untenanted or occu-
pied by families who, unable longer
to pay rent, are permitted to remain
in them on condition that they pro-
tect the premises from the ravages to
which unoccupied buildings are liza
BILE. Not only has immigration eas
ed, but American citizens are gladly
availing themselves of the free pass
age offered to them and their fami-
lies by the Australian Commission
of immigration, and fleeing from our
proud Republic to become citizens
of a British colony, where hundreds
of thousands of foreign-born citizens
have sought to improve their condi-
ton by returning to their native
lands"
This is q sad picture, but it is a
true one. And why, let us ask, are
we thus reduced, in a few years, from
affluence and prosperity to almost
abject poverty and distress? The
question can be answered without
difficulty. 1t is owing to the bad
government of Radical rule, to a lack
of craftsmanship andintegrity. From
the hour GRANT assumed the duties
of the Presidency, our credit as a ma
ton and our industries commenced
to languish. Had we had a great
man at the head ofour nation instead
of the weak, bigoted and corrupt
GRANT, we would to-day be a pros
porous and happy people and nation,
and whether it will be any better I'M
der the present fraudulent creature,
time alone will determine. GRANTS
policy, if indeed he had one, was to
keep down and harrass the South.
Against their wishes, protests and
interests, he forced the Southern peo-
pie to submit to the rule of vile car
per-baggers and ignorant negroes,
and this rule he pinned down upon
them with the bayonet. Southern
statesmen and capitalists were push
ed aside and compelled to remain
passive observers of the widespread
desolation that ensued, and witness
the fantastic antics of vagabond
whites and blacks as they revelledin
power and plumber. But, State after
State, in the South finally struck out
for the right, and to-day those States
recently a "solid South" for the Re.
publicans, are now a "solid South
for the Democrats. Every Southern
State is now Democratic, and are
fast regaining their former place and
prosperity. South Carolina and Lou
I%isiana, so long and so ruthlessly plum
dered, have been rescued from the
hands of their enemies, and with
WADE HAMPTON and NICHOLS as
their Governors, will slowly but sure
ly start ON a new career of prospect
ty. So much for the contrast-anG
SO much for the change from Repub
lican to Democratic rule.