The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1878-08-08

June 30, 1875, both inclusive!
Ten years OfIncrease of
Ten years Of con serva- ten years
radical rule tive rule Rad cal
June 30,'67,I From June rule OV @ r
| Title ...."., to June 3d. 30, 1856 tOl ten years
T6-bOth iis.I June30, Gil OtconserY-
cal years in. both fiscal alive rule
elusive. years In for same
elusive. periods.
War....$ 5OSO2Oi7s 49Sl6O476451 55 F24S97 ,29O So
Navy ...,. 23il7l ll0 l0 123476451 20 1l060476 90
Indians ,. B2,67SlGS 81 S257l 1856 70 SOlO6,60B n
| Cvil&mis.
ceaneOus 6Ss4a8355 80 2i7502 124 o. 80OSi6,lSl 80
Total sl,52GOl7la7 77s572S7O2G 80 s9a5 Oi4S77 IS
This shows an increase of 1879 per
cent. for ten years since the war over ten
years previous to the war. Taking as a
basis the census of 1860, the cost per Ca
pita for the net ordinary expenditures
above named for ten years before the
war was $l8 2l, while the net ordinary
expenditures for the ten years since the
war on the basis of the census of 1870
were 500 65. There are other facts, how
ever, which are even more conclusive, if
possible, than those already cited. The
Democratic party has had majority in
the Lower House of both the Forty
fourth and Forty. fifth Congress. For the
first time since 1861 the party is Justly
chargeable with portion of the respon-
sibility of the government. Let US, there
fare, compare it's works with those of its
opponents. There are eleven great ap-
preparation bills usually considered and
passed by each succeeding Congress.
They embrace the expenditure of the
public money for the following objects
The army, the navy, the legislative, ju.
diCial and executive departments of the
government; the military academy, for.
tifcations, consular and diplomatic SER
vice, the post Office, pensions, Indians,
river and harbor improvements and sun
dry civil. By an examination and COM
parison of the official records it appears
that the appropriations made in these
bill g by Democratic Houses for the years
1877, 1873 and 1879, show reduction of
$SS, ,27O,236 AZ under the appropriations
made in similar bills, and for the same
purpose, by Republican Congresses for
the years 1874, 1875 and 1876, The re-
ductions were much greater when the
bills originally passed the House, but the
Senate, in every instance, largely in
creased the sum appropriated, and the
House was sometimes, in Committees o1
Conference, compelled to make Conces-
sions. These important facts, full of sig
nifcance for the future, will not be sue
Cessfully disputed. They are beyond the
reach of controversy; they are imbedded
in the legislation Of the country, and
they appeal strongly to the people in be-
half of those who have placed them there.
Economy in public affairs was the Cardi-
nal doctrine of the Democratic party in
the days of its greatest power, and it is
encouraging to witness the exercise OF
the same great virtue as soon as it OBJ
tsins even partial control over the pub.
lie moneys. Such record, made under
adverse circumstances, with the Senate
and administration in opposition, will
sustain those who made it against all as
saults. An over-taxed people will rea-
dily yield their confidence to party
who furnishes acts of relief rather than
mere empty professions. Had the guides
sent forward by Joshua to explore the
Promised Land returned empty.handed,
the Israelites would have listened with
impatienCe and distrust to their report,
however glowing and enticing it might
have been. But when they showed the
rich fruits which they had gathered, the
grapes, the figs, and the pomegranates, a
weary, anxious people believed that the
country before them was good, and they
pressed forward to enjoy it. And so now
the Democratic party does not come be-
fore you with mere promises of some.
thing in the future it exhibits the fruits
of its labors, and on them invites your
confidence.
SOUTHERN REBEL WAR CLAIMS.
But it is charged by our opponents that
the public treasury is in imminent dan
ger of bankruptcy from the allowance by
Congress of what are denominated rebel
war claims. A violent scare has been
attempted on the subject. Some who
are honest but ignorant have lent them.
selves to this delusion. and otheas who
know better haqe doe the same. have
recently observed that it is nearly the
entire stock in trade of Republican can.
didates in their opening speeches of the
present canvass. l am bound to believe
that such gentlemen are entirely igno-
rant of the constitution of their country.
1t is more respectful to them to assume
that they have not read the provisions
OF that great instrument than to suppose
that they willfully misreprssent it for po-
litical ends. How is it possible for the
Congress of the United States to pay a
single dollar for loss of any kind in aid
of the rebellionP Section 4 of the Four.
teenth Amendment to the Constitution
reads as follows:
"The validity Of the public debt of the
United States, authorized by law, inClud-
ing debts incurred for payment of PEN
sions and bounties for services in sup
pressing insurreCtion or rebellion, shall
not be questioned. But neither the
United States nor any State shall assume
or pay any debt or obligation incurred
in aid Of insurrection or rebellion against
the United States, or any claim for the
loss or emancipation of any slave; but all
such debts, obligations and claims shall
be held illegal and void"
By the express terms of this section
not only the Federal Government, but
each individual State is prohibited in the
strongest language from assuming or pay
ing any claim of any description growing
out of assistance to the rebellion. The
first step requisite in presenting claim
before any department of the govern
ment is to make proof that the claimant
was loyal during the war. What kind of
claims, therefore, are left for recognition
and payment2 Simply those Of Union
men whose property was taken or dea-