Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1879-10-17
Hypocrisy of the Southern
Claims" Cry Of 10.
How the Democrats Saved Millions
of Dollars,
By Closing the Treasury Doors
Against Republican Thieves.
A Chapter Of History Taken From the
Records.

OF these campaigns has thai party been
able TO fight upon the same platform.
II has been forced to hunt up new
issue each time. and has invariably
abandoned it when called 10 account
for their legislation---thc practical test
of their professions before the people.
Since the adoption of q rank state
rights plank in tho national platform
upon which Lincoln ran the first time,
republicanism has drifted about after
various willo'-the-wisps until II has
grounded and foundered upon tho is
sue OF national sovereignty. And there
the party lies to-day, yainly cndeavor-
ing to prove that the democrats have
become the advocates OF states rights
q doctrine, which. in their extremity,
the republicans have suddenly discover
ed is monstrous. IL has been forcibly
shown that in setting up this thing OF
straw, tho republican party has stulti-
fled it's record and placed itself in the
dsgracefu position OF attempting TO
pervert history, when it's ultra-union
doctrines no longer promised 10 re.
dound to party advantage.
1t is proper to recall some facts in re-
cent history in order TO show the insn-
cerily and fragrant dishonesty of rcpub-
lican issues. In 1870 the campaign
was inaugurated by the radicals under
discouraging circumstances. They had
lost one house OF congress, and it be.
camo necessary TO fire tho hearts Of in
different republicans in the hope Of re-
calling them 10 active party service. To
do this it was decided that nothing
would be more effective than violent
attack upon the south, and to this end
tho cry wns raised that unless congress
was reclaimed the democratic party
would force the payment OF tho south.
ern claims and bankrupt the national
treasury. This, then, was made The H.
aue, and il was ampli6ed in startling
proportions in every copy OF the party
press. The most stupendons falsehoods
concerning the history Of those claims,
were Issued upon tho authority Of the
Washington committees and banded
about until they grew like the tabled
bean.stalk. The picture Of danger from
southern claims was blaaoned in start
ling type over the whole country.
Many honest men were deceived by tho
cry and fell into the rahble. How thor
oughly and irredeemably dishonest this
issue was, will appear from incontro-
yertible facts.
During that bloody.shirt and south
ern-claims campaign, the Hon. John
Sherman, in carefully prepared
speech which no delivered ut Marietta
Ohio, mnde the following confession,
which IL copied verbatim:
When tho war closed innumernble claims
against the United States were made from ihs
lately rebel states. and congress- In tho mOst lib-
ernl spirit made provision for the payment of all
that by tho wel-satlled rules or civilized war
could DO rropcrly nude ngalnA ths United
States. Tho officers of tho depnrm tho III.
rremo court tho court OF ohimr, and the sontb.
ern claims commission wcro authorized TO adjust
ind pny different claaseH Of claims and congress-
passed many acts for equitable relief 80 that II
lnay with safety he ,ald ,hat more than Si0o,oOe-
200 was paid after tho war was over TO citizens OF
tho south for losses caused by tho Rebellion.
Mr.. sherman made this extraordinary
admission in the attempt to show what
a vaAt amount OF claims were still wait
ing to be presented, mud feobly ex-
planned that the republican congress
had done the country an inestmablo
service in keeping down tho amount
allowed to such pultry figure, com
pared with tho sum u democratic nd,
ministration would certainly pass upon.
IL was " fatal statement for sherman To
make under tho circumstances.
During the session Of tho forty-third
congress, both branches Of which were
republican, the committee on war
claims of tho house reported flvoraby
upon ONE HUNDRED AND NINE
EnIfrIIERN M AIMI IASNl ,x,,,., !,
INo AN AGGREGATE AMOUNT or OVER
SS. 600, 900.
During the forty-fourth congress
when the democrats had obtained con.
troll Of the house OF representatives,
tho democratic house committee on
claims reported favorably upon fifty.
two cases, FORTY FOUR or WHICH HAD
BEEN REPORTED upoN FAvoRLnlY BY THE
REPUBLICAN, COMMITTEE ON WAR CLAIMS
OF THE PRECEDING CONGRESS. OF tn ESQ.
but seventeen were passed by tho house,
involving an aggregate sum Of $s4,.
A53.
During tho forty-ilfth congress the
democratic house allowed ono claim,
that of u Union Quaker, for about
$1,000.
Since tho beginning of tho forty
sixth congress-, both branches Of which
aro democratic, the committee on war
claims has mol considered SINGLE southern,
claim. On the other hand some of tho
most prominent democrats, including
Gen. Ed. $. Bragg, Of this state, have
taken tho floor and opposed tho pay
mcnt of every southern claim, not for
getting to lay bare the deceit and n.y.
pocrlsy Of the republican party, in de-
nouncing the creature Of its own inycn-
ton.
Look at the facts again. According
to Mr.. Sherman's statement, the rcpub
licans had allowed 500, 100000 in
southern claims previous TO tho year
1876. What would have been allowed
had the republicans remained in power,
since that time, is not left wholly TO
conjecture. Every claimant who could
bring some evidence Of being re-
publican, (for blind, they called it
being loyal y no matter what virtue
there was in his claim, would have OBJ
tanned his slice OF the public funds.
The white-livered, hypocritical Gar.