The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1879-08-28
duced the tax levy for State purpos

duced the tax levy for State purposes
from six to four-tenths of a mill; for
asylum purposes from e~leyen-tenths to nine
tenths of a mill. The levy for school pur-
poses they left at one mill; and the levy of
eight-tenths Of a mill for the sinking fund,
they did not modest. because it was not more
than sufficient to raise the money requisite
to pay the State debt as It falls due, 81, OO0,-
600 of which reaches maturity in 1881. Now,
mark how this 'Grand Old Republican
Party" trifled with the honor of this State
When the Republicans came into power in
10, Notwithstanding their sneers at Demo-
cratic economy. they found it was good, and
some OF their waning popularity A Re
publican Auditor of State prepared the way
for them. In his report of 1875. Mr.. viii
liams said the tax levy for the sinking fund
was too high, and they might cut it down to
half a mill, and they knocked off three
tenths of a mill from the sinking fund, and
very generously added one-tenth of a mill to
the State fund, to raise a few hundred
thousand dollars for Republican officials to
spend. Republican officials have a horror
of the sinking fund-when money gets in
there it is very hard to get out-for them to
handle! fLaughter.l In his report in 1875,
page 6, Mr.. Williams approved this action
by saying: AT present the sinking
fund only requires ar amount sufficient to
pay interest and expenses, for which the
small levy of one-half mill provided last
winter is entirely adequate. 1t is not until
the bonds fall. due in 1881, that it will be
necessary to make any more liberal provis-
ions for the payment of the State debt" and
so on for quantity and quality. But, 10! 8
change comes DER the spirit of his dreams.
The State falls into the hands OF Democrats
in 1877, and in his report for that year this
Republican Auditor suddenly discovers that
the States honor is in jeopardy. How the
Republican office-holders tremble for the
States honor, when they see a Democratic
majority looming, and booming, and SWELL
ing through the State. Laughter. On
page 81 he says: THE present rate OF levy
for the sinking fund, one-half mill, is INSULT
cient to meet the requirements of the funda-
mental law of the State" Why, Mr.. Will
Jams didn't know there was such a thing as
fundamental law" when his party was in
power. Further on he says: 1T is certainly
eminently worthy of consideration whether
lousy kept, even at the risk of accumulat-
ing a large fund, which can not be used until
1881" In 1878, he becomes frenzied about
the States honor" and on page 81, of his
report, he says: 81 desire to emphasize the
unwisdom that fails to recognize the binding
forceAof the Constitution and existing laws
made to keep the faith of the State a sacred
thing" Was there eyer such a superb ex-
hibition of official cheek7 If the State debt
was such a sacred" thing, why did Mr..
Williams and mis- party trile with the State
credit, by reducing the tax levy from eight
tenths of a mill, as provided by a Democratic
Legislature, to five-tenths of q mill? Why
did they borrow money from the sinking
fund and never pay it backP If they are moi
d~emagogues and ~rascals, why did they cut
down this tax levy and try to compel q
Democratic Legislature to increase tt? All.
fellow-citizens, you see in the management
of State affairs, as in those of the General
Government, this Grand old Republican
party has worn the livery of the Constitu-
ton and the bloody garments of the war to
serve their party Devil. [Applause.1 Will
you, as citizens and taxpayers; can you al
honest men, anxious for the welfare of the
State, cast your votes to empower such 6
party to misrepresent your
Fellow-citizens, to such straits Is the Re
publican party driven in the contest, that
its leaders halt at no ~mendaoity, and no lie
about the Legislature is so gigantic that they
hesitate TO circulate IL. Oglevee, their can
didate for Auditor of STATE, the campaign
document of the Republican Committee, and
the last payment on the State debt was paid
by the Republicans. This is o lie, too big to
stand alone. 1t was a Democratic Legisla,
ture that made the last payment on the Stats
debt. On page 124, of the laws OF rs, yor
will find that a Democratic Legislature ap
~propriated 81, 1873, 200 to redeem that muct
Of the.funded debt Of the State. Applause.
The Republican Legislature did not pay
dollar Of the State debt and the devil MAJ
as well claim the credit Of the place OF saliva
! ton as the Republicans claim the honor d