Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1879-06-30

legal-tenders, at the very outset, as ha-
gravity unconstitutional, it might well
have been expected that this hard-money
party would have been foremost in the
support of restoration of specie pay
ments aud the maintenance of sound
currency. Instead of all this, they have
perslstently denounced the law fixing
the date for resumption which allowed
four years for preparation, as climber
ance, just as they denounced In 1864
the war to preserve the Union ga fail
ure. and with just as little truth.
1t there was ever time when the
country needed rest from crude and rash
experiments it is now, when business
activities appear to be awakening from
long slumber, and when both labor
and capital are eagerly seeking some
thing to do. And yet the tariff agitation
has not been the only annoyance of bust
ness men. The subject of reduction
of the tax on spirits interfered greatly
with the sale of corn stopped all move
ments of trade, inficting heavy losses in
many cases, until fortunately the matter
was put at rest by vote of the senate,
and at the earnest request of those con-
cerned in the business. Again, the ques-
ton of reduction of tax on tobacco,
not asked for by the consumer, and de-
structive to six months of business, after
long discussion was accomplished, at the
loss of much revenue when we had none
to spare but neither the consumer nor
the producer obtain the smallest benefit
from the reduction. All these changes,
and threatened changes, are at war,
with that stability in legislation upon
which the prosperity of the country is
largely dependant.
have placed upon the record the
spirit and the letter of what is proposed
by the democratic party, and l invoke
the public judgment upon the merits Of
that record. Who will venture to say
that the general welfare of the country
can be promoted by any or all of the
wild and extravagant propositions so
seriously presented? And yet we have
nothing else to expect from the demo-
cratic legislators. They are here, | fear,
not to build up but to tear down.
If the republican party is now de-
prived of the power of affirmative legis-
lation, it may at least point with some
pride to the retrospect of its past career,
and to the credit to which it is legiti-
mately entitled. There is not man
among US who cannot have his home
stead of one hundred and sixty acres if
he chooses to take it. Forty-fou nation
al colleges, or institutions, teaching that
scientific knowledge most useful to the
farmer, mechanic, miner, and engineer,
have been prosperously established, at
least one in every state, and mainly
within reach of the industrial classes.
No man has lost dollar by holding
bills of national banks. Our pension
roll is of unexampled liberality and in
tended to include every worthy man.
The money now paid to all laboring men
is equal to gold. Our export and import
trade was never in more healthy con-
dition. Resumption of specie payments
places our commerce and credit in har-
mony with the foremost nations of the
world. We are at peace with all the
world. The increased number of immi-
grants constantly arriving proves that
greater rewards to industry are received
here than anywhere abroad, and that
there is higher level Of living here for
the great masses of mankind than in
any other country. 1t is fact that nc
foreigner will dispute, that Americans
are better fed, better clothed, and better
schooled than any other fifty million Of
people. 1t is true that the rebellion
was great calamity, but it did moi
prove overwhelming, and our recovery
has been not only heroic but transcend
emf