Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1879-10-16


that we were bound by law and pubic policy after
the war over, to advance these notes to gar in
coin, and that we could not take advantage of our
own wrong in pOstpeniug the redemption of United
States notes IN order to pay bonds in depreci-
ated ana dlshonored paper money; and this princ1-
pie was the basis Of the act to strengthen the public
credit, passed March, 1853 Well, we have at last
redeemed our pledge to the noteholder, and We
have paid these very fye-tgenty bonds in
United States notes with far greater saving than
II we had paid them in greenbacks ten years ago,
and with Infinitely greater advantage to the pub &c
credit.
Tpere is now no public debt about which any
question exists to the terms and conditions upon
Wh1cn 1t must be paid, and yet it is proposed to
violate these conditions by the wholesale, and
place the United States of America in a far worse
position OF dlshonor and reputation than Missis
sippi or louisiana, or Egypt or Turkey.
Is 1t possible to go farther in the road OF dishon
or than is proposed in tht Sc platforms?-and yet
the Dem ocrats OF the state of Maine, members OF
the old, powerful organization which for half
century controlled the des inies OF the government
are asked at the end of great war to su port and
maintain dogmas which strike at the public honor,
the public faith, and all the cherished principles
and aims of that party in its palmy days. You are
now expected to adopt the crazy dogma of extreme
opinions, at war with everything that was said by
Jefferson, or Madison, Jackson, or any of your
uLe-honored leaders. L know that it is against
Le judgment, agant the instincts of nld-fa5hIoned
democrats to train under such banner, and
appeal TO them now to come to the rescue of their
countrywide to be carried by party name or a
party badge to the dishonor of their count Y and
the shame of their children
nave sometimes thought that the Democrats of
tne northern states have been led through devious
pains enough by the rebels of the south in their
enort to destroy the government, and in their later
HoHeHlents to sap and mine all the great powers Of
the national government; but these extreme Green
paoAeIs, as they are called, ask you now to follow
them IN voyage more dangerous, upon dogmas that
cannot IN eet the plain common sense and reason Of
pstrlotlc citizens, such compose the great body
OF the Democratic party.
one OF the members of congress from the state
VI haine, Hon. g. W. Ladd, is reported to have
palu MS attention to me- in speech in this city, in
the following language:
Mr.. Sherman has sold one hundred and ninety
L1lllons OF four per cent. bonds in one day to
plooosuckers who choking the country, and
Ne should be 1mpeached."
y TINS act, in single day, the treasury depart
LneuI saved to the people of the United States the
ne refers are those who purchased the forty mil
IONS OF ten-dollar refunding certificates, who
1oIued In long lines in front of eight hundred
postoInces IN the United States, each demanding
sne sum OF one hundred dollars or less of those
9l55lnGates in exchange for United States notes,
nu me purchasers of S150,OO0,000 United States
JULIUS taken by banks to be sold
agaln to citizens and corporations through
Out the United States and in Europe. bearing the
lowest rate of interes at which the United States
mas ever been abe to negotiAte its securities. The
proceeds were, within ninety days, applied to the
payment of bonds upon which for sixteen years the
government of the United States had been paying
I'VE per cent. in gold. These bloodsuckers " are
among the most prominent and enterprising and
INDUSTRIOUS citizens of the United States, anxious
ahe willing to trust the government with their
earnings, in the full faith that the promises made
to them upon their bonds and certificates will be
faithfully redeemed, al yet they denounced by
this congressman with terms of reproach, and l.
for doing what the law commanded me to do, and
when, proudly say, was able to DO through so1t
deserve impeachment" There must be some
thing, fellow-citizens in this which destroys
the reason of men.
The REPUBLICAN PARTY.
1t is to support such dogmas, my Republican
friends that invited to desert the great party
to which we belong 1t may be that the Republican
party has made in the last twenty Yeas some mis-
takes. 1t may not always have come up to your
aspirations Sometimes power may have been
abused. To err is human; but where it has erred
It has always been on the side of liberty and jus
tice. 1t led country i'll the great struggle for
union and nationality which more than all else
tended to make it great and powerful. 1t has
always taken side with the poor and feeble. 1t
emancipated whole race, and has invested them
with liberty and all the rights of citizenship.
1t robbed the ballot-box. 1t has never
deprived any class of people, for any cause, of the
elective franchise. 1t maintains the supremacy OF
the national government oR all national affairs,
while observing and protecting the rights of the
states. 1t has tried to secure the equality of all
citizens before the law. 1t opposes all distinctions
among men, whether white or black, native or nat:
ural zed. 1t invites them all to partako OF equal
privileges, and secures thea an equal chance III
life. 1t has secured for the first time in our his.
tory the rights of naturalized citizen to protec-
ton agains claims of military duty to his native
country. 1t prescribes no religious test. While il
respects religion for it's beneficial influence upor
v1dual to worship God according to the dictates Of
his own conscience, without ptejudice or inter
ference. 1t supports free common schools as the
basis of republican institutions. 1t has done more
than any party that ever existed to provide lands
for the landless. /. devised and enacted the home
stead law and has constantly extended this policy
SO that all citizens, native and naturaz 3D. may en-
joy, without cost, limited portions OF the public
land. Il protects American labor. 1t is in favor
of American industry. 1t seeks to diversity pro
auctions. 1t has steadily pursued, as an obJsct Of
national Importance, the development OF our com
merce, on inland waters and on the high seas.
has protected flag on every sea; not the star
and bars not the flag of state, but the stars an(
stripes of the Union. 1t seeks to establish III thi
of free men. Ii would, with frankness and SINGER
ity without malice or hate, extend the right hanC
OF fellowship and fraternity to those who latel.
were at war with us, aid them in making fruitful
their waste places and in developing their Immense
resources, If only they would allow the poor anC
igno rant men among them the benefits conferre;
by the constitution and laws No hand o.
oppression rests upon them no bayonet pc nts tt
them, except in their political 1maginings. W.
would gladly fraternizs with them, if they would
allow us, and have but one creed-the con
stitution and laws of our country to be executed
and enforced by our country, and for the equa
benefit Of all our countryEcen. If they will no
accept this, but W Il keep up sectionaGsm, maintain
the solid south upon the basis of the prin ciples
the Confederate states, must prepare to stan(
together the loyal NORTH true to the Onion, tru
to liberty, and faithful to every national obgaton
1 appeal to every man who ever at any time be
longed to the Republican party, to every mon VIII
supported his country in the time of danger, t.
every lover of liberty regulated by law, and ever,
intelligent Democrat who can see with US thu evi
tenG ency of the dogmas l have commented upon
t, join US in reforming all that is evil all tn
abuses of the past aud in developing the principle
and policies which in twenty years have done s.
much to siren then government, to consol1dat
our Institutions and to excite the respect and ad
mir4tion of mankind.