Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1879-06-20


Lacking the glitter Of eloquence which
clIancteriZes the public utterances of some
of his great compeers, but founded upon the
bedrock of truth and logic, Senator Nor
rils speeches are all marked by high in
telligence and sturdy common-sense; and
they always command the attention they
deserve. y particularly notable effort was
that of his in the Senate, the other day, in
which he described some of the great achieve
mcnts of the Republican administration
and conirastcd them with the acts and plans
of the Democracy The argument Of the op-
position is generally embodied in phrase
some striking clause which serves as bait for
groundings. Republican misrule' '-''the
imbecile financial policy of the administra-
tion'-"ihe rich richer and the poor poorer
how often do We hear these catchpenny
phrases rolled off mellifiuously from
the stump or read them in the
"bristling columns of Democratic and
Greenback papers? But what are the facts
These are given at length by Senator Morrill,.
First as to the National finances: On Janu-
ary 1, 1861. when Buchanan held the White
House, there were many demands on the
Treasury for ordinary expenses which could
not be met, and S., zoo, 900 were wanted as
the smallest amount which would protect the
public credit on debts and interest falling due
January /, 1861. Public proposals for this
amount were invited December 10, 1860, and
offers were received TO the amount of 81, 3d.
600 at y per cent interest orless. and further
the to the amount of S4G5, 600 at rates rang
ing from u per cent 10 80 per cent. All Of
fers at IL per cent or less were accepted,
and those above rejected. In contrast with
this low state of the public credit under
Democratic rule, the Republican ad-
ministration since March 1. 1877, has
sold bonds and ten-dollar certificates bearing
only four per cent interest, to the amount Of
SsiG,02 600, thereby affecting the heavy
annual reduction of coin interest TO the
amount Of Sl49 97. III The charge for an
nual interest was at its highest point in 1865,
and amounted to $50, 977, 597S7; but on
the completion Of the present funding oper-
ations it Will he only $50, 11..3, 7Ss 90 The
ref"''ion ~ 'i'i'i t7e- cash IN the Treasury,
for the same time has been 1929. 249, 1903 "a
These stupcndous figures speak for them
selves. The force of argument can no
further go The fact is as Senator Morrill,
Gays. that the period during which the Re-
publican party has held office and power has
been the most prosperous the country has
ever enjoyed. The Senator continues:
1t Will not I've out of place to make further
reference to the position of the country when
the Republican party came into power,
through the elections of 1860, in comparison
with MS position al the present time If no |
greater achievents nor greater growth can |
be pointed ont in any other epoch in our |
history, notwithstanding the rebellion and |
notwithstanding the universal depression |
since 1873 Of the industries of the |
entire world. it would seem marvel |
that the party which has been the sole |
break upon our progress, the hinder |
ance which has prevented a still greater adj |
vance. should now have the audacity to de- |
nounce the guardians of the nations life and |
to ask for the complete control of the future |
destnies of the Government
When the Republican party obtained the |
lead there were thirty-four States and five |
Territories. containing population of 3D.
~, s9l persons, including 3, 1852 S0l slaves
while there are now thiriy-eight States and
eight Territories, with a population which |
may bc estimated n not less than $4,000, 900 |
and no slaves
There were only 81 ,2sG miles Of rail
roads in operation in 1861, which in 1877 had
increased To az, POS miles. the whole costing
81, $50. 19l.721. In 1878 there were 2.747
miles to he added. making II total railway
mileage of s $50 miles. Prematurely built
as many Of these roads undoubtedly were
yet they have INN. nstly reduced the cost of
transportation The charge in 1860 for a
blsliel of wheat from Chicago TO New York
by wafer was twcnty-csht cents and is now
eight and siX-tenths cents. or by rail sixteen
cents. From St Louis TO New York an
exceptional contract las recently been made
10y rall is low as seven cents per bushel
Going further into the question of our ma
terial prosperity and its growth, Senator
Morrill, points out the fact that our products,
raw. and manufactured, have all vastly in
creased during the two decades of Republi-
can supremacy. The volume Of our exports
and imports has steadily enlarged Our en-
tire exports in 1850 amounted to S316, o4e.-
423, against $685., 749 93s in 1873. The i'm
ports in 1SC0 were Saj3 G16,Gl9, against
S439, OIL ,532 in 1873 The imports of manu-
featured commodities in 1850 were S240.-
245, zoe; and, notwithstanding the much
larger population, the amount in 1873 was no
more than S9.3 - g33 The eycess of ihe |