Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1879-10-09
NO. 40.

rights of American citizenship. The
history of parties in this country con-
clusively shows that reliance alone can
be had upon the republican party to Sc
cure these ends. We might we'll despair
of the rights of man in the southern
states did we not remember that the re-
publican party has conscience 70 rec
ogniZe and condemn wrong, a heart to
sympathiZe with the Gowntrodden and
oppressed, ard courage and determina-
ton to see wrongs redresSed and rights
maintsined.
Fellow-citiZans, tyranny and injustice
cannot prevail forever. We must buckle
on our armor for this great contest, for it
Is the mission of the republican party to
enlarge and extend human rights and
human justice.
GENEEAL DISREGARD OF LAW IN THE
SOUTH.
There is wanting in the south public
opinion to favor the observance and en-
forcement of laws. Not only are the
laws for the protection OF life and per-
sonal rights set at defiance, bat the tax
laws of the United States ars violated
and resisted. While there are numerous
honorable and honest manufacturers and
dealers who condemn all frauds, it is a
fact that detrauding the government of
| its taxes on spirits and tobacco is an or
ganiZed industry in nearly all the col
| lection districts of the aouth The FOL
| lowing summary Of facts may give you
some idea of the difficulty OF enforcing
the international revenue laws il the
south during the past three years.
Amount expended for special deputies
| fur The nurnOSP nj Illicit die
tlllation, 500, 1876 So.
Number of Illicit stills seized in south.
| eIn states, 2,4S5.
Number of Illicit stills seized in all
other states, 1853.
Number of persons arrested in south
ern states for illicit disttlling, 5,2s1.
| Number of persons arrested in all 9th
er states for illicit distilling, 141.
Number of persons killed in suppress
| ing illicit distlllation, nineteen.
Number wounded, thirly-fve.
1t bas been found necessary to furnish
collectors With the best United States
muskets to arm their deputies. Those
| deputies, when travelling to make seizures
or to detect frauds, move in squads. They
arc often Dushwhacked by illicit disti l.
ers. The state courts are a refuge for the
violators of law, and are used as means
to prosecute United States officers on
trumped-up charges.
THE CASE SUBMITTED TO THE ELECTORS
OF OHIO.
| FellOw-citizens, you must choose be-
tween these civilizations and between
these parties. No local issues in your
state can divert you from your duty of
giving expression to your opinions upon
these National questions.
Among the nations of the earth the
United States occupies the van in the
| great march of human rights and human
progress. The duty of conducting this
Nation ON the line of its great mission
must devolve upon the Republican par
ty.
1t is the only party fitted by its ante
cedents and high moral principles for
this great work.
When it took possession of the nation
al government, it found eleven states in
revolt, bankrupt treasury, the national
credit impaired, and paper circulation
of broken and suspended banks. 1t ac-
cepted the rebel challenge ts battle. rails
ed armies, created a navy, established
public credit, levied taxes, created
national paper currency, borrowed
money, issued bonds, fought battles,
overcame the rebellion, saved the union,
freed 100000 slaves, made them citi-
zenS, guaranteed them civil rights, gave
them the ballot, disbanded an army of
million men, pensioned its disabled sol
diers, widows and orphans, maintained
the honor of the country at home and
abroad, forgave its enemies, reduced ex-
penses, reduced taxes, preserved the pub
lie credit, reduced the public debt, re-
funded the debt at a low rate of interest,
and resumed specie-payments- 1t now
insists upon preserving the right of free
assemblages free speech, free press,
tree ballot. an honest count, the submis-
sion Of minorities to the results of elec.
tions, the observance and equal enforce
ment of just laws, and an economical and
honest administration of the government,
and upon this record and these princi-
Piles it appeals to every lover of liberty,
equality and justice to rally to its stand
ard.