River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1879-10-02

that we were bound by law and pubic policy after
the war was ever, TO advance these notes TO ar IN
CON- and that we could not take advantage OF tur
own wrong in postpeniug the redemption of United
States notes order to pay our bonds in depreci-
pie the basis Ct the act to strengthen the public
credit, passed March, 1869. Well, we have at last
redeemed cur pledge to the noteholder, and we
have now paid these very hve-twenty 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 pubic
credit.
Taere is new no public debt about which any
question exists to the terms and Conditions upon
which il must be paid, and yet 1t IS proposed TO
violate these conditions by the Wholesale, aud
place the United States of America in far worse
position OF dishonor and Reputation than Missis-
sippi or louisiana, or Egypt or Turkey.
Is 1t possible to go farther in the road OF dshen-
or than is proposed in tn Sc platforms?-and yet
the Democrats of the state of Maine, members OF
the old. powerful organization which for half
century Controlled the dts inies OF the government,
are asked at the end of great war 10 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, or Jackson, or any OF your
ure-honored leaders. l know that it is against
the Judgment againt the instincts of od-fashloned
Democrats to train under such banner, ana
appeal 10 them now 10 come to the rescue OF their
countrywide to be carried by party name or
patty badge TO the dishonor of their county and
the shame of their children.
have sometimes thought that the Democrats OF
the northern states have been led through devious
paths enough by the rebels Of the south in their
eOrt TO destroy the government, and in their later
movements to sap and mine all the great powers Of
tne hatlonel government; but these extreme Green
packers, as they called, ask you now to follow
them IN voyage more dangerous, upon dogmas that
cannon meet the plain common sense and reason or
patriotic citizens, such as compose the great BODY
OF the Democratic party.
One OF the members of congress from the state
Oh Maine, Hon. G. W. Ladd, is reported to have
paid his attention to me- in speech in this city, in
the following language:
" Mr.. Sherman has sold one hundred and ninety
mllhons OF four per cent. bonds in one day to
Dloodsuckers who were choking the country, and
ne should be lmpeached."
Ey this act in a single day, the treasury depart
sum of COO dd p9g Se 81 to- whom
ne refers are those who purchased the forty mil
mons OF ten-dolsr refunding certificates, who
formed in long lines in front of eight hundred
postofhces the United States, each demanding
the sum of enc hundred dollars or less OF those
certificates in exchange for United States notes,
and The purchasers Of sl50 900 United States
ponds taken by banks to be sod
again to citizens and corporations through
OUT the United States and in Europe, bearing the
lowest rate of interest at which the United States
mas ever been abe to negotiate its securities. The
proceeds We're, within ninety days, applied to the
payment of bonds upon which for sixteen years the
government Of the United States had been paying
hVe per cent. in gold. These " bloodsuckers are
among the most prominent and enterprising and
industrious citizens of the United States, anxious
and willing TO trust the g, vernment with their
earnings, in the full faith that the promises made
faithfully redeemed, yet they are snounced by
this congressman with terms of reproach. and l.
for Going what the law commanded me 10 do, and
which, proudly say, l was able to do, through
resumption and confidence in the public faith
observe impeachment" There must be some
thing, felowctizens, in this craze which destroys
the reason of men.
The REPUBLICAN PARTY.
1t is TO support such dognas my Republican
friends that invited to desert the great party
to which we belong. 1t may be that the Republican
1aGf fvlvlVf mis-
takes. IT 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 in 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
enancipated 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 ON 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, netVs or nat
ura zed. 1t invites ths m all to partaks OF equal
privileges, and secures the equal chance in
life. 1t has secured, for the first time in our his
tory the rights of a naturalized citizen to protec-
ton agains claims Of military duty TO ms native
country. 1t prescribes no religious test While II
respects religion for its beneficial influence upon
civil society, ii recognizes the hight OF each nd-
vldua to worship God according to the dictates OF
his own conscience, without preJudlce or inter-
ference. 1t supports free common schools as the
basis of republican institutions. 1t has done more
than any party that existed to provide lands
for the landless. l. devised and enacted the home
stead law, and has constantly extended this policy,
so that all citizens native and naturalzed, may en-
Joy, without COST limited portions of the pull lie
land. II protects American labor. 1t is in favor
of American Industry. 1t seeks to diversity pro-
ductions 1t AS steadily pursued, an OF ect of
national Importance, the development OF our com
merce, on inland waters and on the high seas. 1t
has protected our flag ON every sea; not the stars
and bars, not the flag of state, but the stars and
stripes of the Union. 1t seeks to establish IN this
rep bile of ours great, strong, free government
of free men, IL would, with frankness and SINGER
ity without malice hate extend the right hand
of fellowship and fraternity to those who lately
were at war with us, ad them in making fruitful
their waste places and in developing their immense
resources, if only they would allow the poor and
ignorant men ong them the benefits conferred
by the constitution and laws. No hand Of
oppression rests upon them no bayonet nts to
them, except in their political imagiDings. We
would gladly fraterniz, with them, if they would
allow us, and have but creed-the con-
stitution and laws of our country to be executed
and enforced by country, ard for the equal
benefit of all countryEen. If they will not
accept this, but II kte up sectionalism maintain
the solid upon the basis of the principles of
the Confederate states, must prepare to stand
together the loyal morrill, true to the Unio1 true
to liberty, and faithful to every national obligation.
l appeal to every who ever at any time be-
longed to the Republican party to every mon who
supported his country in the time of danger, to
every lever of liberty regulated by law, and every
intelligent Democrat who can see with us ths evil
tendency OF the dogmas have commented upon,
t. Join us in reforming all that is evil, all the
abuses of the past aud in developing the principles
and policies which in twenty years have done so
much to siren sthen cur government, to consolidate
our institutions, and to excite the respect ana al
miration of mankind.