Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1880-10-28

west tor not issuing more. Inc rCpuO-
lican policy of re3-cing the interest
on the public debt by the process of
refunding was steadily denounced by
the democratic party in Indiana be-
cause we did not set the paper mills at
work to print more notes to pay the
bondholders, and in the east because
we did not apply our surplus revenue
to pay off the notes instead of the
bonds. The people appreciated the
reduction Of the interest Of the debt,
the rapid payment OF the principal
and the advance Of our notes to the
gold standard. Providence aided the
republican party to thwart all the
schemes of the democratic party.
Some of them were advocating the re-
peal of the national banks with view
to revive the state banks, but the peo-
pie were satisfied that the national
bank system was the best ever devised
and would not risk its being tempered
with. Another financial question that
gravely divided anil weakened the
democratic party was che tariff ques-
ton. The republican party has stead
lily supported system Of tariff laws
which while it furnished ample reve-
nue. also fostered and diversified Amer
lean industry. The democratic party
threatened all these industries They
resolved in favor of tariff for revenue
only. This was the old doctrine. but
they forgot the great change that has
occurred since 1860, when our manu-
features were an insignificant part Of
our productions. Instead of standing
by their principles, they were for pro,
lection in New Jersey and free trade
in Kentucky, and in Indiana they did
not know where they were. They got
Gen. Hancock to annul the democratic
platform by absurdly saying that the
tariff was local question, and finally
by coming out for Incidental protec-
ton. On every financial question
they were driven by emergencies Of
the campaign to come over to the re-
publican ground. A party thus at
sea without fixed principles was
great disadvantage. The republican
party had It's fixed principles embodied
in existing laws, which were daily ex-
hibiting their results III increasing
prosperity, while the democratic party
had not the merit Of proposing sin
Gle measure or principle on which they
could stand. And this element Of re-
publican success is its intense nation
ality; It's love of country; its flag; its
history and its strength. But the
democratic party is tied down with its
old dogma about state rights. 1t
don't feel the impulse Of patriotism,
because its patriotism is bounded by
state lines. It takes no pride in our
grand hist DRY, because the majority Of
that party was against the country du-
ring the war. To sum up all the
causes Of the democratic defeat in
Ohio and Indiana, [ would say that
the people thought they could not be
trusted with the money or industries
OF the people, nor with their national
flag or national honor, nor with the
social rights Of American citizens, es-
pecially with those of the freedman
emancipated by war
[ hear, upon good authority, that
while the collector of the republican
campaign fund in New York City was
making collections in the Custom
House of that city, he was approached
by a prominent democratic merchant
who said to him, Il have always been
a democrat and claim to be one now,
but [ so dread the effect of change
in the financial management Of the
government, that, while [ do not wish
my name to appear, [ am willing to
contribute to the success of General
Garfield" and gave the collector one
thousand dollars.
Since the returns from Indiana and
Ohio have been confirmed, the two
rebel flags kept flying by couple of
General Haneock's admirers, in this
city, have been taken down, thus
showing that with the success of re-
publican principles, the lost cause
yields
X. X. X.