Weekly Arizona citizen., 1880-10-23

~llte nothing buL 449NS' -~-' -N~' The Democratic party acquired terri torv and increased the number or sov- ereipn States. Il added to the re- .ouTces of inc country and augmented inc force and importance of the Re- nublic. but during all this time it was cringing 10 the Slave Power and finally undcr the last Democratic President. that old public function arv. % James Buchanan. II surrendered 10 that power and gave up-and l hope for all time-the political ghost.
 During all this time what did 1t do for the people: It built up a pOliti- cal organization grand and powerful, but what did it do for individual citi- zeus? Did it furnish the merchant or business man with banking system safe and strong: Did it give to the farmer land to cultivate: Did it pro- vide the miner with atItle to his mine: Was not its principal work the build inr up of a slave olIgarchY which came near crushing out the life Of the Re nublics On the other hand the old Wbig party, as early as 1S4l, ny a law passed by Wnig Congress and dur ing a Whig Administration provided for pre- -emplions upon the public do- main. thereby furnishing the means by which the tiller of the soil becomes the owner in fee of the land he cultivates. The Homestead Law of 1862 was the work of the Republican party, and has for its approval the Otncial sigma ture of the martyred Lincoln. But during the years of its power the Democratic party did some land busl- ness on its own account. We ma this great party making donations, Tn old settled States of fine arabic lands not worthless desert lands-for the buildings of railroads, and these do- nations were made at a fearful rate. In one year of Franklin Pierce's ad- ministratiOn gifts of this kind were made to thirty-tive different railroad corporation. On the 10th day or May 1856, President Pierce approved four of these bills. Two days thereafter he approved six more. On June 3rd, of the same year, he wound up the land business by approving twenty one more. These roads were not transcontnental, and were Of no na- tiOnal importance.
 I have said that the Whig party gave the country the Dre-emplion law, and the Republican party the homestead law. The mining laws also were passed by the Republican party. A banking system, the best known anywhere In the commercial world, is the product of that great party which saved the Union. Nor Is this all. Go back with me to that day when that puIe-m.nded, much beloved, but misguided lover Of hIs State and section, General Robert L. Lee, turned over his army and sur rendered his sword to General Grant. What tremendous difficulties then confronted the Republican party Eleven States of the Union were with out organized State governments. One-half of the country was con- quered and depressed by poverty and the other half was pulled up by success and cursed by intia- tion. which was nearly as bad as pOY- erty and defeat. Four millions of human beings brought up in the school Of servitUde and oppression were 10 assume the rights of Ameri- can citizens and be clothed with all the power Of sOvereigns. Over a million soldiers, subjected for four years 10 all the demoraliZatiOu incidental to war, were 10 be turned into the channels and avenues of civil life. \ currency as uncertain as the showers Of an April day, and flucluatng with every financial breeze. was the curse of the commerce of the country. An enorm- ous debt was staring us in the face. Cn- numbered claims against the Govern ment befogged the financial horizon. Our credit was low in the markets of the world. and at home many were hesitating between a struggle 10 pay and repudiation. The deep passions Of hatred which had been engeHdered by the war held full sway. The love of successful leaders WAS Intense with the people, and an ambitious and vic t0rious general might perhaps have shaken our republican institutions 10 their foundation At this most crit
  the life of the nation the chosen and beloved leader of the Republican party, the President of the United States, the great, good and pure minded Lincoln, fell by the hand of an assassin, and the golden gates of Heaven swung wide as the hberstor and martyr was ushered into the pres cnce of God Himself. What dark days those wcrcl How the heavens above us seemed brass, and our way beSct by difficulties innumerable and IusurmOun,able.
 But sixteen times have the reyolv- ing seasons added Co the calendar of years, and what a changel Our credit is the best in the markets of the world. Our public debt is being liquidated | at rate that Is astonishing 10 the na- tons oi the earth and hardly realized ! at home. Our promises 10 pay are at 1 par wherever business is done by civ 1 lllzed man. The Union is established upon the foundations of the fathers, and the nation has won its place in the front rank Of civilized powers. lhis IS the history, the record, and the work of the Republican party.
 During all this time the Dem- ! ocratic party has been marshallIng it's | forces and has been in constant and 1 uncompFomising opposition 10 all the | Republicans have done. Sixteen years ago they declared in their plat l form that the war for the preserva- | tion Of the Union was a failure, and | placed upon that platform as Presl- l dental candidate an unsuccessful | General who has since proved a fail l ure as the DemocraticsG Governor of a | third-r rate State They then nomi- | mated maa Of larger experience in ! political affairs, but the country was overwhelmingly in favor of that great | and good man, Ulysses $. Grant. Then the Democratic party turned ! double summeTsault and nominated | as their Presidential candidate a man who had
 ABUSED THE PARTY And the members of it more than any man in America-poor Horace l | -a#mH .|HHHH