Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1880-08-11

L
WHAT THE REPUBLICAN PARTY mas DONE.
Now what does the Republican party offer
TO the people of this country as reasons for
keeping it in power IL is the party which
came to the rescue of the country in 1861.
1t is the party under whose auspices the re-
bellion was subdued and the Union main
tanned. This is the party which secured
the adoption of the constitutional amend
ments that embody the fruits of the war,
which not only emancipated the negro, but
made him citizen aud protected him in the
right to vote. This is the party which, after
the war was ended, said to the south We
will restore you to the blessings of the
Union, but we expect you in good faith TO
keep your promises TO us. We expect that
there will be peace at the south as well as
peace at the north. We expect that the
negro shall vote just as freely as you do"
How the south has broken its promises
have already detailed to you. This is the
party which, since 1865, has reduced the ma
tional debt, incurred in maintaining the
Union, from nearly 81, 100000, 900 to less than
S2,O00,000,000, and has reduced the interest
on what remains from S150,000,000 year
to 100000. That is, in brief, what we
have done. And during these twenty years
of Republican administration the civil SER
vice has been gradually improved; the gov
eminent has been carried on with remark
able honesty and remarkable economy. No
one can say that under President Hayes the
revenues have not been collected faithfully
and the appropriations honestly expended
The history of the Republican party has
been indeed glorious one. 1t has brought
prosperity and peace to the country, and
rap1ara1 IL raapartad ut hnp,a nd ahro.l
That it will continue to deserve well in the
future have no doubt, for the candidates
we have nominated are the best guarantees
we can give. Our candidate for the presi
dency is General Garfield of Ohio, north
ern man, a man of education sand culture,
a man who made himself, statesman,
Christian gentleman, man who has
been in congress great many years, whose
record is perfectly honest and whose in
tegrity is above suspicion. If he is elected,
we will have continuance of the policy
which has characterized the Republican
party ever since it came into power.
don't believe myself in the platform of any
party, taken by itself alone. The only real
test OF what party will do in the future is
what it has done in the past, and thai is the
best test of man. Judging from General
Garfield's congressional course, from his
public acts, we have the best reason for be-
lieving that, if elected, he will carry out the
policy OF Mr.. Hayes. Is there a man in
Vermont who does not feel safe when he is
assured that MIR. Hayes policy will be con-
tinued. Does he not know that the country
under such arule will not be convulsed with
the schemes Of agitators, with the projects
OF reckless men eager TO overturn the very
foundations OF government for their own
endsf 1t Is enough TO say that the election
OF Garfield and Arthur means the continue.
ance OF peace and prosperity to the country,
the maintenance of equal rights to all men,
and the honest and economical administra-
tion of the government. Applause. To
leave them and take up with the Democratic
candidate is jumping into chaos, and no one
can tell what the end will be, except that
it will be disastrous. And here | will, con-
trary to my custom, tell a short story, which
seems to me to aptly illustrate the folly
which this country would be guilty of in
making any changes in the administration.
There was an old fellow once who all his
life had been in excellent health, and none
OF his friends were aware that he was af-
tlicted with single ailment. At last, hay
ing nothing to do in the world but to enjoy
himself, he began to imagine that he was
sick, and, sending for doctor, put himself
through course of medicine. As might
have been expected it killed him. His
friends, plying his foolishness, and for a
warning to others who might be equally as
silly, put upon his tombstone the following
epitaph: 81 was well. wanted to be bet
ter. | took physic, and here am" Laugh
ter and applause.] Now, let the people of
this country look out lest by taking this
southern physic they deserve similar cpl
taph. You can trust the Republican party.
The other you cannot trust, or, at the best,
it is an experiment.
IN CONCLUSION.
These are the reasons which induce me
to believe that the Republican candidates