The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1880-08-12
! sTALwART SPEAKS FOR STRAIT.

nit one Of the rank and file of the
Republican party Of Redwood county
to say few words on the great i'm
portance of giving a hearty and
unanimous support to our candidate
for Congress-. l am aware that the
sentiment Of our people was for the
nomination of Mr.. Cole, but it hav-
ling been decided by the only prop
crly constituted authority in the
party that Major Strait should be-
come our standard bearer, this decis-
ion should be Loyalty submitted to.
l never saw Maj. Strait, and probably
never will have the pleasure of meet
ing him, and therefore desire it to
be distinctly understood that l do
not write because l am personally
interested in his success. But as Il
loyal man, an uncompromising Re-
publican and a good citizen, I am
interested in the election Of Re-
publican Congress to take the place
of the present Democratic dcma-
gogues who have entirely failed in
passing proper legislation, or in
showing any of the requirements of
\ broad and wise craftsmanship.
One or two instances from many will
be sufficient to establish this point.
For the purpose of making political
capital, these tricksters have passed
laws granting pensions to many sol
dicrs who have been heretofore ex-
cluded from the benefit of pension.
l don't think we can ever repay our
brave boys for what they did in
fighting for the Union, and was glad
to see this recognition of their SER
vices. But after the law was placed
on the statute books, and applica-
tons for pensions were flowing in
from all parts Of the country, the
Commissioner of Pensions asked
Congress for additional clerical
force, that he might rapidly dispose
Of the accommodating cases. He did
this, not only once, but a number Of
times, and stated over and over again
that it would be absolutely impossi-
bic for him to do what the law re-
quired without more clerks. Con-
gress adjourned with his reasonable
demands ringing in its ears, and to-
day thousands of claimants, who are
entitled to pensions, are made to
wait for money which sho"ld have
been paid long ago. 1t is extremely
doubtful, in view of the attitude of
the Southern brigadiers, whether one
cent will ever be appropriated by
this Congress to help the Commits
sioncr of Pensions out Of his diff
Guilty.
Another instance of Democratic
tomfoolery is the fact that more
money was appropriated by the
present Congress to improve the riv-
ulets and streams Of two Congress
sional districts in the mountainous
regions of West Virginia than for
the necessary repairs of the harbors
at New York and Philadelphia. In
fact, the sea approaches to the me-
tropolis of the Nation have been
rendered almost defenseless from the
want of the necessary appropriations
to keep up the most ordinary repairs.
These instances might be multiplied
without number, and will suggest
themselves to those wh) are at all
conversant with the history Of the
present Congress. 1t is doubtful if
one page of the GAZETTE would con-
tain the titles Il don't mean the
bills-of bills of a special, and local
nature introduced by Southern Con-
gressmen, all of which will, if passed,
take the peoples money out Of the
national treasury. This might not
be SO Objectionable, was it not for
the fact that the greater portion Of
this money is paid by the Northern
taxpayer.
In view Of these facts, and others
which l will not take up your space
at this time by abiding to, will it be
wise for any man who identifies him.
self i'll any way with the Republican
party to think for one moment of
voting against Republican candi-
date for Congress, whatever his name
may be. Remember, it is not the
man you vote for, but the principles
he represents. What loyal man
wants the policy Of the government
to be dictated by the men who tried
for years to overthrow it? Will it
not be time enough to consider such
a proposition when prominent South
ern leaders condemn the countless
murders of Union men in the South? |
What Northern Democratic politi-
clan of high or low degree has ever
put ON record, in Congress or out of
it, his disapprobation Of the methods
now in force III almost every South
ern State to prevent political discus
sions from Republican standpoint?
Is not the Democratic party to-day
bound hand and foot and under
the absolute control of men who
have distinguished themrelves as
bitter foes of the Union, and who
glory in their shame and treaSOn2