The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1882-09-01

nation. 1t was opposed to issuing greenbacks,
but proposed no other way to meet tne
pressing needs of the government lt was
opposed to the enlistment of colored soldiers,
opposed to the draft but pointed out no
other way to fill the ranks of our depleted
regiments. 1t was opposed to reconstruction,
to giving the ballot to the colored men, the
only loyal men Of the south, but had
no well defined plan for restoring
the seeded states to their proper relations to
the general government. Democrats OPP.
posed the issue of bonds payable in coin, but
devised no method of funding our enormous
war debt. When we were utterly unable to
redeem the greepbacks they opposed all de-
lay in their redemption, and the moment
we were able to redeem them then they OPP
posed with all their might the fixing OF any
time for such redemption. They have opposed
in the past and now oppose the national
banking system, but give us nothing to take
its place, no safer or better institution for
doing the business of the country. They OPP
pose the railroads of the country without
being able to intelligently regulate them.
They oppose all combinations OF capital for
the development of our country without
understanding the mutual relations that
naturally exist between capital and labor.
They oppose our present system OF tariff, our
protection to home industries, without being
able during six years OF power to give
us anything better. They oppose. the
UtA On WniShJ luu UODuCCO oiihpiJ
as being tax on Democratic
commodities. Laughter and applause
They oppose the appearance of national Off
GERS at the polls for fear that such officers
will secure a fair ballot and an honest count.
They claim to be down ON Mormonism, but
ing that institution. Thus might
go on for a long time, but these
are instances enough to illustrate my
point, and to show what l mean when say
the Democratic party is simply party OF
negation, it expends all its energies in at
tempting to tear down, and has no strength,
no enthusiasm for building up.
On the contrary the Republican party is
one of fixed ideas. 1t was born through
love of liberty. 1t spent its youth in fighting
for freedom. Its early manhood was
taxed to the utmost in defense
of our national existence. 1t waded through
blood and covered our hillsides and valleys
with soldiers graves, newmade graves, that
it might give freedom to race. Applause
1t found our country without credit
in the money centers of the world,
and to-day we can borrow untold millions
at 2 and per cent. [Applause.] 1t has
fostered our Industries until the prosperity
and wealth OF our people are perfectly
fabulous. 1t believes in a sound currency,
in free ballot and fair count in a fair
and homestead justment between capital and
labor, i'll the abolition of Mormonism, or
rather in its total destruction, both i'll root
and branch, in the proper improvement Of our
rivers and harbors, in the education Of the
masses In temperance and good morals
throughout our entire land. [Appause.l
When you once see the two pictures why
wonder that old men still seek shelter UNI
der the ample folds of our banner, that mid
die aged men grid on their armor at the APP
proach of an impending contest and that
young men everywhere flock to our stand
ard. prolonged applause.]
THE COMING CAMPAIGN.
In conclusion, fellow citizens let me ex
press the hope that the coming campaign
may differ from those we have had in the
past, at least in one respect, let us hope that
all parties may refrain from personal abuse
and unseemly exhibitions of malice and hate.
A mans public conduct and private life
while he is in the service of
the people are proper subjects OF investiga-
past four years invite the closest scrutiny.
Errors may have been committed, but you
will find they were errors in Judgment, not
in intent. My constant aim has been to so
conduct myself as to never in any manner
lower the standard of political morals which
is so universally recognized by the best citi-
zens of Michigan. [Applause.]
MICHIGAN AND HER INTERESTS
If you will reflect for single moment
right to demand more of her representatives
than has our own peninsular state. Look at
her resources her achievements in the past,
her possibilities in the future. Not admitted
into the Union as state until 1887, and yet
she now ranks as the ninth state in
in the entire sisterhood of states.
In the amount of taxable property i'm 1880
she stood the sixth state In the union. In
number of miles of railroad she was ninth,
and to-day we have within our borders over
|, ZOO miles of well equipped railroad
bed. In 1880 only three states ex-
ceeded us in the production of wheat,
Michigan alone raising in that year
over 81, 000, 900 bushels. In lumber we stood
at the head of the list. In 1880 she produced
4, IL, 600, 600 feet of lumber, and the value of
her forest products was over So, 000, 900, near
ly twice the value of her wheat crop. We
and sold over one-third of all
the salt made in the entire states, making in
1880 12,500,000 bushels, and we shall this
year reach over 100000 bushels. In cop
per we lead all the states combined. Indeed,
Of the 90, 000, 900 pounds made in 1880 we fur
nished A., 100000 pounds. In iron ore we are
among the first In addition to all these
look at our oats and corn and barley
and rye and potatoes, our fruit and
more than all our grass crop, from
which comes our hay. Look at our cattle
and sheep, our horses and hogs. To these
add all our varied manufacturing industries,
our car shops, our furnaces and foundries,
our makers of knit and wooden goods, our
machine shops and furniture works, our man.
nfacturers of paper and our Touring mills
and workers in wooden ware, and one is
to ask where else will you find
such varied industries, such a multiplicity
Of material interestsl Applause Then again
you must not forget the fact that we have
more water Coast than any state in the
Union. more excellent harbors, more border
ing lakes. But this exhibit of our material
wealth and greatness is no more striking
than is the statement of our intellectual and
moral standing as state. In the
number of her newspapers Michigan
ranks the fifth state in the Union. In the
value of her school houses, according to pop
llation, she leads the list. OF her people who
,annot read and write her percentage is
among the very smallest; indeed SO marked
s this that never yet saw boy or girl who
was born in our state, and who had reached
the age of fifteen who could not read. Our
common school system is as good
IS any i'm the world. Our high
schools may well be the pride
Of our state. Our university has no superior
)n the continent Our institutions for edu-
eating the deaf and dumb and the blind, for