The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1882-08-05
The Difference,

People who know no better are fond of say
ing there is really no difference to amount to
anything between the democratic and republl-
can parties, the strife between them being only
over the spolls. To such we commend the
following contrasts between few bits OF
democratic common sense and republican
humbug," by a correspondent Of the St Louis
RepujltcaH:
The democratic party has always claimed
to contend for Il limited governing power,
leaving to the people as much liberty as pos.
siblc consistent with order.
The republican party has always contended
tor strong government, grasping everything,
debating, protecting, mOrallzng here, pro-
hibltng thus abOllshlng that, saving souls and
country, and leaving to the people no other
liberty than that of paying many taxes, gong
to church, and voting the republican ticket.
The democratic party iavors free develop
ment of all resources of the country, with
equal taxation for all.
The republican party protects certain IN.
dustrics by the aid of high tariff, thus tax.
ing every inhabltant upon everything that
can be seen, felt, smelt, tasted, or heard for
the benefit Of the few.
The democratic party is the party OF pro
ducers, toilers, laboring men-the bone and
slncW of the land.
The republican party Is the party OF the
mOnOpollsts, the grasping corporations, and
all the drOnes OF the nation, which 1t manages
to feed either as officers spies, pensioners, job
bers, or contractors.
The democratic party wants economy, re-
|trenchment, gradual payment OF the national
debt, and also gradual reduction of taxes.
The republican party revels in wllful
~ oil
ton OF expenses, claiming the national debt
as blessing, refusing all reduction of the
burdens of the people, adding millions upon
millions on useless navy or upon star routes
to the moon.
The democratic party says-ThoH shalt en-
joy the product Of thy labor and thy lands,
and dispose of thy crops at thy own choice
and liberty to thy best advantage
The republican party says-IIold on! If
you raise tobacco, you shall sell it only to our
authorized agents, who pay license tor it.
If you happen to cure 1t and twist it as your
father showed you, you dare not sell 10 any
one without taking license rs manufacturer,
or going to prison. You may raise grapes,
but are prohibited from making wine or sell
ing it, in all states where we get strong
enough to pass that rule. You may raise all
kinds of fruit for drying and canning pur.
poses, but beware of using any part of them
for intoxicating liquors. You may just as
we'll quit raising hops and barley and half of
your corn crops, for we have concluded to
break up and close all breweries and distlller-
les in the country.
The democratic party never was the cham
pon of intcmperanCe nor OF any abuse IN
any form whateve., but Is simply and natur.
ally opposed to sumptuary laws, out of sheer
respect for the personal liberty Of every one.
The republican party made great ado
about the personal liberty of the colored broth
er, some twenty odd years ago, and that lasted
Just about until they gotall his money through
the Freedmen's bank, for now every soul in
the country, without regard to color, race, or
previous condition, is slowly being chained
down IN rlveted letters forged by the great
party of moral ideas, that always manages to
discover some higher law" when about to
break up sacred engagement or to destroy
some personal right
And last but not least
The democratic party clings to the funda
mental American idea that man 10 endowed
with the natural, inherent, and inalienable
personal right of sefgovernment.
The republican party, without openly dar-
ing to deny this right has built up tor itself
fetish under the name OF national govern.
ment, gided and FURNISHED outside, but rotten
10 the core, to which even tram robbers and
mobs of inCurIate strikers must humbly bow.
Right or wrong, its dictates are acknowledged
as the higher law" by every republican
subject Grants loyal brass medal old guard
kncels at its shrine, and the pistol OF an lin
spired," to the "hIgher law" theory well edu.
Gated assassin fails not to appear IN due time
to save the pieces. That most loyal pr1torlan
guard OF hundred thousand postmasters,
custom house and revenue suckers and other
pap,mongers are faithfully going down INTO
their pockets to aid in perpetuating the infam
Gus worship Of the republican idol
If this is not the empire minus the emperor,