The Emporia weekly news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1881-1889, 1882-10-26


publicans persisted in holding TO the
belief that the Democratic party was
dead. Such was not the case, neither
did he want it TO be. Just such cpposi-
ton as the Democracy offered was what
the Republican party wanted to stimu-
late it, and to urge it on to the achieve
ment of
THE GRANDEsT POSSIBLE RESULTS.
The old Democratic party had served
this good purpose in days gone by, and
he wanted it to go on doing SO. He
wanted the party in opposition to his
own TO have a record, and, at least, the
shadow of an excuse for its existence.
Without saying as much it was evident
that he had in mind the Greenback par
tY as being without either of these.
Touching upon the currency question,
he said there was no use to discuss that;
that was settled. The Democracy had
fought the Republican party at every
step it took in the direction Of specie
resumption, and avowed that it could
never be brought about When they
saw that the feat had been accomplished
they were amazed beyond measure,
but still they continued to pick flaws.
They had not yet succeeded, however,
in doing anything or anybody much
harm, owing to the great vigilance OF
the Republican party. He was glad he
belonged to party that was not
afraid of, but rather .courted,
criticism and investigation. 1t was
the only party that had ever yet
had the courage to go to work and purge
and purify its own ranks. He was
glad he belonged TO party that had
such a glorious record to look back
upon. 1t had its birth in 1856, and
from the start it had championed the
grand, immortal principles of free
speech, free press and a free people.
In its first presidential campaign it was
defeated, hut in 1860 it achieved the
great victory of placing Abraham Lin
coin in the presidential chair. 1t took
possession of the government under the
most adverse circumstances, but stimu-
lated by
THE GREAT PRINCIPLES INVOLVED
it struggled on, and the result was vic
tory more magnificent than any
that had ever crowned the efforts
of any political party since the founda-
ton of the world. Abraham Lincoln
took his seat with the country on the
verge of rebellion, depleted treasury, q
demoraliZed army and navy, and finan
cial credit that was a shame and dis
grace to any nation, much less one lay
ing claim TO such lofty pretentions as
this one. From this unparalleled chaos
the Republican party has rescued the
country and saved the union.
Referring 10 the financial condition OF
the country at the close of Buchanan's
administration, Judge Peters said that
nothing could be more deplorable than
the state of the finances of the country al
that time. The president found
| it impossible to meet the expenses
of the government at the close of his
term of office. even by offering bonds al
a discount of twelve per cent. He was
obliged to sell $1S,000,000 worth OF
bonds for $4,000, 900, loss to the gov
eminent of 100000 on that one sale.
In the face of all these discouragements
the Republican party not only raised an
army sufficient to crush the rebellion,
but provided meano TO meet the current
expenses of the government. In the
outset the government pledged itself not
to issue more than 100000, GOO of green
backs, but in 1868 it found itself unable
TO carry on the war with the means it
had, so the national bank law was
| enacted and the emergency
was met. The world never
saw better money than that which
was the outcome of this act, and a
greenback dollar to-day is worth as
much in Queen Victoria's private parlor
as il is in the country where it origina-
ted, and if every national bank in the
United States thould fail the holders OF
these notes would not lose cent. The
government would stand by its pledge
and redeem every dollar of the notes so
held.
The igreat debt piled up by the war,
the speaker said, was being rapidly paid
off, and the Democrats themselves were
manfully assisting TO do this by paying
taxes on whisky, tobacco, cigars and
other luxuries. The tax on the necessa-
ries of life for the cancelling of this
debt was so small as to be hardly worth
noticing, Notwithstanding the fact that
Democrats everywhere were arraigning
the Republican party for imposing
enormous and unjust taxes on the neces
saries of life for the purpose of paying
off debt for which the Democratic
party itself is responsible. Notwith-
standing all these
FALSE AND UNJUST CHARGES
the debt was being rapidly reduced,
and the annual saving of interest was
S06,OO0,OO0. The annual interest on the
public debt was SAG. 100000 OF this
only $4,000, 600 came from the necessa-
ries of life. Could any one call this OPP
pressive taxation? Then again the green
back dollar before the war closed was
worth only SO cents. What is the same
note worth to-day? Everybody knows
that it has a purchasing capacity of 100
cents. The Republican party can
proudly claim the accomplishment of
all this. What has the Democracy to
look back upon during the past twenty
five years: Nothing but the most des
picable conduct. endeavoring at every
step to throw hindranees in the way of
their successful rivals.
With reference to our wealth and
population. the speaker said nothing
could be more wonderful than the in
crease in this direction during the past
twenty years. The wealth OF the
United States was $4,000, oO0. 600 more
than the aggregate wealth of all of
Queen Vlctoria's possessions, and the
population had increased from little
over 1000, 600 in 1860 to more than 50,
100000 in 1882. This great prosperity
was largely due TO the foresight of the
party now in power.
Judge Peters then referred to the sit
uation in Kansas at the present time.
He declared that the issue here was not
one concerning Temperance legislation.
That was an issue that was past The
prohibition law was now part of the
constitution of Kansas. and conse-
quently was not question for legis-