Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1882-09-06
Senator Harrison's Speech.


republican, and anything he may
have to say on local or national politics will
Q ommand attention. In recent speech at
Indianapolis, opening the republican cam
paign in that state, among many other SUBJ
jects discussed were the following. In rela-
ton TO the pending question of submitting
the constitutional amendment proposed by
the last legislature to the vote of the people,
he said
CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT.
The course which our party should take has
from the beginning seemed TO me too plain for
any republican TO lose his way. Not that II was
80 plain that the democratic leaders might not
miss IL ! was sure they would, and they have.
A ten-rail fence on both sides would not sufii
ciently mark road for them The meeting OF
the Indiana Liquor Dealers Association at Terre
Haute, on August IA, however, marched to the
whistle Of Mr.. English They resolved THAT
at the election In November next we shall sup.
port the democratic party. That we invite all
liberty-loving people OF the state OF Indiana to
Join us In our efforts to defeat the enemy of lib
erty." From the conjunction OF these resolutions,
suppose the enemy OF liberty here referred
to must be the republican party. What prose-
cutor and what charged liquor dealers as
ISOLATION arraigning the republican party as the
tntHlN VI nUtItNl fslBnt UlllllOu nhuuH
by this enemy OF liberty" over the protest and
over the armed resistance Of democrats are lifted
In amazement, Such accusations will have no
power over the minds OF those whose political
relations are intended to be affected by them
Those adopted citizens OF our country who have
voted and fought with us from Kansas to Apo
mattox will not be persuaded that the republican
party has become the "enemy Of liberty" be-
cause 1t insists that the people OF Indiana have
right TO amend the constitution, II a majority so
desire, and that popular vote Is the only fair
way to settle that question. The enemy OF
liberty" never consents to submit his appeal to a
popular vote and to abide the result. You may
tell him by that infallible sign.
TARIFF REFORM.
The democratic platform charges that the re-
publican party Is responsible for delaying tax
form Mr. Voorhees, says II Is a false pretence "
that he il weary OF. And vet the platform in
dorses Mr.. Voorhees,, and | believe that MT.
Voorhees,, moved, no doubt, by his touching rev.
erence to his friendship for the soldier, has in
dorsed the platform II Is undoubtedly true that
the public revenues are excessive. The surplus
last year, which applied to a reduction OF the
public debt, was almost $50, 100000 This great
excess Of revenue tends to extravagant and even
wasteful appropriations. smaller income will
not only suggest, but enforce economy. Promptly
on regaining control OF congress the republicans
set about the work Of revision of the tariff
II was believed that the work could be more
safely and intelligently done by substituting a
commission OF experts 10 consider the SUBJECT,
hear evidence and report to the next session OF
congress their conclusions This plan was pro-
posed in the last congress by Senator Eaton, a
democrat, and was supported in this congress by
many democrats, among whom was Mr.. Voorhees,.
He not only voted for the bill, but defended il in
an elaborate speech. shall not enter into any
defense OF that measure here. It cannot be made
an issue In this campaign, much as Mr.. Mcdonald
might like to make 1t so, for Mr.. Voorhees, sup
ported 1t, and the convention has endorsed him
no % faithful recommendation Tho IA
the commission must, under the law, be presented
at an early hour next session, and we may hope
before the session closes to see a law enacted
that, while wisely protecting our home industries,
shall correct many evils and anomalies in the
present tariff system. Mr.. Voorhees, being the
Judge, the republicans in one session have done
more for revenue reform than the democrats did
in six.
REPUBLICAN FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT.
The bill also contained some provisions, not di-
rectly connected with banking, OF great interest
and value. II authorizes the secretary of the
cent bonds OF the government and to issue a
three per cent bond instead. The new bonds are
to be payable at the pleasure OF the government,
and may be taken up whenever we have the
money TO pay them, the only condition being that
we will not pay one OF the three per cents as long
as there is a bond bearing higher rate of inter
est which we have the right to pay, and that the
first three per cents issued shall be the last paid
Uuutr DrONlslOu, tnb ClbTkS OF tnb treasury
are to-day wrestling with the accumulated offers
Of the holders Of our three and one-half per cent
bonds to take three per cents In exchange. The
problem was how to tell who was first, and the
struggle to be first grew out OF the fact that the
first bond issued was the last to be paid Fellow
citizens, the republican management of the
finances OF this country can have no better eu-
logy struggle at the door of the treasury as
to who shall get the first three per cent bond and
the key to this wonder is in the fact that the
frat hnn Axpin 1Na ha In ,,afd Uhat, tka
democrats last managed our national finances
there was also scufile about the door OF the
treasury. But the exciting question then was
who shall be paid first, for 1t was not certain that
the cash would hold out
THE RIVER AND HARBoR BILL.
The next item Of increase is in the river and
harbor bill, which carries S7,196,075 more than
the same bill did last year ! voted against this
bill on Its original passage, and again when
the question was, Shall the bill pass the objec-
tions OF the president to the contrary notwith-
standingT' shall spend no time here in justify
ing my vote. | have seen no occasion to regret it
since The river and harbor bil-good or bad as
men may think twas not a party measure, and
TO neither party can fairly be given the praise or
blame of it. About the same per cent Of each
party voted for 1t. But while could not approve
and cannot defend this measure, there are some
things that ought to be said, in justice to those
who supported it, among whom were many of the
wisest and best men Of both parties. And first
II is not fair to call 1t stea'' for it was not, in
any fair sense OF that opprobrious term. The
money appropriated will, ! have no doubt, be
wholly and honestly applied, under the chief en-
gneer OF the army, to the purposes indicated
There will be no stealing, Men who voted for the
bill may have been controlled or influenced by the
fact that 1t contained liberal appropriations for
their states or Observation-Disclosures they were
But let us not forget that the return they looked
for was not mercenary one, but the appreciation
OF their constituents The fanlt is not wholly
with the member; some OF 1t fairly rests with the
press and the constituencies which have demanded
appropriations for local Objects and have too often
measured their favors to their congressman by
his success in getting things for his " deestrct"
Many Of the objects for which these appropria-
tons are sought are national in character and of
the most urgent necessity. OF the general policy
Of liberal appropriations for the improvement OF
such Of our rivers and harbors as are real factors
in our commerce, am, and shall continue to be,
an earnest advocate. repeat what had occa-
sion to say in the senate, that the improvement
and preservation to commerce Of those waterways
upon which the productions OF our inland states
may reach the sea. is a great national duty. In
this way, more certainly than in any other, we
can check the extortion OF the railways and Sc
cure to the producer fair per cent OF the value
OF his products.
THE TWO PARTIES.
! can excuse much to that blind attachment
which, having become habit, continues after
the object has lost all resemblance to that which
first won our regard But what reason shall
young men give for yielding their allegiance now
to the democratic party? The morale of a re-
treating army may be preserved II the leader is
bold enough to assault now and then, persistent
enough to fight twice on the same field, and true
enough always to show the same flag, and give
the one battle-cry. | can understand how brave
men can be recruited on the morrow after disas-
ter for an army like that. Disaster is good
background on which to throw up a picture of
faith and courage. But what of an army that
fights for negations, whose battle-cry is 4" | dis
like the republican party When soldier falls
with that cry on his lips does he leave any leg
acy OF inspiration to the comrade who touched el-
bows with him? What OF an army that never
takes the offensive-never seizes an outpost of
principle, and lays its dead about 1t never fights
twice on the same fields always patching the
whose help is obtained at the expense of princi-
pie? Well can understand how some whose
names were on the original muster roll may
continue to obey the order to fall back, by sheer
force OF habit But what a hard time the re-
cruiting sergeant must havel He must begin his
work very far In the rear or he will find himself
on the outpost before he has persuaded his man.
And then there Is another danger-the flag under
which the enlistment WAS made may not be up
when he reaches camp. Fellow-citizens, do not
defend all the practices Of those who have rep
resented the republican party in public places
Some OF them have unquestionaby been evil.
That most OF these had democratic precedent may
be reason why they should talk more charitably,
but is no reason why we should excuse or perpet-
uate them But do affirm that the republican
party has always been the promoter Of loyalty,
liberty and social order and that the country has
given an irrevocable verdict of approval TO all
those great principles and achievements which
brought It into existence and have characterized
Its history. Yes, even the belated approval OF the
democratic party is written upon them