The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1883-10-24
Ought the Republican Party to Go q?

The last bond call of the Secretary
disposes of all that remains of the
continued bonds knywn as the
"Windoms. TIE amount is S32,-
.0S2,600, says the Lancaster EIanli-
ner, and it clears off the S600,0OO,OOO
of five and six per cent. bonds which
had been continued" by Secretary
Window on his own responsibility,
at three and one-half per cent. That
movement Of the former Secretary
began not quite two years ago. There
are now three classes of bonds In
existence, as follows: S250,OOO four
and one-half per CENTS, redeemable
September 1st, 1891; 1907 $50
four per cents, redeemable, July lst,
1907, and s304,34l 800 three per
cents redeemable at the option OF the
Government. On about eight mill
ion of the debt interest has ceased
altogether; it consists of claims that
will never he presented to the treas
ury. The debt which bears no inter
est consists Of legal tender notes,
gold certificates, and silver certiti-
Gates, and amounts to over 559
million.
Thus the lnterest-bearing debt, ex-
elusive of refunding certificates and
the navy pension fund, amounts to
about 81 ,291, ,S49,25O. On the 3lst
of August. 1865, Just after the close
of the war, it amounted to s2,331,
$50, ,29t. 1t is a reduction of public
Indebtedness without a parallel in
the history ofthe world. When the
American people come to choose be
tween the Republican party which
has been responsible for the national
administration of affairs from the
4th of March, 1861, a period of
twenty-lour years on March 4, 1856
during which time treason, secession,
rebellion and terrible war joined TO
the Vaccinations of a few greedy
Republicans and equally bad Dem
acrats to rob and plunder the gov
ernment-if after all this ordeal,
such results as we have pointed cut
can be shown, it should be evident
that the people 'Yill not say "the
Republican party must GO"
If it does go what will we get in
stead? Is the nation to go through
another convulsion of experiments ?
Must we now try a party, which has
never been wise savein at last adopt
ing what Republicans proposed and
carried into practical and happy eff
feet? Must We accept a party whose
doctrine is theory. and whose action
is experiment This is what we
must do. The Republican party
simply says: My mark. A big one
it is too. A restored Union; new
ideas as to our form of government ;
the constitution an aid to progress,
not a clog; a safe credit; an almost
perfect banking system ; economy
in expenditures reduced taxation,
and reduced debt: civil service re-
form and an administration able,
gentlemanly and incerruptible. The
Republican party does not claim
that every man it has placed in posi-
ton has been the best or more hon.
est The age is not an ideal one,
and so dishonest men, selfish and
ignoble ambitious men, have used
the great organization for their own
purposes. This may be admitted
it cannot be denied. But a party
must be judged by its general course,
not by the wrong-doings of some
few individuals. The morals of the
English bench saved England from
; the corruptions of Parliament-it
cannot be condemned because JEFF
fries was a butcher or Bacon took
Dribes. But the Republican party,
: as a whole. has been on the side OF
= justice, progress and equity. 1t has
never hesitated to punish wrong or
try those accused of guilt. Scoun-
drels may have escaped justice. as
they do in our local courts every
day. but not because the government
has not put forth honest efforts to
bring about a different result.
Candid men must say that no par
ty mas ever done more for nation
than has the Republican party for
this during the past quarter of Il cen
turv. Ont of discord has come har-
meny-out of chaos, the brightness
of new national day Shall the
Republican party then 90? If so
what will the future be? What does
it offer in exchange?