Arizona weekly citizen., 1884-11-08
Fellow Citizens:

q
 In Republican government like ours it is the privilege, as well as the duty, of every citizen, to interest himself in Po- litical affairs, to the end that worthy
 men may be elected to fill positions of
 trust, and that good government may result and the principles of civil and
 religious liberty may be preserved and
 protected.
 This is certainly the highest duty of
 every true American citizen irrespective of political affiliation, and in order to thoroughly comprehend the situation it is also his duty to carefully examine the facts in detall, aud having judiciously compared all the evidence obtainable' to form an impartial judgment, and to practically apply that judgment in the exercise of the great right of the elec-
 tive franchise.
 Glittering generalities and the repeti-
 ton of infinite platitude may gratify
 for time the taste of the unwsry and
 minimizing listener. The dogmstic as-
 sumption of premises unwsrranted by
 the record, and unsupported by facts,
 may appeal to the prejudiced mind, but
 in the end the calm and dispassionate
 judgment Of the masses will arouse
 from its lethargy and demand just and
 accurate statement of the situation as
 substitute for mere assertion. The pres
 ent political contest Is one of the most
 important in our history as a nation.
 As of old, we observe the two great
 political parties arrayed in hostile atti-
 tuies and engaged in desperate strug-
 gle for the support and vindicatioa of
 their respective views of political econ
 omy. The Democratic party presents
 its claims for the consideration of the
 people surrounded by all the unpless-
 ant recollectie1s of violated faith, un- Ialterable opposition to progressive leg
 station, and undying hostility to those
 great principles of true Democratic
 government which constitute the bull
 wark of American liberty.
 The Republican party steps forward into the political arena, uuhinching in its devotion to the cause of good gov ernment. fresh and vigorous from former trlumphs, firm in its convictions, proud of it's record and grand, -glorious and majestic in the consciousness of its own integrity and assurance Of success.
 For nearly thirty years anterior to 1860 the Democratic party controlled almost continuously the political policy of this nation. Whatever of good or evil it may have accomplished during that long period of time are matters of record and cannot be refuted or denied. l
 The truth of history must be vindi- cated, and specious arguments, forced | constructions and sophistical pleas must | all go down before the overwhelming power of solid facts.
 The Democratic party had become distinct national party in 1850 All old | issues which had previously divided 1t | on local questions hsd been eliminated, | and it may be said to have assumed sb- | solute homogeneity and national control st the second election of General Jack son. It's principles had become nodded into tangible shape, snd its policy was well defined and thoroughly understood.
 The first national convention held in the United States was in 1882, when General Jackson was nominated for the second term. From tbat time until 1861 the Democratic party dictated the policy of the country-establishe dogmss and tenets of political faith which have ever since been acknowledged and recognized | as 'simon pure" Democratic doctFlne. During period of profound peace with the exception of a slight scrimmage with Mexico, in 1Si6, the history of that party is the history of the country. IL Is his 90 years of Democratic rule which s held up to the people as 6 model of political government, and worthy ex- ample in political economy beside which all other records fade into utter insig- nificance. This IS the popular Demo- cratic boast, and members of that party display all the power of Democratic die | lion in grandiloquent panegyric to glo- [ 1fy this remarkable epoch. In their sfforts to defy the men and exalt the memories of this period, they employ he whole vocabulary of encomium and 'xhaust their exuberant fancy in Thap- 1 0dy of words.
 Let us carefully examine this claim. ] n 1880, when Andrew Jackson was Pres dent the population Of the United States | 7as F. .S66, 900, and the public debt was AS, ,565. .406 90, and in 1861 when the ] ivil war began the debt had increased 6 0 nearly 90 milliors of dollars and the t population was 3l, lS3 "A. Here is an 2 increase of nearly double the debt in 3O ears during a period of continuous V eace (with the exception of two year-) l nd the population and resources of the q Ountry developing wealth and prosper | Y, and additional sources of revenue x early. Under the Democratic admins 'ations from 1890 to 1860, We find the ' zpeDses of the government increasing q ! a ratio far in advance of the revenue, ' 0 means provided to keep pace with V creased expenditure, the national debt a .pIdly augmenting and no provisiOD'l q IT its liquidation In fact the national f' .b: created such an interest and go e uch anxiety, that during the period ,twean 1S4l and 1850, both Daniel " ebster and Henry Clay and other em- d ent Whig statesmen were greatly eX- J cised over: what they deeHefl the ap- h oachiDg financial crisis ID the nations story, and were. -constEitiy deyising d' sanssand,suggesting methods whereby Il is evil might be Ryerted. This stupen- h us national debt.of 4S milliOas1n lS30l pl q 90'millions .in 1St;I,, was far beyQfd W e capacity. Of .Dgloerat5c statesman- n ID. either to passASt.gfoyide' a1evenue O.
 liquidata. -' Wheif' fine Repubiicau 10 rty came into powef in 1861, this.debt 90 millions was the legacy which the or mocratic party left to its success hi rs. al Think of party coming into power - tn such auspices ss surrounded the su pubhcRn party in 1861. With % mil tn ns of public debt which hsd taxed all mi } ingenuity of every Democratic sd- sn .istration since 1S40, and which was ht Rlly left unprovidsd for. With c de- or ted treasury, with civil war on the eve co indignation, with nearly one-half of of nation seeding from the Union or ,ut to secede,. with finsnoialruin star tn
 us in the face on every side. with the ot