The Russellville Democrat., 1884-05-22

Pope county come to the front and boldly advocate the principles ot the old reliable democratic party. Now, sir, if you will give me space in your paper l will give q few thoughts upon this subject. The democratic party is national party and has for it's platform and principles the greatest good for the greatest number. Before the war and up to the time the re- publican party took control of the state government, our taxes were seventy five cents on the hundred dollars worth of property, and our scrip was worth 95 to 100 cents .on the dollar, and this was under a democratic administration which was for the people and by the people. But what do we find now? We find that the republican party gained control of the state gcFersinent In 1868, and remained in power for six :; ;,esfs, .:aring which time they ere ated debt in our state to the amount of thirteen millions of dollars, and if it was just debt our grand children would not sec the time when it would be paid. But at the end of six years the democratic party gained control of the State government and began to administer the government in the interest of the people of the state. and not the few, as it was under the republican administration.
 As soon as the democratic party gained control of the state, the cry is raised by the republican party thigh taxesr' Who caused taxes to be high? It was the republican party that created an enormous debt upon the state and counties, which had to be paid by the people. The out standing state scrip in 1874, was one and three quarter million dollars, and Pope county scrip had been is- sued to the amount of forty five thousand dollars, at which time state scrip was selling at 25 to B cents on the dollar, and county scrip at 70 to % cents on the dollar, and this was all done by the republican party, and that party the first to cry wolf. 2 Why did they not cry out high taxes in 1S70-1-2 and 3, when our taxes were $2.5O to $2.75 on the hundred dollars worth of property, and that, too, when there was no special school tax levied by school districts. Now, sir, this was the condition of the state and county when the democrat ic party gained control of the gov ernment in 1874, and from that time to the present the debts of the state and county have been decreasing. Our state scrip is now at par. with but little outstanding. The Baxter war bonds have all been paid, which was caused by the republican party trying to oust Baxter as governor and install Brooks. The Loughbor- ough bonds will be paid off before the close of this year, another debt caus- ed by militia raids under republican rule. Our old county debt that the republican party left us will all be paid off out of the taxes of 1884, and there will not be scrip enough out standing to pay the county tax Of 1884. Now, adopt the amendment and defeat the collection of the fraud ulent bonds issued by the republican party, and our state is in healthy condition Financially. Now, SIT, who did this? It has been done under a democratic administration, and the time is close at hand when taxes will be reduced to the actual expenses of the State and county, as it was under democratic control before the war. And I hear democrats say that they will join hand-in hand with the re- publican party that caused high taxes and oppression Tn our state, for the purpose of organizing a secret political party known as the B. Of F. Now sir, 1 am satisfied that demo. crats will be democrats, and will stick to democratic principles, for they are true to themselves and country, and when the time comes, they will say that they will not be lead by party, or unite with it, that has such record as the republican party has in this state.
 l am yours Tn the right,
 PuCpIM