Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1884-10-15


to the I,i42, OBS who were starving for of
| flee" lie then told n maekeral story, said
the Democratic platform Of 1870 was "let's
go and take drink" and then told how
the Republicans "shivered until Chandler
| said X. b. Hayes has 1876 votesp
lie said he would not give them long
strings of figures, and warned the audience
how easy twas for speaker to make fig
uros lie, and he proceeded 10 show how he
could do so. He was talking tariff then,
and undertook 10 prove that free trade had
made England nation of paupers. He
was certainly living illustration of how
figures could be made to lie when big
oted speaker manipulates them. After he
had shown what pauper country Europe
was, he then spoiled his argument by show
ing what an enormous amount of wheat,
etc, the so-called paupers bought of this
country, the amount being SS25,000,O00
Next followed an account of his personal
history when he was young man. lie
had worked for Sl3 per month. Men
work in coal mines to-day for go cents per
day. lie had huslled corn ten days for n
pair Of hand made boots could not remem-
Der how he dressed when he was married !;
didn't like the poke bonnets of his early
hug HiNlClitu iit VI DiNotHh
as they were handler. He showed how the
early pioneer had struggled to get along
when they first went on their wild farms !;
how deficient they were Of silver ware, bug
gies and other Injuries, and then gave an
other picture of the same men after their
farms had been cleared and become produc-
tive. Their prosperity, according to the
speaker, was not due to the hard work, toll,
industry and perseverance of the farmers,
but was due to the Republican party and
their protective tariff. This will be news
to the pioneers, but we are inclined to the
belief that they will disagree with the
speaker, and take little credit to them
selves for their improved circumstances.
If the speakers claims are true, then all a
pioneer would have to do would be to get
piece of wild land, and the Republican
party and their protective tariff would clear
the land, remove the stumps, cultivate the
fields, put up the fences, and give each man
a buggy, lots of silver ware, luxuries and a
big bank account.
Blaine" shouted the speaker, 'repre-
sented the highest patriotic thought and
impulse of the Republican party" 1t was
credit to Blaine to be charged with such
things as the Mulligan letters to enter in
to alliance with railway brokers and sell
his influence as Speaker of the House for
stocks and bonds, and other misdeeds.
He was very bitter towards Cleveland be-
cause, when mayor of Buffalo, he had veto
ed bill which provided for taking money
out Of the city treasury TO defray the ex-
penses of celebrating public holiday, but
the speaker was mean enough not to tell
the whole story, and that Gov. Cleveland,
after the veto, proposed taking up collec-
ton for object asked for and that Cleveland
donated one-tenth of the amount.
Cleveland vetoed the bill which provid-
ed taking taxes for paying holiday expenses,
and he did right in so doing. We ask the
taxpayers if they do not find their tax bur-
dens heavy enough to provide the necessa-
nv expenses of city, without increasing
them by adding additional burdens for pay
ing holiday expenses? On this subject we
ask the readers to read Cleveland's veto
and Judge for themselves if Cleveland did
not do his duty. The veto is as follows
At the same meeting of your honorable body
the following resolution was passed:
That the City Clerk be and he is hereby d.
rected to draw warrant on the 4th OF July
T. S. Edwards, Chairman of the Decoration Day
Committee OF the Grand Army of the Republic,
for the purpose of defraying the expenses nj
tending a proper observance of Decoration day.
| have taxed my ingenuity to discover way
to consistently approve OF this resolution, Dut
have been unable to do So
1t seems to me that it is not only obnoxious to
the provisions OF the constitution above quoted,
but IL also violates that section OF the charter
OF the city which makes II misdemeanor To
appropriate money raised for one purpose to
any other object. Under this section | think
money raised for the celebration of the tth of
July and the reception of distinguished per:
sons cannot be devoted TO the observance OF
Decoration day.
II deem the object of this appropriation
most worthy one. The efforts of veteran
soldiers to keep alive the memory of their fallen
comrades certainly deserves the aid and en-
should all, | think, feel 1t n duty and pryi-
lege to contribute to the funds necessary TO
carry out such a purpose. And ! should be
much disappointed IL an appeal TO our citizens
for voluntary subscriptions for this patriotic
But the money so contributed should be q
free gift OF the citizens and taxpayers, and
should not be extorted by taxation. This Is so
because the purpose for which this money Is
asked does not involve their protection or in
terest as members of the community, and it
may or may not be approved by them.
The people are forced TO pay taxes into the
city treasury only upon the theory that such
money shall be expended for public purposes,
or purposes in which they all have direct and
The logic of this position leads directly to
the conclusion that, IL the people are forced TO
pay their money into the public fund and il is
spent by their servants and agents for purposes
in which the people as taxpayers have no in
terest, the eXaction OF such taxes from them Is
oppressive and unjust.
/ cannot rid myself Of the idea that this city
government, In its relation to the taxpayers,
Is business establishment, and that it Is put
in our hands to be conducted on business prin-
ciples.
This theory does not admit of our donating
the public funds in the manner contemplated
by the action of your honorable body.
/ deem IL my duty, therefore, 10 return the
resolution without my approval.
The speaker also gave lying statement
in regard to other vetoes of Cleveland, and,
when speaking of the Mechanics Lien
bill, referred TO the lien law of Michigan,
which was the work principally of ]. d.
Turnbull, of this city, and coolly claimed
il was the work of the Michigan Republic
cans. The speaker is a little too partisan
for the good of his party he disregarded
facts and truth and must certainly have
come to Alpena under the belief that he
could make any statement he liked, and the
people would believe it.
The stage was Handsomely decorated
with the national colors. The audience
roe Ia roa hut therc xyerc Some vacant seats