National Republican., 1885-08-31


In the opening spee ech Of his Ohio cam
paign Senator Sherman stated the well
known fact that the ass gnment Of John
Roach was caused by the action Of the gov
crnmcnt. This allegation was disputed by
the New York Evening Post. Thcrcupon
tie New York Tribune printed the follow
ing letter written by prominent merchant
of the highest standing, who Is also II d.
rector in ono Of the strongest Of the New
York banks. 1t conclusivcly proves that
Senator Sherman has not lnisreprcseuted the
facts:
II seems to nc that sufficient importance Is
not given TO the fact that the moment Attorney
General Gnrlnnds diclun In 70 john Roach
was published, Mr. Roach's credit as u money
borrower on his own singlc-uamc plper-lnd
this was his practlcC-Tas ruined, nnl his
pGpcr, which had been readily bough. by the
banks here aud elsewhere at low ratewIs not
wanted at any price with menace Of legal pro-
cecdngs against him by the government for the
recovery Of over 81, 100000. Hence with credit
ruincd-nost unjustly and wlckedly-he was
Gu; of fiom his regular source of money supply
and had no alternative but ASST ynment; so that,
MS Mr.. Sherman says "the assignment of Mr..
Roach was caused by the action of the govern
ment;" and the Evening Post knows It, IL 1t
knows how sensitive capital" is to suits or
runors Of suits / state It as II fact that where
as often recommended Mr.. Roach's paper to
our bank for purchase ut the lowest currcnt
rnte, ] would not, after Attorney General Gar
lands opinion (which Mr.. whitney had to ig.
moro was published, recommend II at any rate
of discount
When the Gdminist compelled John
Roach to make an assignment, close his
works, and discharge several thousand men,
1t was keeping itself in line with Democratic
prcccdcnts. A Democratic administration
that did not try to oppress and degrade Ia
bor would he anomalous, unique, radical
new departure.
For fifty years the brains, energy, aud
ceaseless labors of the Democratic party
were zcalously devoted 20 fostering,
Strengthening, and Matchmaking slavery,
because slave labor was cheap and profit
able.
When the young Republican party rose
up like giant and declared that the free
soil OF the territories should not be cursed
with slave labor, one wing Of the Demo-
cratic party made war on The government
for four years, while half the other wing
sulked at home, eursing everything that
was done to put down their rebelious
brethren.
1t is in beautiful harmony with this record
that the black labor of the Democratic
south-of stat S made Democratic by nulli-
| flcation-is now despo!led of its earnings
by devices which give capital about all the
advantages and none of the disadvantages
of slavery.
1t is equally harmonious with the record
when the first Democratic administration
since Buchanan's tine decides that il is
good public policy to make the free me.
chanics and laborers of the United States
compete with the labor of convicts, sold for
sixty cents day.
Not to have compelled John Roach to
close his works and discharge his well-paid
men, when 1t was possible to force him Ia
| do so, would have made break or right
angle in the Democratic record on the labor
question.
To strike the protective idea out Of our
tariff schedule and adopt the English reve-
nue. system is the one great unaccompltshel
aim of the Democratic party-the party
whose life has been devoted, with sigma
fidelity, to RELENTLESS war on the interests
and rights Of free and honest labor.