Year: 1874

Aug. 25th, 1874. J
TO the People Of the State of Iouo.


On the second Tuesday of October
next, the people of Iowa will render their
verdict upon the principles by which their
public affairs shall be administered, and
the men who shall administer them 1t is
important, therefore, that calm consider
alton be given to the prominent facts upon
which the decision is to be made.


For many years before the Republican
party was certified to power by an out |
ragged people, the Democratic party was
positive and aggressive organization but |
unfortunately for public justice, human
rights and national honor, its aggressive,
purposes were wholly directed against
Freedom, and its positive action in sup
port of slavery. Following its overthrow
by an aroused and indignant people, it
promptly sunk into general contempt, |
whereto its history and record logically i'm
PEELED it, only now and then ftfully dis
closing enough of its old life and animus
to justify the overwhelming verdict of it's
condemnation. No signs of shame or
contrition for its past misdeeds, which |
brought to our fair and prosperous land
the legacy of death and debt, have ap-
peared. Nothing but angry defiance of
the popular verdict against it. and the
stealthy institution, on the eve of each
successive election, of treacherous expedi-
ents to re-acquire its lost power, has that
baleful party disclosed in its later history
Liberalism, the Free Party fraud, the In
dependent cheat, and finally the anti
monopoly scheme, which many of the
leading Democrats hout and scorn, are
some Of the successive expedients where
by they hoped to deceive the people and
again secure control of the government
But all were fruitless; the people were
not to be SO easily cheated.


What is the anti-monopoly party of
Iowa to-day? Simply the Democratic
party in disguise What is the Demo-
cratic party? Simply party without a
policy In Maine it declares for absolute,
naked free trade and direct taxation In
Pennsylvania it is for the highest of pro-
tective tariffs, while in Iowa it declares for
revenue tariff only. In all New Eng
land it declares for hard money and
specie resumption; in Indiana and some
portions of Iowa it resolves against specie
and in favor of greenbacks. On the
question of the congressional control of
railroads and other monopolies, its leaders
in that body recorded their vote against
it on the thin pretense of conserving
State rights. The present claim of the
Democratic party to public recognition lies
in the savage vigor wherewith it intensifes
and magnifes local passions and discon-
tents. Having no character of his own to
sustain or lose, it hesitates at no means to
shike down that of its antagonists,


Such is the party which asks the people
for the control of Iowa and the nation.
What is the desire of the people at this
hour? Manifestly honest and economical
government in single word-Reform
How shall this be attained? Does the
Democratic party offer the most attenuat-
ed hope of better things? Every con-
cienscious voter in the State must answer
No. Will new narty-the anti-mOnopo-
ly-do better? Its very composition is
conclusive answer Nine parts Democratic
and one of disappointed ofice-seeking
Republicans is not a combination sugges-
tive Of reform. On the contrary we cite
you the record of the Republican party as
guarantee to the people that the affairs
Of the State and nation will be admins
tered faithfully, honestly and economically
In the last six years taxes have been re-
mitted to the amount Of twenty millions
Of dollars. In the same period of time,
the principal of the public debt has been
diminished by the sum of three hundred
and fifty millions of dollars The ordin-
airy expenses of the government, outside
Of the obligations imposed on us by our
civil war, were less per capita, last year
| (l873), than they were the year before
the breaking out of the Rebellion


The Republican party has proved itself
the best friend of the people, the most
powerful and successful champion of hui
man rights, progress education and equal
ity. 1t has preserved our great Union,
which but for its unconquerable loyalty
would now be struggling for life like petty
states of Mexico and has acquired a
measure of renown and glory above that
which history accOrds to any other. Let
this mighty and historic organization be
seized by the people and made to do their
will. Attend the primary meetings and
the conventions and there record your
voice and will in the declaration of princi-
pies and the choice Of men to administer
them. Thus may your power be made to
serve you at once, and your purposes be
speedily accomplished Last year this
wise policy was pursued to considerable
extent, and the fruits are marked as they
are benefcent 1t was the first instance
of party deliberately reforming itself.
it has repealed the SALARY grab; it has
repealed the moiety act and the Sanborn
contract law; it has formerally censured
: the second officer of the Cabinet, the
Secretary of the Treasury, Assistant and
the Solicitor, and forced them all from the
places they had disgraced it has detected
and exposed the credit mobilier scandal
, and has exposed and overthrown the Dis
f trict of Columbia plunderers All of this
E is self-reformation, fact unknown in the
history of any other party that has ever
existed in this or any other government
Last winter one of the most promising
Democratic-anti-monopoly members of the
Iowa legislature declared on the floor OF
the House that the Republicans had
, been foremost in every Ieform during the
session y the reformatory action of the
party extorting this unwilling confession
from one Of its most uncompromising op-
ponents.


Admitting all that is claimed for the
anti-monopoly party by its most enthusi
astic devotees, it can be only locally service
bic, as it exists in Iowa alone. Should il
achieve power, its influence would be lin.
tied to this State, for the reason that there
Is not now, nor is there expectation of, an
antl-monopoly party in any other State
On the opening of the presidential cam
paign next year these local party organiza-
tions will be swallowed up in one or the
other, or both, of the recognized national
parties. Then the members of this new
party must rally under the banner of the
Republican or the Democratic party, boih
Of which are and will continue to be.
national organizations, or fritter away
their opportunities and power in an idle
endeavor to attain national results
through the narrow and local instrument
r