Year: 1873

from denying to the government its
constitutional powers to put down
rebellion. The idea that we are a
nation should be plank in the plat
form of every party, and be the cen
tral idea of American politics.


In answer to general charges
against the present administration of
corruption and bad management,
he would present the actual state Of
affairs, hegeneral unparalleled growth
and development and prosperity of
the nation, the peace, contentment,
progress and elevation of the people.
Exceptions among the farmers in the
Northwest, because of the extortion-
ate charges of railroads, exist, but
Democratic politicians have no rem
edy for them. Since the Inauguration
of General Grant, three hundred and
eighty millions of the national debt
has been paid off. Within that time
taxation has been reduced a hundred
and thirty millions by Republican
Congress. The credit of the nation
has been strengthened and the diff
culties with England settled. The
vast enterprises of the past few years
have given great opportunities for
corruption and peculation, and it is
the subject of grateful surprise that
there has been so little, and that the
public virtue has been strengthened
instead of being decreased. The
President has silenced the clamors
of the opposition for civil service re-
form, by going further in that work
than all the preceding administra-
tions. The financial administration
of the Republican party has given
stability and confidence to the coun-
try.-With the advent of the Demo
cratic party would come vacillation,
tampering with the currency, threats
of reputation. The accession to
power of party pledgedto free trade
and violent changes in the revenue
system, would paralyze with fear the
great manufacturing interest of the
country, and check every new invest
ment and enterprise in that direction.
What the country needs is not change
of policy and measures, but a wise,
honest and vigorous administration.
Reforms in administration are always
possible and should be diligently
sought for, just as every wise bust
ness man may improve from time to
time, in the manner of carrying on
his regular business.


To indiscriminate charges of cor
ruption in the Republican party, it is
enough to say that the man who
makes them, would himself bea thief
on opportunity. The standard of the
public morals is to-day higher in this
country than it has ever been before.
So far from public morals having
been debauched and deteriorated
during the II years of Republican
rule, Notwithstanding the war with all
it's consequences and demoralizations,
they have been greatly elevated and
improved. Let it be understood
that the investigation of the Credit
Mobilier, and all others that have
taken place, were ordered by Re
publican House and Senate, upon the
motion and at the instance of Repub-
lican members.


We claim that the Republican par
ty has been pre-eminently distinguish
ed for its self-investigation and puri-
fcation-that where it has found an
unworthy member it has not failed to
draw him before the public gaze and
cast him out. The Democratic par
ty of other times was never distin
guished for its virtue, and long be-
fore it had passed from power had
become utterly incapable of its exer-
else. Other Congresses have been
the subject of abuse, ever since Wash
ington was almost daily charged with
the foulest designs against the iber-
ties of the people, concealed under
the cloak of patriotism. He believed
the world was growing better, es-
pecially this part of the world. HUI
man rights are better understood
and more strictly enforced than ever
before


On the subject of the salary grab,
Senator Morton said the measure
was in no sense a party one. So far
as that is concerned it may not be
improper to observe that more Dem
Gratis voted for it in the two houses in
proportion to their numbers than
Republicans, but it was in no sense
a party measure. The actual increase
of pay will vary with each member,
depending upon his distance from
Washington, and the amount of his
correspondence and labor. 1t has
been the general conviction of the
members of the Senate, since I have
been in that body, that the pay and
allowance of members, all things con-
sidered, were too small, and that a
sound and enlightened policy dictat-
ed an increase. The Constitution
has given to members of Congress the
power to determine the measure of
their own compensation. In this
matter they are made their own
Judges. It is delicate thing to
give officers the power to determine
and fix the value of their own servi-
ces, but under our form of Govern
ment, this power could be lodged
nowhere else than in Congress. The
pay of members of Congress has
been increased on five different oc-
oocionc on6 on eyeTv occasion the