(^^fpf^S^^ '^f^<^;publican Party— Tiik Workixoman's Friend," aro herewith pre- ^.Mitcil to my personal and politi(."il friends, as my contribution for the ensuing • ampaifcn. ., , BLdiuvinir that it is the most 8ok>mn duty of every citizen to aid the country with his host thoughts, these political essays have been prepared as a free gift, without expectation of pecuniary or ofticial reward. These essays, thoiigh designed to secure the success of the Republican party, have nevertheless higher aims. The discussions of the nature and scope of Gov- ernment, of Industrial E.lucation, Labor, Tariff and Civil Service Eeform, C'Orporation, and National Fire Insurance, have an independent value, and are de- si-'ued to excite attention to objects of permanent importance. y^'on tlxc most advanced political organization does not afford full expression to the rofo--matory ideas of thepolitir'al student and thinker. Parties are the exponents of the average man and not of the philosopher. But thinkers will find it advisable to use majority^ instead of minority parties, to popularize their ideas, when they will Booner or later find their way into party platforms and statute books. It is for this reason that the "New Issues" aro tentatively and cautiously treated, and many issues more remote, but equally important, are entirely omitted. Twenty years of earnest toil in the fields of social, educational and political re- t;-)rm have tauf^ht mo the all important lesson— "to labor and to wait." It is not best to plant ideas, with the impatience of children, who dig for the seed they have ])lanted every day, to find that it has not sprouted. Nor is it of any consequence to the world's progress that the author shouUl be known; for the good he may have done is perennial and eternal. i i, • <.• In the economy of the univei-^i), human lives must bo worn out like lubricating oil so that the ponderous whoMmay move in its own way. Eagerness for the gpeedy fruition of ideas, and th*d.e3ire for personal triumph, are the rocky coast which is strewn with the wrecks of disappaiuted great men and retormers. Our duty is, never to quarrel with the world as it is, but to sow m perfect taith, believino- that the true will overcome the false in its own good time. It is only those who care more for tho recognition of truth than of self, and who are in- different to personal applause, can hope to remain serene and undisturbed, wrapped in their own individuality, whan persons, deft in tho classification ot pea- nut shells, and skilled in intrigue, outstrip them in the race of life. ^ To my personal and political friends, and to all those with whom my advice and iudgment may have weight, those pamphlets are respectfully dedicated. May they subordinate personal grievances and minor differences fortho good of the great cause, and labor with dilligence and eathusiasm, so that +'i3 peaceful and steady progress which the Eepublican party has inaugurated may be continued tor tho next; ^Tovhigly, and the grand mission of the Americannatiou, as a father would judge a wayward child, If us I'^gard tno errors of the present, and fail not to remember that wo are tho freest, mos. proa- poroua, and most favored uation upon the globe* tttjeD MYERS THE REPUBLICAN PARTY, THE ST^ISTD^RD-BE^EER OF AND NATIONAL PROGRESS, INTRODUCTORY. As the Greelis, in their earlier and better days, met every fourth year to engage in the Olympic contests, which crystalized traditions, renewed the pledges of patriotic devotion, and awakened intellectual and dra- malic activity ; so arc we about to engage in a quad- rennial contest, which involves a general review and discussion of political questions in every township of our land. Whether the campaign shall be profitable to the government and nation ; whether the incDming admin- istration shall receive new political light and instruc- tiou ; and whether our citizens shall come out of the contest more iiatrioficand better qualified to discharge their electoral functions, depends very much upon the manner in which public questions are presented. It is true, efforts are being made to usher ia a warfare of bad odors which even the Chinese have abandoned; to draggle the flags in the mire ; and to overwhelm the better and honest judgment of the voters by the vehe- ment explosion of vile epithets; but confident of the intelligence of our citizens, we shall pass by these ef- forts with silent contempt, and present the affirmative issues of the campaign for discussion not t'owcussion, so that prejudice may be laid aside and the contest de- cided upon the'merits of the great cause. The demands of civilization upon government are numerous, complicated, and ever increasing, and the experiment of popular self-government has very rarely succeeded. Ours, in fact, is the only government upon a large scale which is peacefully administered and solely dependent upon the Intelligence, virtue and patriotism of all the people. And inasmuch as the bal- lot of the ignorant and vicious man counts as much as that of the wisest and greatest, a great responsibiiity rests upon the honest citizen to exert all his influence to everbalance the vicious elements of society, and to sus- tain those principles of administration, which lead to national permanency and greatness. Not only is our own national and individual security and prosperity at stake, but also that of all future generations. It is not merely the right, but the imperative duty of each citizen to demand a truthful exhibit of the stew- ardship of the Republican party and the administra- tion which executed its will ; and for this purpose we present herewith a bird's eye view of its activities, tendencies, and achievements in the various branches of governmental affairs. But as all political docu- ments must be brief to receive general perusal, we only give the outlines, which each reader can fill out with collateral suggestions, A SKETCH OF DEMOCRATIC TIMES. Foremost among these achievements we place all legislative acts to secure the personal freedom of the citizen, but before we can realize the progress made in this direction we must briefly sketch the political situa- tion. Only ten years ago, between three and four mil- lions of human beings were subject to bargain and sale like the cattle of the field, and prohibited by law from learning even to read or write; the press, the forum, and even the pulpit, in more than one-half of the Union, defended this accursed tyranny; freedom of discussion was entirely suppressed in the South, and accompanied by perils in the North ; the strong ■ arm of the government was invoked to thrust back into this seething hell of slavery all ventursome vie- tims who fled across the border ; and a gigantic rebel- lion was deliberately organized to uphold this crime against civilization. When Liacoln was inaugurated, the nation was without armament or supplies; with- out an army or a navy ; and without money, or credit abroad. Well do we recollect the indolent proposal of the London Tmies which stated, that if the Americans were determined to cut each others throats, England might be induced to loan the North fifty millions of dollars^, if it pawned its growing wheat crop; and to the South a double amount sa a morlgage upon its cot- ton. Treachery and treason lurked, not only in the Executive Departments but had even saturated a large, wealthy, powerful, and talented minority of the North. New systems had to be created under difficulties so great and an opposition so fierce, that the achieve- ments of the American peonle— as represented by the Republican organization — shine forth like a constella- tion of suns illumining the political pathway of all future geucralions. LEaiSLATION FOR PERSONAL LIBERTY. On the 4th of July, 1861, Lincoln assembled Con- gress in extra session which was chiefly devoted to the inaugi'ration of war measures, but during the long sess-on a series of acts followed in rapid succession, striking at the slave system. As early as August, 1801, an act was passed to free all slaves used in aid of the rebellion. In the succeeding March, our military and naval officers were prohibited from returning the fugi- tive slaves that might seek the protection of our flag ; and in April, the National Capital was forever freed from the blighting influences of human slavery. These measures were followed by acts more radical as rapidly as they were sustained by public opinion. The statute of June, 19th, 18G2, swept slavery from all the Territories of the United States, and thus, Jefferson's Ordinance of 1787, was reaffirmed as the policy of the National government ; and the act of January 28, 1864, repealed the fugitive slave act, which for years had been a blot upon our National escutcheon. Thus sla- very was inhibited wherever the National Government had exclusive jurisdiction, and the hesitation of Con- gress to strike it down in the rebel and border States, was owing to its intrenchment behind the theory of State Rights, and the support it received from the Democratic minority in the North, which in the fall ot 1802, carried the elections in a number of States. In Januar3% ISOS, Lincoln's Emancipation Froclamation was issued, which virtually aboliiihed slavery, but to place the perional liberty of the freedmen beyond the reach of party majorities and Congressional interfer- ence, the Thirteenth Constitutional amendment was adopted and ratified — every Repubkcan State legisla- ture endorsing and every Democratic State rejecting this great charter of personal libertj-. It is true this coustiiutional compact struck the fet- ters from the slaves in law, but it soon became evident that without enfranchisement their liberty would be but nominal and a mockery, because, under vagrant and other oppressive laws, their former masters, who were the sole law-givers, would make the situation of the freedmen, in a material point of view, even worse than before. Thus the alternative was presented of maintaining a standing army to enforce the Thirteenth Amendment, or to give the ballot to the freedmen for their own protection. It was considered a dangerous experiment, and the struggle was long and fierce. The Fourteenth Amendment was adopted as a compromise; but in January, 1867, despite the veto and active op- position of Johnson, who, after his apostacy traduced these measures and the party, if not with the same ability certainly with equal zeal, as the malcontents of the Senate do to-day; an act was adopted enfranchising the freedmen in all the Territories of the United States. In February, 1869, the personal freedom and the right of self-government was secured to all citizens by the ratification of the Fifteenth Constitutional Amend- ment; and thus the work of a century was crowded into five years. FOR EDUCATION. Next to the franchise stands education. As edge tools are dangerous to children, so the ballot is a means of destruction to the ignorant and vicious. The Republican party is fully alive to the vital importance of this subject; and it it has not accomplished all that its most progressive leaders have advocated, it has made decided progress in the right direction. Already in May, 1S62, finding, that at the National Capital, the public school system had been squelched by slavery,' which lived upon the degradation of the laboring classes, both white and black, Congress ordered that a sufficient amount of taxes be levied and apportioned for the support of free schools for both classes. Up to that time the Capital of the nation, with nearly a hundred thousand inhabitants, owned not a single suitable and comfortable school building; the blacks, of course, were not taught, and the fjw schools popularly called pauper and ragged schools that were maintained by the proceeds of fines and the dog tax, were situated in shop and stable lofts. Now we have a number of wt:ll appointed school houses, both for the whites and the blacks, and the educational sys tems of both have made reasonable progress. In July, 18C2, the act was passed which donated large tracts of lands for the maintainance of Agricul- tural and Mining schools in the various States and Territories. In some States these colleges have at- tained a high degree of usefulness, while the germs of progress have been planted in all. In January, 1S63, when large numbers of soldiers were quartered in Washington, a free library and reading room for the use of soldiers and sailors was established. In the following March, Howard University was incorporated, whose usefulness to the colored race has been very great. It affords the aspiring youth of that proscribed race — proscribed by public sentiment in many places yet — an opportunity to study law, medicine and science in a manner so thorough that its graduates will take high rank among those of other Universities. The graduates of that institution will do credit, not only to their race, but to the American nation. In ISOO, the Department of Education was established, which, al- 3 Ihougrh it is yet circumscribed in scope, and hampered by inadequate appropriations, will become, as its ob- jects are better comprebended, one of the most import- ant branches of government. Its reports are highly esteemed in Europe, and the one for 1872, contains a number of educational ideas of great value, and indis- pensable statistical information. Still going in the same direction, a measure has passed the House setting apart the proceeds from the sale of the National domain, in support of public schools. This act is of two-fold value, because it will have, ill addition to its direct benefits, a tendency to prevtnt the further alienation of the public domain. Every cduc.itor will hereafter insist, that if appro- priations for railways and other projects shall be made, they must not be aided by robbing the school fund. Before the lute rebel States were re-admitted they were compelled, as a part of the fundamental compact between them and the United States, to engraft pro- visions into their new State Constitutions for a perma- nent public school system for all classes. Already has Massachusetts ushered in a new but parallel sys- tem of schools— the kindergarten, industrial and poly- technic school system, which will be the emancipator of labor from ignorance, and, therefore, from servi- tude. FOR TIIE WORKIXGMAX. As a rock projected into the center ot a still body of water moves, in ever increasing circles, the ent're sur- face; so theeraancipatiouof three million of laboring men, was an act of such stupendous moral force that its intluences were felt to the furthest bouudaries ot the globe. Russia, comprising one seventh part of the inhabitable globe, and with a homogeneous population ot a hundred miliions, felt first th's moral power, -and the fetters fell from the serfs. The Czar, taking cour- age from our example, wrought out this great and beneficent m asure even at the risk of his throne, for the serf-holding nobility were exceedingly hostile to the plan. Increased vigilance M'as exorcised by Great Britain to exterminate the African slave trade, and Brazil, which is to South America what the United States are to North America, at once initiated measures for emancipation. Cuba is now the inly country in the civilized world where slavery exists, and there the system rests upon the volcano of chronic insurrection. The workingmen of all lands have taken fresh cour- age, and all their really efBcient organizations of trades unions and co-operative societies, as well as the inter- national organization, have been established since that time. The first great act for the benefit of the workingman was passed, Alay 20, 1863. It is known as the home- stead act, giving to actual settlers I'JO acres of the public domain. Public sentiment had demanded this measure of beneficience and justice at the hands of the Democratic party. It safely passed both Houses on the eve of the Presidential campaign in 1>J(30, but the rul- ing class— the slave-holders— demanded that it should be vetoed, and Buchanan yielded and recorded their veto — being the only one of his administration. Subse- quently all the pubhc lands in the Southern States, comprising some forty-six millions of acres, were brought under the operation of the homestead act — limiting, however, for two years the amount to eighty acres of $1.25 and forty acres of $2.50 lands to each settler. The Hon. Geo. W. Julian, originated this measure, for tlie purpose of aiding the landless white and colored men to become independent of the large planters. Acts were also passed establishing what is known aa the Freedman's Bureau, for the relief of the destitute refugees and freedmen ; and also, a joint resolution, directing that preference thould be given, in all public employments, to the honorably discharged soldiers and sailors of the late war. Subsequently the eight hour law was enacted, and the United States in its corporate capacity, have set the example of exacting but eight hours work from its employees, without diminution of wages. In no other country of the world h.ave the workers so much political influence; nowhere, and at no time have they enjoyed so many elements of material, in- tellectual and moral developments as here. The day's work of the mechanic buys fully twice as much as a day's work of the same artisan upon the continent of Europe; so that here, if anywhere, the experiment must be worked out of making the laboring classes the equals in the enjoyment of the comforts of life, and of advancement in culture, to the professional and commercial classes. FOR GOOD GOVERNMENT* Solon the wise Athenian lawgiver, in describing the happiest man of his times, places foremost, as the first element of his happiness, that he lived in Greece, a well-ordered community. This lesson, which the father of history, Herodotus, records, ought not to be lost upon ourselves, for we are apt to underestimate the importance of the fact, that without good govem- ment there can be neither national nor individual pros- perity. Therefore, the protection of the purity of the ballot and the enjoyment of personal security are among the first purposes for which free governments were instituted, and to attain this end the Republican party has devised various important measures. In July, 1861, the first act was signed, looking towards the suppression of the rebellion and the re- storation of the personal security of each citizen ; and this was followed by no less than two hundred acts, known as war measures, and desigocd to preserve our precious inheritance, the American continent, in its entirety. These war measures alone are worthy the historic pen, but as we only intend to chronicle the victories of peace, we pass them by, with reluctance. Among the statutes, especiallv designed to seeure per- sonal freedom, are the Freedman's Bureau and several Civil Rights' bills. One act, May 31, 1870, enforces the right of each citizen to vote, and provides penalties against bribery, threats, interference, or intimidation of persons entitled to vote. The act of February 28th, 1871, which is amendatory thereto, provides for the punishment of false registration, frauds, fraudulent election returns and false swearing. These measures, so esential to good goverament and ^ in which all good citizens are vitally interested, have been opposed by the Democracy with singular vehe- mence and virulence. The exploded and senseless States Rights doctrine was interposed, as if it were not the first necessity of any government to have power to devise laws for its self-preservation. We admit that it is to be regretted that laws against the Ku-Klux and against Tammany election frauds are necessary ; we deplore the want of patriotism and morals which ob- tains in these sections of the country; we should greatly prefer that life would be made secure, the fran- chise safe, and the ballot-box pure by the people them- selves ; but if in these ignorant and unpatriotic com- munities, respect for life and for the Republic has died out, no measures can be too strong to repress the evil. A government, without power to protect life and the franchise will, necessarily, fall to pieces, and anarchy and revolution will, in due time, supercede a violated ballot-box. FOB AGRICULTUBE. A majority of the people of the United States are engaged in the independent and honorable employment of cultivating the soil. There are about two millions of farms, owned by their occupants, and these two millions of homes are the center of general intelligence, independence of thought, patriotism, attachment to dulv and devotion to the highest interests of civiliza- tion. These men are preeminently the nobility of our Republic, whose aggregate judgment, calmly and in- telligently formed, constitutes one of itsmaiu supports. Before the advent to power of the Republican party, a few clerks and laborers were employed in the inte- rior Department to distribute large quantities of gar- den seeds. These seeds were bought in the open market, and distributed indiscriminately by appor- tionment in Members of Congress, and were, more- over, so generally of bad quality, that they became a nuisance alike to the sender and receiver. In May, 1862, notwithstanding the exigencies of the war, the Agricultural Department was established; and subse- quently removed to a suitable building, surrounded by propagating gardens and conservatories. For some years past it has given most important aid to agricul- ture, by its very able and accurate reports ; by en- couraging agricultural and horticultural associations; by the careful distribution for trial of rare seeds and new grasses ; and by its etymological researches. The fact that the late Commissioner, Mr. Capron, has been transferred to Japan, to organize and teach a better system of agriculture in the Far East, is a very high compliment, not only to him, but to the American na- tion. That our light should shine so brightly that even the nations beyond the Pacific should see the blaze, constitutes a complete answer to critics and re- porters, who £0 frequently pass an ez cathedra opinion upon those subjects upon which they are most pro- foundly ignorant. The establishment of Agricultural colleges, with chemical laboratories, has already been noted. The increase in wealth and general prosperity of the farm- ing class has beeu very marked during the last ten years The improvements in rural architecture have been very great, and the charming villas which meet the eye of the traveler in the North and West are expres- sive of taste and culture. This general prosperity 13 owing, in great part, to the fostering care of the Gene- ral Government. The agricultural interest almost entirely escapes taxation; it having been the pohcy not to tax either the raw products or the producer. It is laughable to hear some limb of the law, circula- tlDg through the country about election time, telling the farmers ihit *' they are groaning under (he load of tax- ation," "that every thing they use pays enormous con- tributions to grasping iron, salt and copper monopo- lies," &c., repeating this wind-chopping process as long as any one will listen. The truth is, the farmer feels national taxation very lightly, and we state this, not to propitiate this class, but as a matter of fact; because no patriotic citizen shrinks from paying a proper share of necessary taxation. Let us illustrate; Salt is taxed about fifteen cents a bushel — how much salt does an average family use per year? say five bushels— that is 75 cenls. Iron is taxed one cent per pound. How much iron does the farmer consume per year? Estimated at two hundred pounds, he pays two dollars. Copper is taxed about fifteen cents per pound, and if any one should purchase a copper kettle he pays, perhaps, fifty cents tax on copper in a life-time. Sugar is taxed about two cents per pound. Two hundred and fifty pounds per year is a large allowance— and this makes five dollars. Now, when we consider that the taxes raised annually amount to three hundred mil- lions, the average contribution of a reasonably econom- ical farmer's family is very small indeed. Then in addition, they enjoy the blessings of a uniform and safe currency, and a steady advance in the value of their improvements. FOR COMMERCE. The state of our internal commerce is satisfactory. A number of great measures have been devised during the past ten years for its encouragement and enlarge- ment. In July 1866, a verv important act was passed, known as the steamboat inspection law, which has had a remarkable efiect upon the personal security of steamboat passengers. It is true disasters happen even now, which greater fidelity and care might ob- viate ; but boiler explosions have become so rare that travel by steamship is no more hazardous that travel- ing by rail. The Light -House Board has not only relighted the lights upon our coasts, which the rebels, with their characteristic love of darkness, put out, but built other light-houses upon our immense lake and ocean shores. The Coast Survey has pursued its peaceful course, sup- plying the mariner with accurate charts of all the dangers of navigation on our coast. The Hydrographic Bureau of the Navy Department, has furnished superior ocean charts for the first time; for until recently all our ships were navigated by imported charts. Three railways to the Pacific have been chartered. The Central has been aided by money and land; the Northern by lands only; and the Southern, which lies principally in Texas, which owns all the public lands within its boundary, has only received a charter and ri. 'Ihese Indians, moreover, are without representation and political influence, so that, whatever is done fir them, cannot be ascribed to selfish motives. Under cover of this h.istile sentiment a number of Indian agents, contractors, sutlers and other adventurers had 1. rmed "rings" or organizations to plunder these ig- norant and practically dumb savages ; who only felt that tlio.':e whites with wh»m they came in contact were such faithless scoundrels, that their own treachery became excn*able. For the I'urpose of breaking np this system, radical remedies were devised, and Peace Commissioners were appoiaiid representing the best elements of various Christian den(miinations to assist 'n the superintendence of Indian afiairs. The present Commissioner, Gen'l. Francis A. Walker, is a high-toned Cliristiao gentle- man of unimpeachable integrity and of very decided executive ability. The Indian ring has been broken up; rations are being issued to heads of fumilies in- stead of to tribes, which has resulted in very great economy ; the Indians have been placed upon smaller and more easily accessible reservations; devoted mis- sionaries have been actively at work; and the peace has been very generally maintained. This has been the hrst earnest efl'ort to reclaim these savages, or, at least, their children, thus saving them from inevitable diist ruction. Thus far these eliorts have met with bet- ter success than even the most sanguine expected, but should the new policy fail, it will not detract fiom the credit which is due to its originators. Kindness, con- sideration and justice shown to the most benighted and unfortunate iohabitanis of the Republic charac- terizes our country far more as a "Christian" land, than written assertions of dogmatic creed in the Natio- nal Constitution. Unselfish regard for the interests and happiness of all classes ; charity, education, free homes, a free pul- pit and a free press, constitute the essence of religious life, and afford the highest possible evidence that the philanthropic elements of society control the destiny of the nation. FOR THE EX-REBELS. The student c f history well knows that the suppres- sion by the regular government of extensive n^bellions was always accompanied by numerous butcheries, exe- cutions, bud expatriations. The histories of Russia, Austria, Prussia, Italy, France, Spain and England, tell the same bloody story. The executions after the late communistic revolt in Paris were numerous, and for three days the soldiers were encouraged to kill at sight any and all of the fleeing wretches they could find. Our own rebellion was surpressed without a single execution or act of oppression. We make this stiittraent as a matter of fact, not that we, altogether, approve this great magnanimity, which has never been appreciated, but misconstrued into cowardice by the ex-rebels ; but if the nation was wrong in this respect, it erred on ihe side of forgiveness and brotherly love. From the day of Lee's surrender to the great Chieftain of the Republic, every measure passed by the General Government has been designed to benefit the rebels, and to encourage them to become faithful citizens once more. Not only were their lives spared and their property not confiscated, but all special taxes were speedily removed. During the war, cotten was taxed three cents per pound, but this tax was speedily re- duced and finally abolished. The rebellion inereased the annual expenditures of the government from seventy to three hundred millions of dollars. The South not only paid no faxes during the war, when more than a thousand millions were contributed by the loyal people, but the tax paying capacity of that sec- tion was so reduced by the rebellion, that the amounts paid since the restoration of peace have been exceed- ingly small. Cotton was the only production i\hich would have brought a considerable amount into the Treasury, and by the abolition of the cotton tax, the South has gained almost entire immunity from taxa- tion. These ex-rebels have been re-invested with the right of citizenship, and with insignificant exceptions, they were amnestied. 'Ihey were again admitted as co-ru- lers, and their new State Constitutions made more con- formable to the demands of education and civilization. When the cry of distress reached Congress that the people were starvmg. relief was granted to the amount of five millions of dollars alike to whites and blacks; a joint resolution passed Congress in February, 1867, placing our ships-of-war at the disposal of the charita- ble to carry provisions to Charleston, Savannah, and Mobile. In iMay, 1S07, another joint resolution grant- ed specific relief to the destitute people of the south- western States. Thus have these men, notwithstanding their persist- ent hostility and treasonable practices, been clothed, fed and protected by a generous and humane people; and if they could only so far rise above sectional preju- dice, as to take hold of the National Government, and regard it as their best friend and protector, they could at once rescue their States from misrule and corruption. It is they who close the door and exclude themselves from power and National influence ; it is they who keep back emigration and wealth by acts of violence ; it is they who are the architects of their own discontent and. mistbrtuncs. Why do they not grasp the brotherly hand so kindly extended? Why not seek relief through the dominant party that can grant it, instead of growling and snarling in a hopeless minority. in so far as the Democratic party encourages this hatred to the national government for partizan ends ; in so far as it induces these ignorant people to persist in Ku-Klux violence ; in so far as it upholds the abuse of the colored workingman, who would gladly build up that section, if permitted ; it is the worst enemy that the ex-rebels have. For, should the patience and forbearance of the North become exhausted by con- tinuous disregard of the rights of Northern citizens; and by ciiminal and cowardly midi'ight attacks upon their unoffending associates ;" the wiit oi habeas cwpvs may again be suspended and traitors receive speedy justice by means of a drum-head court martial. All ex-rebels, who are legallv entitled to vote, can abuse that sacred privilege if they choose. They can ally themselves with the party of mental darkness and reaction, as Ihey have hitherto done, but they must be nuide to respect the rights of others. The system of terrorism prevailing in some sections must be broken up at all hazard and at every cost, FOR THE N.'iTURALIZED CITIZEN. The United States of America is the home of refuge of tlie oppressed of all nations. No other nation in the world admits foreigners on so easy terms to share the governing power. The political refugees find here a safe ass\lum. No Jlonarchical nation has ever had the audacity to demand the return of a Ilecker, a Siegel, a Meagher, or a Mitchell. The workitigmen find this a paradise of material comfort, for industry and rea- sonable economy result in the rapid accumulation of ' wealth. Upon "the European continent a laborer is always a laborer, a servant .always a servant. His chil- drenj moreover, are compelled to share with him hig social status, so that it is very rarely, and only by some peculiar fortune, that the child of the artisan can enter the ranks of the nobility or professional classes ; while in the United States it is the rule, that citizens, born in the most humble circumstances, like Jaekson and Lin- coln, receive the yiighesl offices and consideration. For many years a preat majority of our foreign-born citizens attached themselves (o the Democratic party. In graspinnj at the shadow of a popular name they be- c.ime, in fact, the allies of the slave-holders and op- pressors of humanity. In time the most intellio^ent disassociated themselves from the army oi darkness and reaction, and have faithfully labored in the ranks of liberalism and progress. Special etibrts are again made to induce these naturalized citizens, and p.irticu- larlj' those of German descent, to join hands once more witii the T.immany and Ku-Klux Democracy. The pretext is "Reform," but the practice would be Tam- many corrupiion. The impudent claim is set up that a few hundred Republican deserters contain all the honesty of the Republican party ; and that this com- bination of deserters, ex-rebels and Tammany Demo- crats, if successful, would usher in a new era of econo- my and reform. For many years the Democratic party was in power, and that too, chiefly through means of the support it received Irom naturalized citizens. Did it give them the Homestead bill''' Did it encourage American labor by a judicious tarlif ? Did it confer upi n them any place of responsibility V Did it not always treat, them like in- f. riors and voting cattle? D;d it protect them by treaty from beii g impressed for military duty when they visited their former homes? Did not the prescript. ve public op. nion engendered by the slave system, also cause the Knownothing persecutions? It is true, the Democrats, who profited exclusively by the foreign vote, opposed Kuownothingism, but merely as a mat- ter of interest and not upon principle. 1 his they could not do. But since the Republican party, with its lib- eral programme, •' the world is our country and all mankind our countrymen," came into power, Know- nothing:sm has ceased, not merely as a matter of fact, but what IS of far greater consequence, as a sentiment. In the brief reign of the Republican parly, treaties have been made with all the European powers whose subjects have, in large numbers, emigrated, providing that if any emigrant, though he was of military age when emigratmg, has become a naturalized citizen of the United Stati.s, he may return to his former home and stay there for five years before the military laws of his former country re-attach. The provision of five years was adopted because it was clumied that many parents might send their you'hs to the United States to remain there five years "and become citizens for the very purpose of evading military service. This clause is of no importance to the bona fide American citizen, agaiost whom, if he never gains a residence in Eu- rope, the limilalion does not run. For many years, during Democratic rule, the tide of immigraiio'n has poured into the United States, yet never did that party do anything for the protection of emigrants while in transitu. They may be abused upon the ship ; they may be furnished with rotten meat, and badly cooked food ; they may be overcrowd- ed ; they may be kept upon extra trains upon railway- cars Without warmth or'water for a week, and there is no law upon the statute book which can give them jus- tice. It is true the State of New York taxes them one dol- lar and-a-ha f, which money is chiefly expended in salaries for the Castle GaKlen oflicials. The Tammany Hall Emigrant Commission has licensed a set of low and disrepu;able Boarding-house keepers to solicit emigrants to stop with them. These places overflow With fi!th a.id vermin; thay are the recruiting places lor prostittites and illegal voters ; and few emigirants ever leave them without being swindled. The present Admiaistration ia desirous to abolish these abuses. Secretary Boutwell sent an experienced gentleman to Europe, and to New York, to thoroughly investigate the emigration system. The President, ia his message, urged upon Congress immediate action, and there is no doubt, but a comprehensive measure drafted under the auspices of the Treasury Depart- ment, aud introduced by that excellent practical legis- lator, 0. D. Conger, of Michigan, will become a law. Then, for the first time, the emigrant will feel the pro- tecting care of the Government of the United Stares. These matters are of vital importance to the emi- grant, and he ought, therefore, to extend to the politi- cal organization, which has taken so great an interest in his welfare, his earnest suDDort. FOR NATIONAL PROGRESS. Since the close of the war. taxation has been reduced by successive acts, equal to an annual average of two hundred and thirty-five millions of dollars. In the same time the latest official public debt statement shows that upwards of three hundred millions of dol- lars of the public debt have been paid during the last three years. The act refunding the public debt at a lower rate of interest— converting 200 millions of dol- lars from six per cent into fixe per cent bunds— has been successfully carried out. No doubt the balance of the loan can "also be thus converted, and perhaps at even more advantageous rates. The National ex- penditures have been steadily reduced, aud new sys- tems of accountability adopte'd. Every disbursing of- ficer is now obliged to send in a weekly balance sheet, showing the amount deposited and where, the amount disbursed, and the balance on hand The Assistant Treasurers and National Depositeries are obliged to make similar returns, and a comparison by competent officers will speedily lead to the discovery of fraud. Every eSbrt has been made to expel unworthy men from the civil service, and if more than the usual num- ber cf frauds have been discovered the past yaar it is owino- to an increase of watchfulness and more earnest effort's. At the close of Johnson's Adtr.inistraiian, a one hundered dollar United States 6 per cent bond was worth but $8J in gold, while»it is now worth $101. Our currency was twenty per cent below par, it is now but 10 per cent, and constantly appreciating. All the interests of civilization have received atten- tion. The Army Signal Corps has been employed to indicate coming storms and the probability cf the weather, and these reports have reached an accuracy so great, that it is the universal testimony that mari- ners and agriculturalists have been greatly benefitted. Commissioners were appointed to a general conference to be held in London, at which, all civilized powers will be represented, to discuss Spates' Prison reform. The Statistical Bureau has issued a book of great value, not only to the emigrant, but to our citizens g.?uerally who may contemplate a change of residence. Said book gives detailed information of the price of lands and the value ot labor in all sections of the country, and has been in so great demand that private parlies have purchased a number of thousand copies. Of all human cftbrts to hand down the stream of time evidences of taste and civilization, architecture has held the highest rank. We stand with wondrous awe within the colossal monuments of the middle ages, that overwhelm by their gigaiitic proportions all sur- rounding modern objects. If the traveler first views the majestic dome ot Cologne, all other buildings in that city seem cheap and tawdry. A similar impres- sion of the grand architectural conceptions of the middle ages is produced by the cathedrals of St. Paul in LondiTu, and St. Peter in Rome, and the cathedrals of Strassburg and Brussels. In the United States, where we have no need of imperial palaces, aud no State Church, architecture can only be exhibited in its highest form in our public building,^ No private cor- poration can afford to erect monuments of that dura- bihty and imposing character that will be a witness of our times five centuries heace. g But church and palace architecture are not applica- ble to our public edifices, which need an abundance of light and other peculiar facilities. In the new Post OfSce buildings at Boston and New York, all these con- ditions have been realized. At a small expenditure, in fact, exceedingly small when compared with the money wasted on the architectural abortions of the New York City Court House, the Custom House at New Orleans, and other similar structures, edifices are m the course ot construction, more colossal and im- posing than any upon the American continent, and yet perfectly adapted to the public use. These architec- tural monuments will not only be an evidence to the European mind of the genius and skill of American architects and artisans and monuments to future gene- rations ; but teachers of correct taste and due appre- ciation of the grand and beautiful. THE PKOPOSED LABOR COMMISSION. The Labor Commission project which has passed the House, will, v.ndoubtedly become a law; and if an able and piactical Commission is appointed, who will ad- dress themselves to the great question of ascertaining in what way legislation may benefit the workingman, we have secured the first and most essential condition of progress. The President, we are reliably informed, takes a special and personal interest in all measures designed to benefit the workingmen, to which clas3 he himself belongs, and of his faithful co-operation, there can be no doubt. CONCLUSION. This summary of the achievements of the Republi- can party shows, that in every department ot legisla- tive activitj', it has been on the side ol humanity ; and a careful examination of the voluminous statutes en- acted during the past ten years, enables us to testify that each and every statute enacted has had a progres- sive tendency. Men whose thoughts range beyond party lines and party possibilities, and who only view parties as means toward ends, may hold that upon some questions a more radical course would have been better, and that the activities of the party might have extended to a greater range of subjects; but examina- tion will bring to them the conviction, thut, whenever the party has acted, its actions have been uniformly progressive and patriotic. There is not even one diso- nant noie to mar the general harmony. Nor has this record been made without virulent op- position. As the nation moved on with a current as irresistible as that of the Father of Rivers, the ho : tile elements became more blind with rage, more maddened with anger. On every roll call in both Houses oi' Con- gress Will be found the same stubborn array of oppo- sition names. So uniform was this negatit/U, that Senator Saulsbury, after his term had expired and the new Senate had organized, forgetting that he was no longer a inembtr, rose once more with " Mr. President I object." But as iheae parliamentaryobjectionswere over-borne by the collective will of the nation, this deadly hostility to progress took another turn. First it was rebellion, carried on with merciless cruelty for four years ; and when the rebel flag was driven from the field by Gen. Grant with his army of brave and heroic men, it de- veloped into assassination. President Lincoln, the true Representative of the Republic universal, honest, magnanimous, patient and forgiving, was all the more intensely hated by this element of darkness, because he possessed these virtues. He was the most illus- trious of all the American Martyrs, who died that the Republic might live; but he was only the precursor of thousands of more humble men and women who have since died by the assassin's hands, 'the midnight murderers, with their disguises, are still about. The crackling flames of humble bonnes, the moans of the dying and the shrieks of the helpless yet startle the midnight air. For a time, with martial law impending, there 13 a lull ; but woe uato the victims, if the uatioaal flng were torn from the hands of loja\ men. No pen coiild describe the awful massacre of colored men that would inevitably follow. The Republican party is an organization of self-think- ing men ; it does not follow Conkling, MortDn, or Grant; neither does it follow Sumner, Greeley, and Schurz. On the contrary, the party at large demands obedience and loyalty from all its niembers to the declared prin- ciples of its organization. Of all the ridiculous inven- tions of an unscrupulous enemy the story that oflicial patronage can control the policy of the Republican party, is the most insulting'and absurd. Did not John- son try that? Didn't he oSer ail the patronage ot the government, which was considerably (jreattr during his administration than it is to-day, as prizes for polit- ical treason? How many worth buying did he get? Not one! And if the President were to endeavor to interfere with the free choice of the party, both as to men, principles or measures, he would become the ob- ject of rebuke instead of the malcontents, who, by threats of bolting, intend to coerce the organiza- tion. The Republican party never surrenders. It may, in time, be overcome by its political foes; but under no circumstances will four millions of self-thinking voters surrender their well matured convictiinis to a faction so small that an omnibus will hold them all. It is the main security of our Republic that it rests not upon the shoulders of a few political leaders, but upon the self-thinking masses; it is the most encouraging fea- ture of Republican progress, tiiat it has educated the people to a point, where public men only become the mouth pieces of the popular will. And as long as the people remain the master of their own destiny ; refus- ing to follow leaders, however brilliant, when they are actuated bv personal motives; thinking for themselves and weighing all public question by their own calm judgment, the Republic is not only safe, but will be- come the model government of the world. In the St. Lorenzo Church, at the city of Nuremberg can be seen one of those transcendent cfibrts of genius, which photographs upon canvas the history ot eighteen centuries and of centuries yet unborn. It tells the wondrous story of the rise and dillusion of Christianity, in hues so sweet and plain, that even a child can read It there. In the foreg.ound sits Joseph and near him Jlary with her beautiful infant in her lap. in the stable where he was born. The three Kings, from the Far East, have just arrived, and kneeling, are depositing tueir crowns and offerings at the feet of the Christ- chi'.d. These wise men of the East are only the ad- vance guard. At the threshold are the apostles and disciples; the Romar.s, Greeks and Crusaders are ad- vancing; nations with various flags and banners, and men ot all conditions are approaching; here sits the proud noble upon his stately steed, ;aud yonder plods the pilgrim, worn and foot-sore. As far as the eye can reach, over hills and vales the endless procession winds its way, and at the outer edge, ships Irom other conti- nents are disembarking the human tide that ever flows to this center of truth and fraternity. And thus our Republic— "a government of the peo- ple, by the people, and for the people," as the illus- trious Lincoln, so well defined it— has also become the asylum of the oppressed, the light of the world; the hope and faith in the possibi.ify of better days. As the children of Israel, smitten with disease and death, gazed with eager eye upon the brazen serpent elevated as a means of safety, so is the starry flag regarded as the promise of Paradise regained— a consciously created paradise, founded upon wise laws and univer- sal justice. The Monarchs from the Far East, with their bowed flags and crown ofleriugs, are at hand ; the endless procession— a contribniou by all nations — is advancing; the light of the Republic shines with increasing eti'ulgence; and our example cahs in the language of liberty and brotherhood intelligible to all maukiud ; " This is the Hsmj, walleye in iV ISSUES OF THE FUTURE: ' OR WHAT MAT BE ACCOMPLISHED BY THE REPUBLICAN PARTY. INTRODUCTORY. Among the political reforms most needed is an im- provement in the manner of conducting political cam- paigns. History hasconclusiveiy shown that the writof ffabeax Corpus and the Jury Trial were the two political institutions which conserved personal liberty in Eng- land ; while upon the continent political rights were lost with the introduction of the Civil Law. And now when the examples of America and F'ngland are again moving the civilized nations upon the continent to regain a portion of their abandoned rights, the Jury Trial is engrafted upon the Civil Law ; with which, however, it has no natural connection, and thus its efficacy is greatly impaired. As the Jury Trial is an educator of the people, in their legal rights, so our political campaigns are the teachers of our civic responsibilities and duties. With- out them, Republican government would be impossible and corruption and venality would rule the land< It is, therefore, of very greafc importance that this opportunity to instruct the people shall not be lost, and that the great questions at i.ssue shall be thought- fully digested and presented ; for the demagogi^e, who, during the canvass seeks lo arouse prejudice, to stir up the vilest pastioos, and to supplant logic with coarse epithets, is the worst enemy of the Republic. Appreciating the great responsibility which rests upon the teacher of political morals and science, we shall endeavor, while saying something for the Republican party, to say even more for the benefit of all our peo- ple and the Republic universal. That the achievements of the Republic during the last decade, have been most illustrious is thejudorment of the civilized world, which cannot be successfully challenged. Our institutions were tested by a terrible and exhaustive war, but they came forth, unimpaired, with our national prestige augmented aqd qot a sit^gle right abandoned. An examination of the statutes enacted since 1861, will show, incontestably, that, in every branch of gov- ernmental activity, the Republican party has been uni- formly on the side of national progresss. In war, or peoce, for Rebels, Indians, Foreigners, or Colored men, for Commerce, Manufactures, and Agriculture, for the Laborer and for Education, its legislation has beea humane, progressive and beneficent. So thoroughly has this work been done, that the people are being told that they may relax their vigilance, indulge in personal warfare and abandon the party whose jiolicy brought about this universal prosperity, because there are no more isssues. It is proclaimed, in fact, that the im- pending contest is merely a question of personal fitness and a scramble for place. Never was a greater fallacy presented. It is not during the fierce blasts of the winter's storms that trees blossom and vines take root ; it is the genial sunshine of the spring which causes the small germ to lift up and pierce the heavy earth, so that in,the autumn the ^ower may reap. And thus it is with Nations. It is not during war, rebellion and general excitement, but in times of quietude that these germs of public policy take root, which in their far- reaching consequences either cause a nation to become vigorous and great, or to dwindle for a century or two and finally lose its national life. Prussia may be quoted in illustration of the former, and Spain of the latter phase of the slow but certain operation of this law. This, tberelbre, is the very time above all others when careful investigation and calm consideration are needed, so that we may build our national edifice upon the rock of everlasting truth instead of the quicksands of prejudice and error. The first issue presented is, to " hold fast that which is good." This is all important. Before it is possible to take another forward step, we must preserve what we have gained. This itself is a living issue. It should be renaembered that every step taken by tho Republican party has been bitterly and virulently op- posed. Emancipation, Civil Rights, Kducation and jEnfranchisement for the colored race, have not only been resisted by war and by all parliamentary forms of opposition, and by the organized Ku-Klux banditti; but th@ party which was opposed to ajl these ideai is as hostile to-day as ever, and we challenge the produc- tion of a single act — not I'esolution or platform — but bona fide act, which gives evidence of a real change of opinion. I In these circumstances it becomes evident that the defeat of the Republican party, would unsettle issues which ought never to be re-opened ; and would place men of obnoxious political principles in power, whom it may take twenty years to dislodge, and thus make all further progress an impossibility. In fact, no man can tell, in view of the shameless Tammany frauds, to ■what depths of corruption and venality these men would desce'nd to retain their power. The experiment of placing this combination of all the loose, revolution- ary, dissatisfied and ex-rebel elements in power, simply because we feel strong enough to trust even Satan to manage goveramentai affairs, might prove an expen- sive venture. In tne place of the trivial defaults of a lew thousand dollars, which the vigilance of our government unearths, while ten millions per month are devoted to the extinguishment of the public debt; we might find that Civil Service Reform, as interpreted by Tanamany and Co., means that the thousands ought to be saved and the millions stolen. Without intending to impugn the honesty or patriotism of the masses of the Democratic party, history has shown that neither during the late rebeHion, nor in New York city, have they resisted, with spirit, the unpatriotic and corrupt conduct of their leaders, and thai the}' are so wedded to prejudice that they cannot be induced to exert due vigilance over those placed in power by their own votes. THE NEW FUNCTIONS OP GOVERNMENT. t The development of political and governmental ideas has been remarkably slow. For some thousands of years Patriarchal government, still lincfering on the outskirts of civilization, sufficed. For some thousand years more, the unlimited monarch}-, also uniting the legislative, executive and judicial powers in a single person— generally hereditary— prevailed ; and wkh few exceptions, constitutional monarchies are the pro- duct of the present century. A constitutional mon- archy is an ill-detined compromise helween portions of the people and the monarch, granting to, subjects a few legislative powers and personal rights ; but. inasmuch a? the people have no pli^-sical means of enforcing said compact its guarantees are set aside, when a seeming necessity arises. The founders of our Federal government displayep rare political intelli|^encL'. Nearly a century of prac- tical trial lias proved thatitis the most perfect scheme of government yet presented, and yet it is generally conceded that the growing needs of civil institutions demand a further extension. If the Republican party is retained ill ixiwer all questions of the security of the franchise and of personal freedom may be considered settled. The issues of the future will, therefore, no longer be governmental but administrative, in other words, Ibe un)st prominent question of statesmanship will be — how far may the admuiistrative functions of the corpor.ition, known as the goveeomeut of the United States — be extended with advantage to all the people? Our government is no longer one of force but of public opinion. It is not above us, but of us. We have a right to regard it as our servant; as avast machine which may be put to various beuebcent uses, but at the same time, it is a machine so gigantic and complicated, that only thu most tcieiitific and trained engineers can use it to a(lvaat:ige. THE NEW DEMANDS OF CIVJUZATIOIT. Having thus stated the primarv issues, let ns ex- amine the rise and progress of the extcn.sion of Ad- ministrative functions. Confining for the sake of brevity our historical relereace to onpown countrr, we find that fifty years ago, both pur' State and National Governments were confined almost so?e1y to govern- mental and executive duties. '1 o administer justice; to collect the revenue; to maintain the public peace \ and to perform the postal service, vrcTe nearly alt the governmental functions at that time. The township government of the New England States, which is di.s- tinguished for its economy and persi>nal responsibility, vra.3 the model upon which our State and National gov- fefn'ments were founded ; and if the Administrative functions of our National, State, and municipal govern- ments were not constantly extending and becoming daiJy more complicated, we would have no trouble to engineer the simple machinery with which we have be- come fuHy familiar. Even thirty years ago few States njeded a- general corporation law. To obtain a charter for a railway,, bank, or other corporate enterprise, was considered a great achievement. The merits of each case were- carefully considered, and if more than three or four charters were granted during any one session of th& State legislature that body was strongly suspected of jobbery and corruption. '1 lie motto of Jefferson that "that aovernment which governs least governs best," is, no doubt, excellent, if by government is meant the commanding of what may or may not be done ; but is inapplicabfe if it is applied to purely corporative or administrative functions. The enterprise of the single citizen no longer sirfEces to ' achieve success. The increasing demands for incor- porations caused the passsage oi a general incorpora- tion law by nearly every State legislature ; and now gigantic corporations are scattered ill over the land. Well do we recollect that " corporations " were held up as the saviors of society, and the creation of artifi- cial persons as one of the greatest achievements of modern legislation. But slowly the public tnind- i* undergoing a change. It is found that these corpora- tions are not economically managed ; that a large share of the income is consumed In princely salaries; that its managers act (ippretsively und selfishly toward the people, and that, in fact, many hare become mere machines to enrich a few non-producers at the expense of the masses. This criticism does uot apply to- ali corporate enterprises, but chiefly to railway aud insur- ance companies ; and there is a general fueling of dis- trust in the public mind, that a combination of these corporated interests, controlling as they do more tbaa a thousand million dollars of capital,, muy, in time, be- come dangerous to the happiness and safely of the people. THE INCREASE OF ADMINISTARTIVB FUNCTIOXS. In pursuance to the ever increasing demands of civi- lization, our government has already assumed many important administrative functions. Proraitunit among^ these newly engrafted systems, aie : Education, Agri- culture, I^ateut Rights, Architecture, Coast Survey, Hydrography, National Bank Currency, Manufacture of Currency, Statistics, Pensions, Coinage, Bankrupt- cy, Weather Signals, the Postal Service and Money Order System, and Steamboat Inspection. The majority of these new functions have beeu created within the past ten years, and this addition, which has beeu forced upon government by the exigencies of the times and the imperative demands of a growing civilization, has been denounced b\' some very good, but dull, people, as " centralization " and " impefialismv" " Corpora- tions have no souls " is a popular proverb, and like all popular aphorisms, contains much truth. On theother hand the government of the United States considered as a corporation for administrative purposes — must hare both a conscience and a soul if the people whom it represents are not devoid of a gense of jus- tice. Thus, ihe question is presented, whether in view of all the circumstances the government cannot sue- ces-fuUv, economically and for the benefit of all, per- form addition il functions, which veare about to state. Can we not practically inaugurate the beneficial sida of cnrponitiou in place of the selfish and mercenary aide whidL now ba» sole dominion y ' •! • ' i^ATTOJJAI. INDUSTRIAL SCHOOLS. We seem to live in an era of more knowledge than wisdom, of mure encyclopedic information than vigor and originality of thought. The average is high; but excellence in statesmanship, literature, architecture and the line arts is exceedingly rare. This is owing, in a great measure, to the incompleteness of our school" svstem. There are two methods ot imparting knowledge— abstractlv, tbrough the memory, and ob- jectively through tho senses. One system is an accu- mulaiion of knowldge merely, thcoiher is a reception ot knowledge c 'mbinod with execution. The tndus- rriiil svstem teaches the practical use of knowledge, and begins with the infant or children's garden school, and is followed by industrial and polytechnic schools. Thus, the young" man irtera of foreign merchandise baTC beetl particularly actire of late to induce our Oorernment to perpetuate the worst feafnres of our tariff system, and for this purpose they have ob-'cured the real ques- tion at issue until many good people have become con- fused. The assessment of duties upon the ad valorem system, in the place of specific duties, affords magnifi- cent opportuni ies to steal to the nnscrnpulous import- ers, who, generally, owe no allegiance to the United States, and who deem it a rare merit to cheat our Gov- ernment by ful^e invoices and the bribery of subordi- nuie iffFicials. We are, therefore, not surprised at the philanthropy of the Free Trade League lu spending largo sums of money to instruct the people how to vote. Nor is it at all strange that this ad vnlortm ini- quity is sought to be perpetnultd undf r the name of " lanff U«l>prm." because the cry of "Refirm" is a popular catchword, and u)en gunt-rallv laud those vir- tues, which they do not possess, but deem most desira- ble. What i« the Tariffy A mode of taxation. There are three imidus of taxation known to civiliied countries : Din'Ct taxation upon the real estate uDd personal prop- erty ; incomt.' tax. license and stump dutii'.>j, generally known as Internal Revenue la:^ ; and a levy of taxes upon imported goods, generally called the Tariif or Customs lax. Inasmuch as the Constitution of the United States Provides that direct taxation and represeotatiou ahall e equal, wh.ch means that each representative Dis- trict shall pay an eiiual amount; direct taxation be- comes impossible without lirst amending the Constitu- tion. If, Ibr ioetaoce, tlie threu hundred millions of dollars necessary to defray tlic expenses of the Govern- ment were apportioned among three huudrud repru- .«entative Uistncis the richest district of lSe\y York or Rhode Island would pay no more th.m tLe agricultural Districts of Iowa or Kansas, which, if sold by Sheriff 1 Sale, realty uud all, would not bring more than a three j years tax. The next mode of taxation is the Internal Revenue | system. Tnis system sprung from the necessities of ! the late war and ought to die with it. We believe that there is scarcely a difference of opinion but that tUiis unpopular method of taxation, with its swarms of offici.ils and its great expeii.'^e should be circumscribed, and finally abandoned as soon as practicable. We now come to the Tariff mode of taxation. This mode has been found cheaper and more CDUvenieat than all others. All civilized countries have it. Eng- land, Germany, FraiiCL", Austria and Prussia derive about fifty per cent of their income from this source. Up to the brtaking out of the rebellion the entire ex- penses of the Federal Governraeni were defrayed by it, and we hope within tea years the income derived from this source will again be sufficient. One of the chief advantages of this mode of taxation is that those who are ooi largely consumers of im- ported goods escape taxes altogelLer. A ladv who purchases a silk dress worth $xOo, pays tju per cent ad valorem, which is a larger sum thau 4^l entire family pays per year, if its members wear muslins and cotton garments. Since then, the tariff is not only a necessary, but even the best mode of taxation yet devised, the only remain- iiig question is upon wtiat articles aud in what manner shall it be assessed. The Free Trade League advises that the tax shall be levied only upon articles which are not produced in the United States. What are these articles? Coffee, tea, , silks, fine wints, and a few other articles of luxury are ' I all that are not produced in the United States. Of course, three hundred millions of dollars cannot be levied upon these articles alone— besides general cus- tom has made coffee and tea, articles of necessity to the humblest families in the land, and, therefore, this would be a special tax upon the poor When during the war, a high tax was levied upon coffee, the national health suffered greatly from the vile and injurious sub- stitutes that were so universally in use. If, then, a tariff tax must be levied upon articles that can be pro- duced within the Unit^^^d States, and the tariff tax be- aimes incidental protection against foreign competi- tion upon what principlas is it to be adjusted ? To a very great extent this is a question of detail, each article standing partly by itself, and partly by its class. Memb^s of Congress must therefore be watched indi- vidually, whether they tiavor jobs and private interests at the public expense. There are invested in the various branches of manu- factures— in iron, lumber, woolen and cottons — at least one thousand millions of dollars. No less than two milli'Mis of inhabitants are directly supported by these interests. To strike these down by a sudden change of duty, in obedience to anv abstract theory, and thus bring misery and di.stress In millions of homes would be about as stntesman-like ns a decree that all frame aud log houses should bo destroyed in mid-winter upon the supposition that brick and stone are the most dura- ble and economical materials. The New Hampshire and CVmnecticut elections have conclusively shown, that the peonle do not intend to have these great iii- terests .sacrificed. 1 he principles upon which the Administration r.- form tariU'is based, if applied, from year to year, widi increasing vigor, are adequate to give us the best pos- sible tarifi tax : First. To tax raw products and articles of necessity as lightly as possible. Second, lo place on the free list, all articles like drugs, spices, Ac, that yield but'a small revenue, re- spectively, because the expense of collection is greatei''' than the benefits derived from the tax. ' Third. To levy a specific tax per yard, or per pound, as fur as practictible, because the ad valorem system leads, necessarily lo perjury and fraud. It is, in fact, a premium held out to the unscrupulous man to become:' rich, both at the expense of the government and of his competitors in trade. And lastly. To Uix articles of luxury and highly'' skilled manufactures as much as they can bear, becau-^e*^ it IS against public policy to import largely the former, and because we oiigut to build up enterprises requir-' ing skilled labor within our own country. ' Thus has the Administration devised a wise and- radically reformatory tariff measure, which is designed: to break up the system of undervaluation which has converted foreign importers into millionaires. It is estimated that the revenue is defrauded twenty millions of dollars per year by bribery and undervaluation ; which frauds consiituce the real basis of the colossal fortunes accumulated by foreign importers at the ex- pense of the people. Genuine, not bogus reforms, are the order of the day. CKNTMALIZATION — WHAT DOES IT MEAS* The above are a few of the many pending issues in social and political economy whose solution may be podpimed but nor, avoided. i he Republican party does not, aud ought not lo make these new issues, pany questions, until they are thoroughly discussed and tried by the aggregate judgment of the people. BiU we caution those politicians who persist in walking the beaten track and in repeating the platitudes of the past, that the American nation is alive, and like all living organisms, demands changes and progress. Let us go forward slowly and cautioHsly, but be ever in the ad- vance, ever taking the initiative and affirmative, and we shall always deserve success. 6 In bringing forward these new administrative ques- tions, we are confronted by two objections wbieh we propose to meet: A tradiiional and ill-detined dislike toward centralization, and the allegation that the Civil Service of the U. S. Government is not sufliciently honest and capable to discharge these delicate and conipli* ated functions. Wc hive already stated that civilization demands that more powerful machinery than that of single individuals be used to transact certain business func- tions — that to supply this need large numbers of cor- porations have been organized, and that they, in their turn, have become arrogant, vvustefnl, dangerous to the public wcul and unsatisfactory. The only cjuestion presented is, shall we continue in the same direction, multiplying these private corporations; or siiall we substitute ohe gigantic business corporation, in which every citizen is a stockholder and voter. The powers of the Federal Government for all pur- poses iif Government are all suflicient. A Govern- ment that can impress millions of men in the military service, has all the powers requisite to maintain itself against all comers. Its powers to lay taxes, to main- tarn order and to declare war are complete. If this constitutes '• centralization," "imperialism," or "des- potism," we have it now, and cannot, by any possi- bility have more. But .vhat have we to tear? The twenty thousand regular troops ? or the influence of fifty thousand government agents in a prosperous nation of forty millions ? The Federal Government derives all its powers and support from public opinion, and in so far as it repre- sents the national will, it is omnipotent; but as soon as the supportof the miijori I y is withdrawn, it becomes Eowerless. This difference became strikingly manifest etween Lincoln and Johnson. Lincoln api.ointed and removed Military Governors and Major Generals ; he pocketed the rtconstrnction bill; he kept McUlellan and Montgomery Blair, beyond their time; he accepted the resignation of 8. P. Chase, the most powerful man in the party, and refu-ed to accept Seward's resigna- tion, though his removal was formally requested hy a majoritjr ot the President's political supporters in the Senate. But notwithstanding the opposition of the most influential leaders of the party, the people had faith in his integiity and stood by him with enthusiastic devotion. But Johnson who had earned the contempt of the majority, barely escaped impeachment, because he endeavored to rid himself of a personally distaste- ful Cabinet Minister. The question, whether certain acts of Administration shall be performed by State or National ofiicers is simply one of convenience and uniformity. Who dees not recollect the ancient strug- gles over a National Bankrupt Law, which has so quietly been accepted that ihvf notice it now. A uni- Ibrm exemption law, so that creditors and debtors may have equal and uniform rights in all the States, would be equally satisfactory. The National and State Governments derive their powers from the same source.' The President, Senate and House of Representatives are elected by the same constituency that elects the State Governments, and therefore a majority of them are always in accord with the National Government. Noitherisa check upon the other, but both are alike dependent for their power and stability upon the collective will of the people. Our nation is spread over a continenl — all the na- tions of Kurope, except Russia, dwell upon a less ex- tended space — and, therefore, a strong administrative influence is necessary to inspire a proper des;ree of national jpride and patriotic devotion. Unless we lose confidence in the liberty loving instincts and intelli- gence of the majority of our citizens, we need not fear that any dangers can arise by a simple transfer of business and administrative functions to the Federal Government, 'ihiscryof oentralization is tither the result of thoughtlessness, or of design on the part of those, whose interests are stibeerved by the retention of the present system of private corporations. The centrifugal forces of a nation like ours are very great. Differences of climate, of production, and of language and nationalities tend constantly toward dis- integration. There are thirty. seven State Govern- mjjuts now, and there will b'.' ti ty States a-half century hence, containing close on one hundred millions of in- habitants. It IS, therefore, wise statesmanship to teach the people to regard the Natonal Government as the proper agent to transact all those administrative func- tions where unitormily is one of the chief requisites. The National Government should be regarded with pride and affection as the representative of our nation- ality before the nations of the world, and as the great arbitrator of our internal differences. We believe with Sumner in the " imperialism of liberty," and in that centralization which makes the Federal Governmtnt the gu.irdian of every man's rights in the several States. The pitiful political catch- words of "imperialism"' and impending "military despotism" are a sure index of poverty of ideas, and like the gibberish of parrots aud i:jiiils, deserve only our contempt. These great questions of internal ad- ministration, which the near future presetits, must be intelligently discussed upon their own merits, and the cheap generalities, which are the refuge of those who care not to investigate and think for themselves, will be brushed aside quite unceremoniously by a criti- cal and wide awake community. TUE PRESENT CIVIL SERVICE — WHAT IT IS, Three classes of men have been busily engaged dur- ing the last six months to bury the Civil Service under a mountain of obloquy. The thieves of high and low degree, whom the Administration choked off frum the National Treasury, started the hue and cry, which was sedulouslv repeated by those who rather believe ill than good of th.'ir neighbors, and was finally made the chief and sole plank of the platfoim of the " Anything- to-beat-Grant-parfy," n'hich is engineered by the army of disappointed office-seekers, whom Grant, with rare sagacity, ref 'sed to trust, i heir sole hope of succlss lies in the expectation that they may be able to con- vince the people thai the Civil Service is so steeped in corruption that a general change is essential to the safety of the Republic. The gigantic frauds perpetrated by the Democratic leaders in New York city, where a hundred millions of dollars were stolen within two years, had made so pro- found an impression upon the public m nd, that Dtmo- cralic success became hopeless, unless the people could be persuaded that the Federal Administration was si ill worse. A concerted attack upon all branches of the National Civil Service was, therefore, devised as a counter irritant, to induce the people to forget the enormous corruptions which prevailed at the head- (piarters of Democracy. Never before in the history of our nation has any party or faction bien guilty of the bare-faced attempt to gain political success by sheer lying and defamation, tor we can prove, by tables compiled from official records that the amounts lost by defalcation of Federal officers have amounted to a less per cent, during Grant's Administration than during any preceding one, and constitute but an insignificant proportion ot the amounts of money collected and dis- bursed. If the wastage of an average family is ten cents a day, the five millions of families in the United Slates waste more each week than has been lost by defalc.i- tion of United States officials during an entire fiscal year. Justice demands that the people of the United States should fully understand these facts, for if 'officers, distinguished for their zeal aud integrity, were to bo driven out under a misapprehension, no man's worth and devotion to duty would be considered an adequate shield against partizan defam ition, and ofl5cers would grow utterly indifferent to public opinion. i There have been set at work twelve committees of inveBtigation, and the testimony already printed fills large to! limes. A draw-net has been spread to catch all the disappointed and dismissed officials, jail birds and other lyinfj wretches to swear away the character of our public men; and notwithstanding all this ma- lignity, and the extraordinary facility of obtaining testimony at public expense, every charge of corrup- tion bus fallen to the ground. If it were possible for the people of the United States to read this testimony all comments wo\ild be superfluous ; but as these im- mense volumes will grow musty in the vaults of the Cajiito!, we assert, and challenge successful contradic- tion, that neither the President, C'*.binet, nor the chief officers under the Government have been found derelict in their duty. CrVIL SERVICE REFORM. Although we fully believe that the Civil Service of (he United States is the equal iti intelligence, integrity and patriotism of that of any other nation, we do not deny, but that, like all human institutions it is suscepti- ble of improvement. Men have, in some instances, ob- tained office who have neither been sufficiently honest, patriotic or capable; and defalcations have taken place wbich may, by greater care and a b^'tter system of ac- countability, be avoided. But before we can have a higher standard of official integrity the people must reward as well as puni^h. Officersof standiogand integrity oujjht to be respected; and public opinion ought to frown down all attempts to assail them for the purpose of gaining partizan advuu tages. At present, public sentiment is not disposed to reward with its hearty approval the officers, who are earning the deadly hostility of powerful interests by defending the Government against the hoards of claim- ants that are endeavoring to devour the Xatioial in- come ; nor is it sufficiently determined to visit condign punishment upon those officers who baselv betrav their trusts. Botha sense of justice to uphold worthy oi- ficers, and certainty of punishment of the dishone.*!, are absolutely essential to Civri Service Reform. All feed offices ought to be abolished and salaries subetituted. The feed officers generally receive three times as much as their Sv-rvices are worth. There is DO good reason why the- Collector of New York should receive from forty to fifty thousand dollars a jear, while the Secretary ot the Treasury, a salaried officer, re- ceives but eight thousand, and the President of the United States but twenty five thousand dollars. It seems strange that this rotten English custom should ever have been engrafted on our Na!tional, State, and Municipal systems of government, and that this greedy and rotten system has maintained itself so long. A Civil Service Keform which continues this unequal and wasteful system is a mockery. Anotner safeguard against defalcation consists in placing less reliance on personal integrity and more on official discipline and efficiency ot organization. Special examiners should be appointed, who might be sent out at any time to examine the books of disburs- ing officers ; and a regular weekly return of all dis- bursements, aud of the money deposited should be exacted, and a thorough personal examination and comparison made as speedily as possible. Practice has shown that bail-bonds are very general- ly worthless and that reliance upon the personal integ- rity of otlicers is often misplaced ; because even care- lessness frequently results in great losses. A well organized system of accountability will be one of the essential conditions of an improved Civil Service, and will entirely prevent defalcation in large sums, and diminish those of a minor character. Officers should only be appointed from tbe friends and supporters of the Administration. A Govern- ment officer is alwavs an agent, never acting for him- self, but only for that invisible and gigantic corpora- tion, the Government of the United States. For the diligent discharge of his duties, it is essential that he should take a personal interest in the welfare of that Government, and in the dignity and prosperity of the Administration. The records show that by far the larger number of defaulters belong to that class of politically hostile and ioditferent persons who were ap- pointed by President Johnson, when it was the fashion to profess either not to have political convictions at all, or to be indifferent to politicsil success. Those are the worst enemies of the Republic who advise the withdrawal of the (Jivil Service from partici- pation in statesmanship— contemptuously called "po- litics" — and who are endeavoring to build up a system which would take no cngnizaiice of political opinions however dangen/us or erroneous If the tinle should ever come, when a purely technical exjminarion will bo considered a sufficient qualification for office, and per- sons entertaining monarchical, treasonable and 'dan- gerous ideas, are placed in positions of influence aud power; and the masses have, therebv, become convinced that political priDcinles do not need the most vigilant examination, the Republic must necessarily be de- stroyed by the the corruption which is always engen- dered by political igno;ance. The thorough agnation which precedes the President- ial election is absolutely necfssary for the political education of the people, and the withdrawal of that interest for any cause would creaie poiifical incapacity, corruption, and all kindred vices which always grow luxuriantly upon the soil of ignorance and iDdiiference. A technical and preliminary examination of a candi- date for an iiiferior appointed office is desirable, and if followed by a practical trial will give all the tests necessarv to ascertain capacHy. ihis part of Civil Service Reform, which, by charlatans is held up as the sole panacea for all our political ills, is the leasi- impor- tant aud least valuable of all the suggestions presented. Where the Government his lost one dollar on account of the incapacity of its officers, it has lost a thousand on account of dishoiiesty. We do uot wish to be un- derstood as opposing tests and examiuaiious, for they arc vr.luable aids; but we protest that they boeome iirjiir'oii to ii real rd'orm, when they are held out, like paten i medicines, as a cui'e-all of political ills. The Advisory Civil Service Uoard having reported a sysiom of rules, which provide for a more careful ex- ami'iHtion of all c-'ididates for appointment to 'the Civil Service, the Prej'iieut has i>sued a proclamation ordering their enforcement. The rules are still in- complete, but the experiment will receive a fair trial. THE PEUSONNEL OF THIS ADxMlNlSTKATlON. The deeds of General Grant, in crushing the Rebel- lion, are recorded bv the historic pen; and though the people of the United States may be-little thein selves, they cannot wrest a single laiir^l fromhis brow. Have we so soon forgotten the fearful anxiety th.it hung over the cotiotry when .M'Clellan failed, and Hooker, Burnside and Pope were tried and found wanting? Can we realize no longer the electric spark of joy which thrilled the heart of every man and wo- man in the loyal States when the peals of bells and the roar of cannons announced the fall of Richmond and the surrender of Lee with theentire Confederate armv? Is it possible that we can no longer give our admira- tion to that modest man who shrank trom every ova- tion? Without ostentation he managed his military campaigns ; and so quietly were our armies disbanded that all apprehensions vanished, and every citizen felt, that, notwithstanding we have had a million of men under arms, the Republic was safe. When President Johnson pursued his erratic course. Congress threw special protection around the Lt. General because it looked upon him as its strong atia of delence. And when Grant becaine President, in acccordance with the unanimous wish of the Repubhcau party, eatlorseJ by a majority of the American people, he said, in his inaugural address, that he would have " no policy to enforce against the will of the people." This pledge he has faithfully kept. All laws which Congress placed upon the statute book, he has faithfully carried out j B and his most malippiant foes have not been able to fasten upon him a single questionable act, or to impugn his motives. Both as commander in chief of our armies, and as President, he has served the people with fidelity and to the full measure of his capacity. , 'I'he members of his Cabinet— Boutvvell, Fish. De- liino, Belknap, Robeson, and "Williams, are distin- guished, not merely for personal integrity, but for un- usual zeal to administer the Government in the most economical manner. Three hundred millions of dol- lars have been saved in three years — a sum of such magnitude that the figures present but an indefinite idea to most minds. This vast sum could not have been saved and paid to the public creditors, it the ut- most integrity and economy had not obtained in every department of administration. The officers next in rank, and as far as integrity and economy in the public service are concerned, of equal importance to the Cabinet, are the United States Treas- urer, the two Comptrollers of the Treasury, the Cum- missionerof Indian affairs, the Commissioner of Inter- nal Revenue, and the Supervising Architect. We find that these offices are tilled by gentlemen of the highest qualifications, so that their places could with difficulty be supplied. Never since the foundation of (he Government has there been more of character, of fidelity, of patriotism, and of zeal to discharge the duties appertaining to the Civil Service well, thau there is at this time, and great earnestness has been manifested to discover peculators, and whenever found, they have been promptly dismissed and punished. WHAT DO THE LIBERAL REPUBLICANS WANT? The public policy and sy.stcm of measures adopted by the Republican party and the present Administra- tion have given such universal satisfaction and are so fully adapted to the wants ot the American people, that all objections thereto have been abandoned. The op- position is entirely personal, and all the lose political elements are sought to be combined into an "Any- Ihmg-tobeat-Grant" party. To offset the eminent and "glorious achievements of the Republican party, we are told that there have been some bad appoint- ments and more disappointments. Nearlv the entire number of self-styled Liberal Re- publicans have been made by President Grant, for the refusal of unreasonable requests and a want of defer- ence to Iheir imperious demands are the obvious causes fort heir dissatisfiction. Dana, Greeley, Schurz, Tipton and Trumbull, who seem to constiluie both the lead- ers and membership of this new party, are one and all men With a personal grievance — commoniyand graphi- cally described as "sore-heads.'! The attempt to create a new party without the ghost of a new idea— a party built upon personal grievances and animosities is not likely to be crowned with suc- cess. Whether the opposition minority will fullow ne.\t fall the example of the sore-heads of Connecticut and New Hampshire, and split into three or four dif- ferent factions, or agree to unite upon one ticket, is a matter with which the Republican party has no concern. Our Government and nation are moving forward in the majesty of their strength and consciousness of power; and before a philosophic view, all insiguiQcant matters, like the " Sile of arms question," "the San Domingo controversy," and other trivial matters whose names we have already forgotten, will disappear like the fog before the rising sun. We were rejoiced when Carl Schurz, as a representative of that worthy and thoughtful element flf our nation, the German adopted citizens— took his seat in the Senate. We had high hopes that he would give strength to our institutions, una aid in devising new measures of national progress. We are sorely disappointed, however, ia finding that his talents, though considerable, are purely of the ne- gative and destructive order. There is not a single proposition which he has advanced— not a single act of legislation that he has originated and attempted to place upon the statute book. His entire talents have been devoted to the dem.olitlon of the party which placed him where he is. Instead of leading the way to a mora cordial union between the native Americana and Germans, he is sowing the seeds of dissatisfaction, creating alienation of feeling, and to the extent of his influence, it is calamitous. The Germans of the United States must certainly suffer in the estimation of Ameri- cans, when he who has been considered their best rep- resentative, is simply a mischief-maker, treacherous as an Indian, and unworthy of political confidence. It is, therefore, of the utmost necessity to the German Republicans that Carl Schurz be repudiated, and re- manded to the insignificance, from which he emerged solely as the pretended friend and representative of the Republican party. Whenever the real representative of German worth and mental and moral power shall appear upon the political stage, it will be the thoughtful, studious and philosophic statesman, who will point out the path of a higherand more enduring civilization, " The Ismes of (he Future" will be his theme; and by sinking his own personality in the great cause he will achieve that re- nown and immortality which crown those only who seek them not. The present alone is ours, and the con- scientious discharge of those duties which llie present evolves, constitutes the highest usefulness, and the most enduring statesmanship. The past is accessory and present in example ; the future becomes a presence in the chain of consequences ; and the solution of prob- lems which the present demands, in the light of both, constitutes abiding statesmanship. The traveler approaching the upper Alps, via Luzern sees the lake of the Four (Jantous guarded bv ivvo mountains, which, like faithful sentinels walch the entrance on cither side. The "Righi," graceful and uniform like a success on of terraces, is accessible by railway, though oOui) Ibet in height, and has often been compared to the female form, wh.le the "Pilatus," rising upwards of 7000 feet, is a projection of rocky walls, rifted and irregular, bearing seven "horns" or towers upon its jagged summit. In the valley the view is contracted ; liiHs and bluffs hem in Luzern and the lake in every direction ; but from the summit of the Pilatus the plain unrolls itself like a;i immense scroll, and before a powerful telescope dissolves itself like the Milkv Wayj into constellations of cities, villages, lakes, orchards, and villas. Below a hill of a thoijsanil fjet seems a mountain, but from that heght it is a mero wart upon the earth's surface. 1 bus, from the heights of faith and philosophy the pitiful molehills of d' sap pop ted polit ciatis disappear ; the apparent evils, magnified by interested part zans, dwindle into mere warts on the body politic, while the permanent and progre.ssive principles of which the Republican party is the faithful exponent, are reflecting the beneficent sun.shine of everlasting truth. As the scroll of centuries slowly unrolls, .tnd the p.'werofour pro<^res3ive civilization," and regard for the rights of man, brings all nations under oar influence, as " thef hen gathereth her chickens under her wings," let usi be thankful that our lot has been cast in a country andl in an era, when we may be humble co-workers in the- beautiful and enduring edifice of State— began by Washington and consecrated by Lincoln, which will ultimately shelter all mankind. Be firm iu the right, and "all it well." HIS OFFICIAL RECORD EXTRACTS FROM HIS ANNUAL MESSAGES. [Published by the Republican Congressional Committee, Washington, D. C] In pursuance of the affirmative policy which we have marked out for the conduct of the ensuing campaign, we propose to meet the charges that the President is not qualified for the faithful and acceptable discharge of the Presidential functions, by •nermitting him to speak for himself. We have, therefore, for the convenience of the reader, arranged his utterances in his last three annual messages by topics, so that every citizen may judge for himself of the President's statesmanship. Extracts, without regard to date, have been arranged upon the same topics, which is the severest test to which any political writer can be subjected. So fully has the subject been thought through ; so carefully — feeling the full weight of official responsibility — have the words been chosen, that there is a remarkable uniformity of opinion and style. We venture to say that the most expert critic will be unable to discern from which message a' given sentiment was taken. It will be seen that the subjects embraced are numerous, comprising all controverted questions— no concealment or evasion of issue having been attempted. Thus our po- litical foes are either compelled to adopt the identical principles and doctrines herein set forth, a:v:l then there can be no other issue than one of personal animosity ; or they will be compelled to set up views in opposition thereto. In either case they will not be likely to meet with success. The President has endeared himself person- ally to the people by his military renown and his unswerving integrity ; while his political views are so judicious, humane, and progressive ; so eminently safe and con- siderate, that it Vy-ill require unusual recklessness and Impudence to attempt to refute them. The only regret we have is tliat limltatioa of space has compelled us to cut down the argument in some instances, and to omit his views upon subordinate topics, which, injustice to their author, ought to be presented. Imperfect in these respects as this essay is, it is however amply sufficient to demoustrate to all fair-minded men that President Grant is pre-eminently wise and safe in the conduct of public affairs- THE president's IIILITARY RECORD. Allusions to General Grant's military achievements seem to be as distasteful to the unrepentant rebels and their allies as the sight of water to the victims of hydrophobia. Those who did their utmost to destroy the American nation, and who only yield obe- dience to superior force to-day, are of course enraged at the me atlon of the capture of Vicksburg and Richmond, and the surrender of Lee; while their civilian allies contend that an enumeration of Grant's military achievements is taking an unfair advantage. The former class insist that Grant never was a superior General, while the latter reluctantly concede his military success, but protest that it has no bearing upon a Presidential campaign. We are not disposed to concede this allegation. Grant's military ekcliicvomcnts a.ra part of his history and character, and if the oppo- sition have no man of equal renown to pit against him, it is their misfortune and nut our fault. Had the rebellion succeeded a continent would have been split into fragments, and the only great Republic — the light and hope of the peoples of the world — would have gone down in anarchy and confusion. Under Providence we are indebted for na- tional existence itself to General Grant and to the legion of brave men living and dead, who cither sacrificed or offered to sacrifice their lives, which is the highest measure of devotion which men can bring to the support of a great cause. Grant's military career has not only reflected glory and renown upon our nation, but can well be interposed against the accusations of a want of patriotism or general ability. The history of all nations has proved beyond successful contradiction that military success in a long struggle, with a million of men in the field, can only be achieved by men of a high order of intellect. An ignorant man may stumble upon success ; but the strategy necessary to the capture of Vicksburg, Richmond, and Lee's army, together with the planning of the Sherman campaign, tested the mental capacity and resources of the Commander-in-Chief of our armies in an unmistakable manner. Justice to him and to our national' character demands that the glorious memories of the mutual suuerings and triumphs of the "Boys in Blue,'' shall be revived, and the roll-call of the guard of honor shall not be neglected. The President's modesty, which has often induced him to go to the utmost verge of deserting Presidential dignity, to avoid the appearance of arrogance or self-asser- tion, and his gift of silence in a nation of talkers, have given his personal and political enemies a chance to pursue two lines of arsumcut, -vvLicli thoy urge alternately in perfect unconsciousness of their self-contradiction. At one time he is represented afs a Sphyns— n, scheming plotter in conjunction with an imaginary military ring for the destruction of a nation's liberty ; a dangerous vampire, who will transmute the Re- public into an empire with Ulysses I. as Emperor ; while the nest day, perhaps, he is held up as an ignorant tool of designing men, only fit to talk horse and smoke cigars. Tlie truth is he is a careful, judicious, painstakitg man, exceedingly anxious to discharge his duties faithfully, and to execute the legally expressed will of the na- tion. It is true he assumed the Presidential duties with reluctance and diffidence ; but from the day of his inauguration he has not merely sought to learn, but, as wo ^ 3 ^ shall prove, has succeeded ia finding the r^isest and safest course o^ P^^gr^^^'^^^^ c; statesmanship. With this brief introductory ^.e propose to allow tim to speak for - himself. ■^ THE COXSTITL-TIOXAL SPHERE OF EXECUTIVE DUTIES. President Johnson, and a number of his predecessors based the success of their ad- mi! str at s .pen a' purely legislate basis. They held that the Executive dut.es .ere too insien ficant to achieve renown ; and therefore staked then- success upon a ^g latlve policy. President Grant in his inaugural address defined the Proper con- sltutional Lhere of the Executive power ; and he did it so conc.se y ana completely that nothing can bo added or omitted to advantage. The primary duty of the Presi- dent is the faithful execution of all laws. Thus the Executive power ^^^f^J^ sphere co-ordinate with Congress, and can never be made too strong, because it repre- sents the arm of the Government-the will of the nation legally expressed. The power to recommend is secondary and incidental. The Executive enjoys this right in common with all other citizens. He participates in the legislation of tne country only through the veto power, which a President should exercise upon grea. questions, only in rar'e instances, and for ample cause. We propose herewith to give the first two paragraphs of the inaugural address, .hich contains more substance to the same namber of words than any similar docu- ment with which we are acquainted : ^^Cm^ens of the United States : Your suffrages having elevated me t? ^'f^o^f ^,^J ■o vwnfilirunited States, I have, in conformity with the Cons itution ot oui President of ^^^f, ^^^.^'V^ ^^^^^^^ Bre-cribed therein. I have taken this oath without country, taken he «; 5^fj^^«"^^;f, ^^^^ .fto ^« ^^ '^^ best of my ability all ,that it ?4ur s"<5"r. ThT J^^^^^^^^^^^ -e unsought I commence its duties un Sammded I bring to it a conscientious desire and determination to fill ^t to the best of my ability to the satisfaction of the people. - On all leading questions agitating the public mind I jijl always ejP'J^rB 7 J^^^ , n ^r.„ „r,ri ^vn-o *hpm aceordn" to mv laao-ment ; ana wiien ± tnmu. 11 auvisduiu '°M?.S ;^fe colstVtSal r>^^^ of int^erposing a veto to defeat measures "1 • I T n^fo^i Bufa 1 av^s will be ffithfuUy executed, whether they meet my ap- ^vhich I oppose. ^^"|,^'/:iy ',;(' t3hj,,.e a policy to recommend, but none to en- proval o'-.^^^. ^^l^if L^'^jf;;;^^^^^^^ L^ws are to fovern all alike, those opposed to (r^ellTthoSVh^fvo^^^^^^^ the repeal of bad or obnoxious laws so effective as their stringent execution.' ' . . . In comin- before you for the first time as Chief Magistrate of this great nation it is .vi h SSitu'de to the^Giver of all good for the many benefits we enjoy ; we are blessed Ti h peace at home, and are without entangling alliances abroad to ^o^f ^^^^^Jf "^le w h a population of forty millions of free people, all speaking one language ; with T'cilitiL for every mortal to acquire an education ; with institutions c osing to none ihe avenues to flme or any blessing of fortune that may be coveted : with freedom of {he pulpit'the press, and the school ; with a revenue flowing into the national Treas- ury beyond the requirements of the Government. The^e blessings and countless others are intrusted to your care and mine for safe- keeping, for the brief period of our tenure of office. In a short time we must, each of us return to the ranks of the people who have conferred upon us our honors, and account to them for our stewardship. I earnestly desire that neither you nor I may be condemned by a free and enlightened constituency, nor by our own consciences. On my part, I promise a rigid adherence to the laws, and their strict enforcement. In addressing my third annual message to the law-making branch of the Govern- ment, it is gratifying to be able to state that during the past year success has gen- erallv attended the efibrt to execute all laws found upon the statute-books. The r,olicv has been, not to inquire into the wisdom of laws already enacted, but to learn Iheir spirit and intent, and to enforce them accordingly. I submit these suggestions with a confidence that your combined action will be wise, statesmanlike, and m the best interests of the whole country. EDUCATION. We place first on the list of topics the subject of education. The President alludes to it on every suitable occasion, and it should be observed that the measure, known as Hoar's bill, was first recommended by him in the sentence, " Educational interests may well be served by the grant of the proceeds of the sale of public lands to ' settlers." The subjects of education and agriculture are of great interest to the success of our republican institutions, happiness, and grandeur as a nation. The time-honored and beneficial policy of setting apart certain sections of public land for educational purposes in the new States should be continued. Educational interest may well be served by the grant of the proceeds oftiie sale of public lands to settlers. I do not wish to be understood as recommending, in the least degree, a curtailment of what is being dene by the General Government for the encouragement of education. The enlarged receiots of the Post Office Department are an index of the growth ot education and of the prosperity of the people, two elements highly conducive to the vigor and stability of Kepublics. Education, the ground-work of republican institutions, is encouraged by increasing the fxcilities to gather speedy news fromall parts of the country. The desire to reap the benefit of such improvements will stimmaie education. THE WOREIXGMAN. The workingman is not forgotten. In every message there is a kindly word and the utterance of a striking truth. "Persons before things" is the keynote of his statesmanship when he states : "The true prosperity and greatness of a nation is to be found in the elevation and education of its laborers," a sentence worthy of being placed on our campaign banners. By the late war the industry of one-half of the country had been taken from the control of the capitalists and placed where all labor rightfully belongs— in the keeping of the laborer. The freedmen, under the protection which they have received, are making rapid progress in learning, and no complaints are heard of lack of industry on their part where they receive fair remuneration for their labor. The opinion that the public lands should Ifc regarded chiefly as a source of revenue is no longer maintained. The rapid settlement and successful cultivation of them are now justly considered of more importance to our well-being than is the fund which the sale of them would produce. The remarkable growth and prosperity of our nev7 States and Territories attest the wisdom of the legislation which invites the tiller of the soil to secure a permanent home on terms within the reach of all. The pioneer who incurs the dangers and privations of a frontier life, and thus aids in laying tho foundation of new commonwealths, renders a signal service to his country, and is en- titled to its special favor and protection. These laws secure that object and largely promote the general welfare. They should, therefore, be cherished a a permanent feature of our land system. I renew my recommendation that the public lands be regarded as a heritage to our children, to be disposed of only as required for occupation and to actual settlers- The true prosperity and greatness of a nation is to be found in the elevation and education of its laborers. AGRICULTUKE. In every message our agricultural interests are favorably mentioned. We extract the following sentences, which are sufficient to indicate his sentiments upon this im- portant subject : I recommend to your favorable consideration the claims of the Agricultural Bu- reau for liberal appropriations. In a country so diversified in climate and soil as ours, and with a population so largely dependent upon agriculture, the benefits that can be conferred by properly fostering this bureau are incalculable. The report of the Commissioner of Agriculture gives the operations of his Depart- ment for the year. •As agriculture is the ground-work of our prosperity, too much importance cannot be attached to the labors of this Department. Quietly, but surely, the Agricultural Bureau is working a great national good, and if liberally supported, the more widely its influence "will be extended and the less dependent we shall be upon the products of foreign countries. COMiSiERCE. The revival of our foreign commerce, and the increase of facilities in domestic transportation, has commanded the President's earnest attention, and he has been ready to adopt all proper measures to forward these important interests : The loss of onr commerce is the only result of the late rebellion which has not received sufficient attention from you. To this subject I call your earnest attention. The whole nation is interested in securing cheap transportation from the acricul- tural States of the West to the Atlantic seaboard. To the citizens of tliose_ States it secures a greater return for their labor ; to the inhabitants of the seaboard it affords cheaper food; to the nation, an increase in the annual surplus of wealth. Our depressed commerce is a subject to which I called your special attention at the last session, and suggested that v/e will in the future have to look more to the coun- tries south of us, ancl to China and Japan, for its revival. Our representatives to all these Governments have exerted their influence to encourage trade between the United States and the countries to which they are accredited. Cut the fact exists that the carrying is done almost entirely in foreign bottoms, and while this state of affairs exists we cannot control our due share of the commerce of the world. The cost of building iron vessels, the only ones that can compete with foreign ships in the carrying trade, is so much greater in the United States than in foreign coun- tries that, without some assistance from the Government, they cannot be successfully built here. There v/ill be several propositions laid before Congress in the course of the present session looking to a remedy for this evil. Even if it should be at some cost to the national Treasury, I hope such encouragement will be given as will secure American shipping on the high seas and American ship-building at home. MANUFACTURES — THET MUST BE ENCOURAGED. Every citizen will recognize the importance of the suggestions made in reference to our manufactures. The workingmen of America can find no truer friend or more earnest advocate : Our manufactures are increasing with v/onderful rapidity under the encouragement which they now receive. "With the improvements in machinery already effected, and still increasing, causing machinery to take the place of skilled labor to a large extent, our imports of many articles must fall off largely within a few years. Fortunately, too, manufactures are not confined to a few localities, as formerly, and it is to ba hoped will become more and more diffused, making the interest in them equal in all sections. They give employment and support to hundreds of thousands of people at home, and retain with us the means which otherwise would be shipped abroad. The extension of railroads in Europe and the East is bringing into competition with our agricultural j^rcducts like products of other countries. Self interest, if not self- preservation, therefore, dictates caution against disturbing any industrial interest of the country. TARIFF REFORM. Since the Tariff Reform question is made a plank in the opposition platform we give the President's views in full, as announced in his two last messages, and bespeak for them a careful perusal. No man can be more heartily in favor of real, practical reform, and not a mere buncombe talk about it, than President Grant ; The tax collected from the people has been reduced more than eighty millions of dollars per annum. By steadiness in our present course, there is no reason why, in a few short years, the national tax-gatherer may not disappear from the door of the citizen almost entirely. With the revenue stamp dispensed by postmasters in every community ; a tax upon liquors of all sorts, and tobacco in all its forms ; and by a wise adjustment of the tariff, which will put a duty only upon those articles "which we could dispense with, known ^s luxuries, and on those which we use more o|" than we produce, revenue enough may be raised, after a few years of peace aild consequent reduction of indebtedness, to fulfill all our obligations. A 6 further reduction of expenses, iii additloa to a reduction of interest account may be relied on to make this practicable. Revenue reform, if it means this, has my hearty support. If it implies a collection of all the revenue for the support of Cfov- erument, for the payment of principal and interest of the public debt, pensions, «ic., by directly taxing the people, then 1 am against revenue reform, and confidently be- lieve the people are with me. If it means failure to provide the necessary means to defray all the expenses of Government, and thereby repudiation of the public debt and pensions, then I am still more opposed to such kind of revenue reform. Revenue reform has not. been defined by any of its advocates, to my knowledge ; but seems to be accepted as something which is to supply every man's wants without any cost or efl'ort on his part. A true revenue reform cannot be made in a day ; but must be the work of national legislation and of time. As soon as the revenue can be dispensed with, all duty should be removed from coffee, tea, and other articles of universal use not produced by ourselves. The necessities of the country compel us to collect revenue from our imports. An army of assessors and collectors is not a pleasant sight to the citizen, but that or a tariff for revenue is necessary. Such a tariff, so far as it acts as an en- couragement to home production, affords employment tj labor at living wages, in contrast to the pauper labor of the Old "W^orld, and also in the development of home resources. - In readjusiing the tariff, I suggest that a careful estimate be made of the amount of surplus revenue collected under the present laws, after providing for the current ex- penses of the Government, the interest account, and a sinking fund, and that this surplus be reduced in such a manner as to afford the greatest relief to the greatest number. There are many articles not produced at home, but which enter largely into general consumption through articles v^hich are manufactured at home, such as medicines compounded, &c., &c., from which very little revenue is derived, but which euteV into general use. All such articles I recommend to be placed on the "free list." Should a further reduction prove advisable, I would then recommend that it ]>e made upon those articles which can .best bear it without disturbing home production, or reducing the wages of American labor. INDIAN rOLlCY. The American historian v/ill assign to Grant a high place as the author of a nev/ Indian policy. Having as a soldier, stationed at the outposts, become practically ac- quainted with these wards of the nation, he alludes to the subject in his inaugural and in every message. No one act of his life can be more creditable than the interest he has taken in these outcasts, from whose good vrill no personal or political benefits can be reaped. We regret that we have only space for the following : The policy pursued toward the Indians has resulted ftivorably, so far as can be judged from the limited time during which it has been in operation. Through the exertions of the various societies of Christians to whom has been intrusted the exe- cution of the policy, and the board of commissioners authorized by the law of April 10, 1869, many tribes of Indians have been induced to settle upon reservations, to cultivate the soil, to perform productive labor of various kinds, and to partially ac- cept civilization. They are being cared for in such a way, it is hoped, as to induce those still pursuing their old habits of life to embrace the only opportunity which is left them to avoid extermination. I recommend liberal appropriations to carry out the Indian peace policy, not only because it is humane. Christian like, and economical, but because it is right. '" But because it is right," a very excellent sentiment so modestly put that it al- most escapes the attention of the casual reader. The close scrutiny of these messages required to make these extracts has forced the conviction upon us that " because it is right," has been the guiding star of the President's career. PKOTECTION' 10 IMMIGRANTS. The preson: Administration is the first that has been earnestly disposed to protect immigrants and naturalized citizens. As special efforts are being made to render the German element dissatisfied v:q give ample extracts. In addition to the treaties ne- gotiated, a special agent was dispatched to esamine the subject, and the important measure for the betterj)rotection of immigrants, now pending ia Congress, has the cordial support of the Administration. The ratification of the consular and naturalization conventions with the Austro- Hungarian Empire have been exchanged. The ratifications of the naturalization convention between Great Britain and the United States have also been exchanged during the recess ; and thus, a long standing dispute between the two Governments has been settled, in accordance with the princi- ples always contended for by the United States. The unsettled political condition of other countries, less fortunate than our own, sometimes induces their citizens to come to the United States for the sole purpose of becoming naturalized. Having secured this, they return to their native country and reside there, v.'ithout disclosing their change of allegiance. They accept otTicial posi- tions of trust or honor, which can only bo held by citizens of their native land ; they journey under passports describing them as such citizens ; and it is only when civil discord, after perhaps years of quiet, threatens their pftrsons ov tlieir property, or when tneir native ^ato drafts them into its military service, that the fact of their change of 'allegiance is made known. I have directed the diplomatic and consular officers of the United States to scrutinize carefully all such claims of protection. The citizen cf the United States, whether native or adopted, who discharges his duty to his country, is entitled to its complete protection. While I have a voice in the direction of affairs, I shall not consent to imperil this sacred right by conferring it upon fictitious or fraudulent claimants. On the accession of the preseni Administration, it was found that the minister for North Germany had made propositions for the negotiation of a convention for the pro- tection of emigrant passengers, to which no response had been given. It was con- cluded that, to be effectual, all the maritime Powers engaged in the trade should join in such a mea?ure. Invitations have been extended to the cabinets of London, Paris, Florence, Berlin, Brussels, The Ilague, Copenhagen, and Stockholm, to empower their representp-tives at ^V'ashington to simultaneously enter into negotiations, and to conclude with the United States, conventions identical in form, making uniform regu- lations as to ihc construction of the jiarts of vessels-to be devoted to the use of emi- grant passengers, as to the quality and quantity of food, as to the medical treatment of the sick, and as to the rules to be observed during the voyage, iu order to secure ventilation, to promote health, to prevent intrusion, and to protect the females, and providing for the establishment of tribunals in the several countries, for enforcing such regulations by summary process. The riumbor of immigrants ignorant of cur laws, habits, &c., coming into our country ann::aliy has become so great, and the impositions practiced upon them so numerous ar.d flagrant, that I suggest Congressional action for their protection. It seems to me a fair subject of legislation by Congress. I cannot now state as fully as I desire the nature of the complaints made by immigrants of the treatment they re- ceive, but will endeavor to do so during the session of Congress, particularly if the subject should receive your attention. .PAi'MEN'T A^"D KEFUXDIKG OF TUE NATIONAL DEBT. It must be >7ithin the recollection of all reading men that, at the time of Grant's inauguration, repudiation was openly advocated, and the wildest theories obtained of how to extinguish the public debt without pa^in^r it. Already in his inaugural and fa every messazc he insisted upon the prompt reduction of the debt with the happiest results : The vast resources of the nation, both developed and undeveloped, ought to make our credit the best on earth. With a less burden of taxatioii than the citizen has endured for six years past, the entire public debt could be paid in ten years. But it is not desirable that the people shoukrbe taxed to pay it in that time, Year by year the ability to pay increases in a rapid ratio. But the burden of interest ought to be reduced as rapidlv as can be done without the %'iolation of contract. It is believed that all bonds'" which are now due may be replaced by bonds bearing a rate of interest not exceeding four and a half per cent., and as rapidly as the remainder become due that they may be replaced iu 'the same way. With an acquiescence on the part of lat they may be replaced iu the same way le whole people in the national obligation the whole people in the national obligation to pay the public debt, created as the price of our Union ; tlie pensions to our disabled soldiers and sailors, and Iheir widows and orphans ; and in the changes to the Constitution which have been made necessary by a great rebellion, there is no reason why we should not" advance in ma- terial prosperity and happiness, as no other nation ever did, after so protracted and devastating a war. The national debt has been reduced to the extent of eighty- sis million dollars during the year, and by the negotiation of national bonds at a lower rate of interest, the interest on the public debt has been so far diminished that now the sum to be raised for the interest account is nearly seventeen million dollars less than on the 1st of March, 1869. It was highly desirable that this rapid diminution should take place, both to strengthen the credit of the country, and to convince ita fcitizens of their entire ability to meet every dollar of liability without bankrupting them. But in view of the accomplishment of these desirable ends ; of the rapid de-| velopment of the resources of the country ; its increasing ability to meet large de''-: mands, and the amount already paid, it is not desirable that the present resources oft the country should continue to be taxed in order to continue this rapid payment. I therefore recommend a modification of both the tariff and internal tax laws. I re*j commend_ that all taxes from internal sources be abolished, except those collected; froin spirituous, vinous, and malt liquors, tobacco in its various forms, and from" stamps. RESUMPTION OF SPECIE PAYMENT. Among the subjects upon which the President has given no uncertain sound is the gradual resumption of specie payment, and he particularly regrets the demoraliza-' tion caused by a fluctuating currency ; Among the evils growing out of the rebellion is that of an irredeemable currency. It is an evil which I hope will receive your most earnest attention. It is a duty, and one of the highest duties of Government, to secure to the citizen a medium of exchange of, fixed, unvarying value. This implies a return to a specie basis, and no substitute' for it can be devised._ It should be commenced now and reached at the earliest prac-; ticable moment consistent with a fair regard to the interests of the debtor class. I earnestly recommend to you, then, such legislation as will insure a gradual return tO' specie payments and put an immediate stop to fluctuations in the value of currency. The_ approach to a specie basis is very gratifying, but the fact cannot be denied that the instability of the value of our currency is prejudicial to our prosperity, and tends' to_ keep up prices to the detriment of trade. The evils of a depreciated and fluctu- ating currency are so great that now, when the premium on gold has iallen so much, it would seem that the time has arrived when, by wise and prudent legislation, Con- gress should look to a policy which would place our currency at i^ar with gold at no distant day. Continued fluctuations in the value of gold, as compared with the na- tional currency, has a most damaging effect upon the increase and development of the country in keeping up prices of all articles necessary in every-day life. It fosters a spirit of gambling prejudicial alike to national morals and the national finances. If the question can be met, as to how to give a fixed value to our currency, that value constantly and uniformly approaching par with specie, a very desirable object will be gained. OUn IvELATIOXS WITH GERMANY. Since special efforts have been made to create the impression that the Administra- tion was hostile to Germany in the late war, and did not observe a friendly neutrality, we inse'rt the following narration of facts, which prove that Germany reposed in the United States the greatest confidence which one nation can repose in another — the protection of its citizens : Soon after the existing war broke out in Europe the protection of the United States minister in Paris was invoked in favor of North Germans domiciled in French terri- tory. Instructions were issued to grant the protection. This has been followed by an extension of American protection to citizens of Saxony, Hesse, and Saxe-Coburg, Gotha, Colombia, Portugal, Uruguay, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Chili, Paraguay, and Venezuela, in Paris. The charge was an onerous one, requiring con- stant and severe labor, as well as the exercise of patience, prudence, and good judg- ment. It has been performed to the entire satisfaction of this Government, and, as I am officially informed, equally so to the satisfaction of the Government of North Germany.- The resumption of diplomatic relations between France and Germany have enabled' me to guHi^e'tionsfo? the withdrawal of the l-«tect-n extended to G^^^^^^^^^ France by the diplomatic and consular representatives of the L mted btateo m that country^^ It is ju^st to add that the delicate duty of this protection has been performed bv tWiinister and the consul general at Paris, and the various consuls m France under^irsu Srvi^ion of the latter, with great kindness as well as with prudence and tect ThJr Surse has received the commendation of the German Government, and '''iu:'SS^Z::^7iflL^^^^^J continues to manifest a friendlv feel- in. towarrt™e United States, and a desire to harmonize ^^f^tirf^^t^'f, if^ policy which this Governmen^siaintams in its relations with ^^latic Pow.r;. ^ J|/^ as with the South American Republics. I have given assurances tha. the lue.aly feelings of that Government are fully shared oy the Umtect biaies. orR FOREIGN TOLICT. To aid in the establishment of free Governments in every part of the globe by our example and Eoral influence, without meddlesome interference, is laid down as the proper conduct to be pursued : ^ As the United States i^th^fVe^tof^n^ " Sf^^^S^ J^^ fi!& 1^^ S t^w "Sd S^ from enforcing our vi.ws upon unwillmg ^Ln't'ndi^omtahinz an interested ^^vt, withovi inntatwn^n the quarrels be- ?ween different nations or between Governments and their subjepts ''ttJS'as I learned that a RepuWic ^-^ ^^^en proclaimed^aris -^^ proper subject for ^'-^'^fjf-!f;;-J^^^^^^ our gi^iDler forms of representative govern- in attaching the hearts of the Lrencn to o^^ u^ j ,,eople. While we make ment, it will be a sub ect of still furcher f^'^f^f^ °,f^^? ^^^^^fj^^Jeo^ntries, and while BO effort to impose ov^r nstitutrons upon tne imi^^^^^^^ ^l^ewherer-e cannot be in- we adhere to our traditional neutrality \ncivil congest, ei ewa. ^ civilized different to the spread of American political ideas m a g.eai ana nig , country like France. ^^^ ^^^^^^ doctrine. The Monroe Doctrine is fully sustained. European colonies upon the American continent are no longer considered transferable from one Power to another, .nd t.eir independence is insisted upon whenever the colonial relations cease . The time is not probably far .ftant when m the ntl -urse of eventj^the European political connection with ths continent wUce^s^.^^^^^ ^^^ ^^^ shaped, in view of this P^^ability, so as to ally tne corn ^United States Spanish American States more ^^f^ly to our own and thus give ^^^ ^^^ all the pre-eminence and all the ^^^^JJ^^^f - ^^^'^^t^^bongress of Panama. Clay'contemplated when they proposed to jomin the ^ong^^^ ^^ ^^^^^.^^ ^^^^ These colonial dependencies ^re no longe. regar^^^^^^^ one European Power to -f ^^ J^^^^^^^^^^^^^ and of self-control Tt^e SrminSo? thli^Se ^o^StLn^nd relation .ith other Powers. THE LAND GRANT POLICY. national domain must be preserved for the settler : 10 those States in opening canals to connect tlie waters of the Wabash with those of Lake Erie, and the waters of the Illinois with those of Lake Michigan. It was followeci, with some modifications, in the grant to Illinois of alternate sections of public land within certain limits of the Illinois Central Railway. Fourteen States and sunary corporations have received similar subsidies in connection with railways completed or in process of construction. As the reserved sections are rated at the double mini-; mum, the sale of them at the enhanced price has thus, in many instances, indemnified the Treasury for the granted lands. The construction of some of these thoroughfares: has undoubtedly given a vigorous impulse to the development of our resources and the settlement of the more distant portions of the country. It may, however, be well in- sisted that much of our legislation in this regard has been characterized by indis- criminate and profuse liberality. The United States should not loan their credit in aid of any enterprise undertaken by States or corporations, nor grant lands in any instance, unless the projected work is of acknowledged national importance. AMNESTY AXD RECOXSTRrCTION. Upon the question of amnesty and reconstruction, the President ia as liberal as. the utmost self-styled ''Liberal Republican" could desire. This exposes the shal-. low pretest of -the disorganizers, who pretend to be dissatisfied with the President's course upon this question : More than six years having elapsed since the last hostile gun was fired between the armies then arrayed against each other— one for the perpetuation, the other for the destruction, of the Union— it may well be considered whether it is not now tima that the disabilities imposed by the fourteenth amendment should be removed. That; amendment does not exclude the ballot, but only imposes the disability to hold offices upon certain classes. When the purity of the ballot is secure, majorities are sure to elect officers reflecting the views of the majority. I do not see the advantage or propriety of excluding men from office merely because they were, before the rebellion, of standing and character sufficient to be elected to positions requiring them to take oaths to support the Constitution, and admitting to eligibility those entertaining precisely the same views, but of less standing in their communities. It may be said that the former violated an oath, while the latter did not. The latter did not have it in their power to do so. If they had taken this oath it cannot be doubted they would have broken it as did the former class. If there are any great criminals, distinguished above all others for the part they took in opposition to the Government, they might, in the judgment of Congress, be excluded from such au amnesty. This subject is submitted for your careful consideration. The condition of the Southern States is, unhappily, not such as all true patriotic citizens would like to see. Social ostracism for opinion's sake, personal violence or threats towards persons entertaining political views opposed to those entertained by the majority of the old citizens, prevent immigration and the flow of much- needed capital into the States lately in rebellion. It will be a happy condition of the country when the old citizens of these States will take an interest in public afiairs, promulgate ideas honestly entertained, vote for men representing their views, and tolerate the same freedom of expression and ballot in those entertaining different political convictions. POLYGAMY — ITS ABROGATIOX DEMANDED. The President insists upon the speedy extinction of polygamy in Utah., and exposes in a few words the shallow pretext of the Mormons in considering it a religious rite : In Utah there still remains a remnant of barbarism, repugnant to civilization, to decency, and to the laws of the United States. Territorial officers, however, have been found who are willing to perform their duty in a spirit of equity and with a due sense of the necessity of sustaining the majesty of the law. _ Neither polygamy nor any other violation of existing statutes will be permitted within the territory of the United States. It is not with the religion of the self-styled Saints that we are now dealing, but with their practices. They will be protected in the worship of God, ac- cording to the dictates of their consciences, but they will not be permitted to violate the laws under the cloak of religion. 11 A KATIOXAL POSTAL TELEGRAPH SYSTEM. Tbe abolition of the telegraph monopoly, which has made the telegraph, which ought to be a5 freely used as the mail?, inaccessible to the general pnblic, by its ex. orbitant prices, is earnestly recommended : The suggestion of the Postmaster General for improvements in the Department presided over by him are earnestly recommended to your special^ attention. Espe- cially do I recommend favorable consideration for the plan for uniting the telegraphic system of the United States with ths postal system. It is believed by such a course the cost of telegraphing could be much reduced, and the service as well, if not better, rendered. It M-ou!d secure the further advantage of extending the telegraph through t)ortion3 of the country where private enterprise will not construct it. Commerce, trade, and, above all, the efforts to bring a people widely separated into a community of interest, are always benefited by a rapid intercommunication. Eaucafion, the ground-work of republican institutions, is encouraged by increasing the iacilities to gather speedy news from all parts of the country. The desire to reap the beneht ct such iiuprovemonts will stimulate education. CIVIL SERVICE KEF0r>M. V\'c insert copious eritracts from the President's message upon this subject, not only on account of its intrinsic merits, but because the impression is held out that the President is not so earnestly in favor of "all practical reforms," as heprofesse's to be. No one can read these paragraphs, with a desire to discern the truth, but must come to the conclusion that the President has thought earnestly and frequently upon this theme. No man can go beyond him in this respect, for all his acts prove that if he desires anything more than ail others it is to render his administration a success by the cstablishmsnt of a model civil service. In his three messages' the same senti- ments are repeated with an earnestness that leaves no room for doubt. Only those who are go blinded by disappointment and prejudice that they accuse him of dishon- esty and deception, can for a moment believe that he will not give any practical scheme of civil service reform a fair trial : The subjee!, of comnensation to the Heads of Bureaus and officials holding positions of resnonsibillty, and' recfuiring ability and character to fill properly, is one to which your attention is invited. But few of the officials receive a compensation equal to the respectable support of a family, while their duties are such as to involve millions of interest. In private life services demand compensation equal to the services ren- dered. A wise economy would dictate the same rule in the Government service. The present laws for collecting revenue pay collectors of customs small salaries, but provide for moieties (shares in ail seizures) which at principal ports of entry par- ticularly, raise the compensation of those officials to a large sum. It has always Eeemed to me as if this system must, at times, work perniciously. It holds out £;n inducement to dishonest men, should such get possession of those o&ces, to be lax in their scrutiny of goods entered to enable them finally to make large seizures. Your attention'is respectfully invited to this subject. efficient e^ litical results were likely against remonstrances wholly political. Always favoring practical reforms, I respectfully call your attention lo one abuse of lon<- standine, which I would like to see remedied by this Congress. It is a reform in the civil service of the country. I would have it go beyond the rnere fixing ot tne tenure of office of clerks and employees, who do not require "the advice and consent of the Sen-te" to make their appointments complete. I would have it govern, not the tenure, but the manner of making all appointments. There is no duty which so much embarrasses the Esecutive and Heads of Departments as that of appointments ; nor is there any such arduous and thankless labor imposed on Senators and i,*epre- seutatives as that of finding olaces for constituents. The present system dijes aot 12 secure the best men, and often not fit men, for public place. The elevation and purification of the civil service of the Government will be hailed with approval by the whole people of the United States. It has been the aim of the Administration to enforce honesty and efficiency in all public offices. Every public servant who has violated the trust placed in him has been proceeded against with all the rigor of the law. If bad men have secured places it has been the fault of the system established by law and custom for making appoint- ments, or the fault of those who recommend for Government positions persons not sufficiently well known to them personally, or who give letters indorsing the charac- ters of office-seekers without a proper sense of the grave responsibility which such a. course devolves upon them. A civil service reform which can correct this abuse is much desired. In mercantile pursuit, the business-man who gives a letter of recom- mendation to a friend, to enable him to obtain credit from a stranger, is regarded as morally responsible for the integrity of his friend, and his ability to meet his obliga- tions. A reformatory law which would enforce this principle against all indorsers of persons for public place would insure great caution in making recommendations. A salutary lesson has been taught the careless and the dishonest public servant in the great number of prosecutions and convictions of the last two years. = It is gratifying to notice the favorable change which is taking place throughout the country in bringing to punishment those who have proven recreant to the trusts con- fided to them, and in elevating to public office none but those who possess the confi- dence of the lioneet and the virtuous, who, it will always be found, comprise the majority of the community in which they live. THE EXECUTIVE POLICY. We now come to his definition of the real scope of Executive policy. This "summing up" of Presidential duties and responsibilities is so excellent that com- ments are superfluous : On my assuming the responsible duties of Chief Magistrate of the United States, it was with the conviction that three things were essential to its peace, prosperity, and fullest development. First among these, is strict integrity in fulfilling all our obligations. Second^ to secure protection to the person and property of the citizen of the United States, in each and every portion of our common country, wherever lie may choose to move, without reference to original nationality, religion, color, or polities, demanding of him only obedience to the laws and proper respect for the rights of others. Third, union of all the States — with equal rights— indestructible by any constitutional means. In conclusion, I would sum up the policy of the Administration to be a thorough enforcemez:t of every law ; a faithful collection of every tax provided for; economy in the disbursement of the same; a prompt payment of every debt of the_ nation ; a re- duction of taxes as rapidly as the requirements of the country will admit ; reductions of taxation and tariff, to be so arranged as to afford the greatest relief to the greatest number ; honest and fair dealings with all other peoples, fo the end that war, with all its blighting consequences, maj^ be avoided, but without surrendering any right or obligation due to us ; a reform in the treatment of Indians, and in the whole civil Bervice of the country ; and, finally, in securing a pure, untrammeled ballot, where every man entitled to cast a vote may do so, just once, at each election, without fear, or molestation, or proscription on account of his political faith, nativity, or color. The President hfis now spoken for himself, and we submit the case without com- ment to the discriminating judgment of an enlightened and conscientious people, with, the sincere conviction that the more extensively this record is circulated, read, and commented upon, the largor.will be his majority in November next. THE REPUBLICAN PARTY THE WORK INGMAN'S FRIEND. [ntrodcctort— The object of political PAJITIE3. No. 1. Id a Republican Government, political parties are espential State maciiinerv, without which tiiorc wonld b*^ political stasnation ; hnt while we recotmize thie fact, we inust also remember that parties are only means, not ends. They are instruments solely for the enforcement of principles, ideas, and policies for the benefit of the entire nation ; and as it is an axiom that frnth alone is immortal, ever triumphant, and conqnerme error ; only that political party which adapts itself to tlie progressive spirit of the atre, and seel^s the promotion of the perma- nent and universal welfare ot the people, will be end urine, ana honored with their confidence and support. And whenever any jiarty ceases to be in ha'-ranny with the reformatory and ptoKresf-ive tendencv of the times, it ceases to be the representative of the majority, which alone confers upon it eflBcacjr and governmi; power. The vital advantage of free government. The benefits and blessings of a Republican governmeut, which guarantees to every citizen an equal voice in tlie management of affairs, consist not chiefly in the 'act that the Republic irives irreater security to lite and piopertv than the Monarchy; that it is more economical; that its civil service is ot greater efflcieucy, or that it commits fewer errors of public policy. The chief value ol a Republic consists in the immense spiritual distance and personal caoa- bllity of a self-eoveining citizen and a governed subject. The consciousness of power, and con- sequent selt-resjiect, tha practical acceptaUou of the fact that every man, no matter what his circumstances in life or his vocation, is equally a ruler and part of the trovernintr power, and that government is not above^ but of him, are the chief advantaees which a republican State pre- sents. It le in these energizing and beueficient influences upon the growth of personal charac- ter, wherein is manifested the infinite superiority of republican over monarchical institutions, before which all minor considerations of rela- tive economy and efficiency dwindle into iaeig- nificance. Good ck>vibnmsnt sssENxuii to human haf- PINE38. Twenty-two centuries ago, Solon, the great law-giver of the Athenians, and the wisest man of bis age, in describing the happiest man whom be ever knew, placed foremost as the first es- eeotial condition of that happiness, that he "lived in Greece, a well ordered btate." The air we breathe, the water we drink, and the genial sunshine that bathes us, are not the less essential or vital to life because ttiey are so abundant that we take no notice, and even ne- glect to thank a beneflcient Providence which has so fully adapted them to our needs. And to this great republic, security of life and prop- erty, an untrammelled press, a free religion, freedom to change one's occupation and to Mpire to agv office witliia the gift of tb« people. are principles of so universal recognition, that we do not fully appreciate these essential and vital conditious to a happy and well developed life ; nor are we sufficiently grateful and at- tached to our government which alone guaran- tees them. We should never lorset that this ia the only ffreat and well-ordered republican State in the world ; that everywhere else we have either despotisms, absolute or qualified, or nominal republics tempered with anarchy and civil wars. The duties we owe to the govebkment. To ensure the permanency of this maenlfi- cent and ineslimat)le inheritance, we owe it more than our vote and pecuniary support ; we owe it our highest thought, constant viellanoe, and zealous co-operation. Not only in time of war has the -government a right to command our lives and fortunes, but in time of peace it has the right to demand our most profound thoutrht and watchful 6are. The Republican party maini.t composed OK workinomen. The great majority of the people of the United States, who are toilers with brain and hand, are particularly interested in the main- tainence of our government. The Republican party, under whose leadership the government is now moving, is composed almost exclusively of laboring men ; in the North and West, its stronghold is among the farmers and the me- chanics of Ibe villages, and in the South its most enthusiastic supporters are the recently emanci- pated slaves. Thus tne separate interests of the workingmen are safe in its keepiner; for while we have an abundant number ol laborers we have, thank God, no laboring class — no hereditaiy caste. Men may be engaged either in physical or mental labors, or in any particular branch thereof, during their whole life, but it is entirely voluntary, and many of them change from one to the other as it may to them seem best. There is no permanent laboring class. The assumption that there is a laboring class, or interior caste, bavins separate and antago- nistic interests, which descends from father to son, and from which no one can rise or change is a monarchical idea, imported from abroad and inapplicable to our country. And to pre- vent the formation of a permanent laboring class, as distinguished from a professional or a capitalist class, ought to be the object of earnest solicitude with every American statesman and. thinker. No natural antagonism between labor ahd capital. For the purpose of convenient distinction, and not because there exists such an absolute line of demarkation in real life, we may assume that there are three distinct stages of capital in the United States: the capital of physical labor; the capital of mental labor, and the capital ot accumulated or capitalized labor. Between these three classes of capitalists there is no natural or necessary antagonism. All of them are interested in the security of life and prop- erty, in the euforcement of coatractcu in Van € .W- 2^ •s^.^ *«»' ^■• . freedom of mnkins contracts ; In the complete liberty of chantring vocaliqn and inveslmeats, in general eclucaiion, and ihe peacLfnl and econ- omical administration of publ c allair^. The capitali.-t of phv.Mcal labor lias for sale his day's ■woik; the c;ipitaii.-l of mental lubcr his pro- f2f»sional siiiil, and the capituhst of reserved i;ibnr the accumulation which either he or his tnccstors have acquired. Sometimes the one andpomftjcnostheothei of these classes receives the hiahest fliare of reward. It frequently hap- pens in our Western territories, or in our mining districts, that physical labor is in fo great de- mand tliat lawyers and doctors engage side by •Ide with ordinary laiiorers in physical worit, bocaufo it brings by farllie higliest reward. At other times flic capital represented by physical labor Is 60 abundant, and the reserved and ac- cumulated capital is in such great demand that !t rvwlvcs the lion's share ol the reward- Statement op the labor problem. The main question, which an inquiry Into the labor problem suggests, is two (old : First, how can the capitalist ot a day's labor, com- f)rlning as it does th*' largest class of our popu- atlon, receive in exchange the greatest amount 01 comfort, and the greatest sliare of profit. Secondly, how can he rise nsost easily and El»eedily to tlie condiiion of a capitalist of re- served labor, or a capitalist of skillful mental acquirements. 'i hese questions are of the moat vital import- ance 10 file progress of the woild. They are so profound and interwoven with the fabric of so- ciety, tliattliey require tlie most earnest, con- BCleuiious, pains-taliing. impartial, and non- partizan investigation. They cannot be solved oj the cheat) rhetoric of tlie political agitator, nor by intuition, nor by the unlettered and onluiored auggestions of auy class, loolciug upon them from a partial- standpoint. And If the words of counsel which we are about to present to our fellow laljorers do not clear •way all the difllcultles surrouuding the subject , wo kuow, at least, that, our suggestions are the reeult, both of earnest taought, and of a sincere dc£ire to Uvel up OUT physical laborers without levelling down any olhf r class. Elevate, edu- cate, make moral and free, the basis of society, mod not only is the safety of the State ensured, bat all other classes will t;e prosperous aod coBteated. THE REPUDLICAN PARTY THE WORK INQMAN'S FRIEND, No. 2, FowTiCAi^ Personal and Associated action . To lift op the masses of men to a higher ftandpolnt of moral aud mental excellence, to mpart to them greater skill, greater produc- tive power , greater sclfrespect and higher con- scientious motives, are the only means of a per- maneut cure of poverty, crime and discontent. This can be accomplished by three-lold action FoUtical, Personal and Associated. pRorsR Political Action. Political action can only tend incidentally to tbU object. The worki^gmen, like all good eitizeup, ouglit to ally themselves with that ^arty, wbose hiRiory furnishes the most com- plete (ruarautecs of beneflcient progress. If the workiugmen of the United Stales have any epeclUc reforms to propose, they muetflrct pre- (Jtai Utem al Ike bfti oi pabUa oaiaion. where all political eanses are tried, and then endeavor to have thorn incorporated in the platform ot tne dominant political party; for in tiuit way tlicy will bo moat sperdilv converted into tho law of the land. It then the Ucpuijlican paity has given evidence that ii is ready to adopt atl princii'iea and ideas wli ch the pupuiar ccn- science approves and make ttiem u part of its platform, snrelv the worklngman, as Ruch, has no occasion flrf=t to tear down th^t political party and establiph a new one, for the niirpo?o of accomplishing his objocts. Common eonee clearly indicates that it is much easier to engraft any popular princinle into ttic platform of the dominant party wbich has the powor to carrv it out, than first to popularize a princiiile, which must bo done at aJl event?, and then tear down the party and substitute a new and special p-irty in its place. It may be strongly suspected, therefore, that those who advocate tlie pro priety of securing special ierislation for the working man by tlie formation of a new party, are using this only as a pretext to bring tlie Democratic party into power, and for the par- pose of obtaining pelf, places, and power for themselves. In BO far then as the workingraan needs speci»i legislation, he can obtain it, after due discussion, from the Republican party, which has a history ttiat incontrovertibly shows that it has been, for the last ten jears, the one, real, practical friend of the workiogmao, making no distinction on account of race or color. Uistort ot the Workinoman's Movemext. What has given to the modern labor move- ment its strength and consideration? What lias given an impulse to the elevation and dig- niflcatiou of labor throughout the whole world, except the abolition of involuntary labor in the United States? During the forty years' reign of the Demo- cratic party, several millions of workingmen and women and their offspring were bought and sold, like the cattle of the field, and dedicated to the Infernal tnoloch of American Slavery. American workingmen were prevented by cruel and outrageous laws from learning to read and write, and, conaequeutly, to think. Ttiey were prevented both by laws and pubilo opinion from leaving the class of physical la- borers to enter the professiona or to become their own employers. The Reoublican oarty, eeekingthe emancipa- tion of this oppressed class, through good and evil report, and after year« ot struggle and obloquy, succeeded in arousing the pubic con- science to demand the abolition of involuntary servitude. The Republican party insisted that voluntary labor, secured by voluntary and equitable contracts, should bie substituted for involuntary and hereditaiv slavt^ry. The party has done more than this. It has over- come successfully, with the «id of the nation^ a glgautlc civil war. Under Its leadership several hundred thousand Uien sacriticed thoir ^ lives in behalf of that grand principle. Luat in- Toiaatacy servitude sliaU be forever ^boliBhed, EonCATION AND EKTRAtCCniSEMENT. The enormous debt which now rests upon the nation, and which is an mcubus upon every man's energies, was caused t>y the iau: gigantic rebellion, xhese rebels were all I'emocrata. There were no Reputilicank In the ret>eliion. And aiACfi tlut Ume ever; meana caiculAied to bcDPflt thfB c^nsB Of TKXJT eroanclTrntefl laborers ha« iif'T rn-i5t'.'c3 w:U) iufolcnee and maHsnlty. Ilic K'l Klnj oiilragcs to-day arc nothing mori- ihiin ilio sail)" maliimancy on tlie part of the l.im|-ho)()iT8 PL'ains'. tlieir lormer 8laTC8, trying' Ijj iniiiuidalion to nave them giibmit to tlirir jMLTinii!. domination, cneatmg them out of their vvaircs. and -edncinsr. Ihcra to their for- mer slate of iiDjcr'. dcnendence, thoueli they cannot rc-('eiai)li?li dlavc^y in name. Tlie Ke])iii)l:car party lias made the very name oi njlon-j a j 'jiiular catch-word — «o that fiscudo relormTs flru proclamini; their !>llly re- orin no^lriiinf Ilk-- patent mcilicine dealers, on every gtiiinp. Unt'l the Repn'ilican party made "leonn'' popmar, conservatism and coneerva- Uvc uoblruinf wer" (he order of the day. TDC llOMESTBAD LAWS. The record Fiiowi,and it is a dark and damn- Intr iccQid, lli.Ti tli-f only veto which President Biichiinan Ijad th-' courarc to muster, was hmled atrninat the liOmestead Bill, which en- acted thai the puh'ic domain shall bo set apart lor lire Usc ol ihe actual settlers. It supcr- tccdcd ihe issue of land warrants, which could be bouj,'lil up t>y capilalisls, and located in laru'e bodies, thus prevrnlinLj the worUiiiaman from KuiuiiiL' a linmi' upon the nalional-doinaiii, ex- Cei't on u.-nr ous :ipd difuilvantatrcous terms. It was I lie Kepublieau party that in llio v^ry flr>i ye.ir ul ii.» i)ower, enacted the lloinestcad Bill into a law, and has ufiLeld its pruvisions ever s-mee. Tl:e memory ol the American peo- ple iiiu-i l)c cliort, indeed, i( Ihcv do not recol- lect 'hilt III!' llijiiie.-lead policy was denounced by iLc Deinocimic press, as UDCOD&UtuUoual, »K;.'rariaii aud revolutionary. £Spi;axcuisement of the rnwnvvs. The l{epuljl:eiin party, not salislied with the fiere eniiineiniilion of the Southern working- nun, eiilraueliibed them, and conferred upon them the lieedipau's weapon— the ballot— so tl.at I'ley iniL'lu he able to maintain their poli- tical and pertonal ri;;h(6 0l voluntary labor and 01 Slate t.ducuLiuu, a};aiu6t tbe as&aulla of titcir eoeujies. TnE Fkredma^'s Bureau. The RepuMitan parly did more than that. It favv that these people were too poor to main- tain voliiiitary tichuols. It saw thai the public eciitiinenl in the lorincr slave States was totally otniosen to i^iviiitr ill em an education or to es- tabji.-li ecuniiion schools of any Hud. The South never had dceciu schouU belore eraanci- pa; ion, ai'd deteriniued not to have any lor the Q.-e Ol the Ireedmeu. Therefo'-e the Ireeilmen'e -■ bcreaii was iiiftiiuieii, ^hiLMl lor several years _. Ul ilertcnyK lo efttablish sehoule under national *^ ail I'ices, free alike lo the children of all T^ cla.-.feb ; and il tlie freedmen proljled most j4 liiiiiely by these national Bchouls, il was be- cuu.-e the white worKin^rniau Lad sunk so low as to lie unable to appreciate the advaulafjes ami blessiuirs ol eiliie:iiioii. <5^ llie Uepuhliean paity made, moreover, a sol- emn coiii| act beHire readimlliuji the late rebel- /iiiue States into the Umou, that they bhould uiaintaiu, hereuller, public schools open to all, which could only inure lo the beuclit ol tlie Rorkinmiieu, both black aud while TUE I'l KITT OK TUB IULLOT BOI. The lleputjliean ('arty lias enacted a law to f)roleel eai-U aiul every man in eaaliuii his bal- 01, to preveul bAilol-btuiiiu;^ bj UiiWorUij iD^B, to KTJarautw to e&cb swfl ctotv wrtrWflS* man hi? absolute sovereienfy ; and to secure to him his ciiual influence, which is endan^^red by the corriiptinir power of weaUh, wichW-l by monopolies and consolidated capital. But In every staije, in every turn, no matter what beneflcient provisions were proposed, the Hc- pnblican party has encountered the virnb-nt and deadly Hostility ol the Domocralic leaders and press. And even to-day, in the recent ad- dress which was pulilislie.d bv tiiem, si'/mul by fourteen United i^tates Sena'ors, and ninety- three Democratic Repre^^entaiives, wti deiy irny one to find one siucle irenerous sentiim.-M. the proposal of a sin'zle siiecific measure of reform, a ginile line exjiresi-in!.' in eniion to benefit, either the working man, or the country at larirn, or ns let'dinu to augment the glorv und bcmor of llie Nation, eitlicral home or abrond. Ills the same svstem ol fault-(indin<^, of pullin? down, of beliltleing, of every true conscien- tious and philanthropic man that lias nndba- vered to promote the progress of our country. \v liencver our Government has endeavored to protect the weak and poor in their riirhts, the Democratic parly has exhausted the vo* cabularv of ournbrious terras, in denouncia- tion of the Uepuhliean |)arty. Surely the work, inir-mcn of the United States a'-c loo iniellf- cent to lie mi-led by l!:is tierce denunciation of mcnsurcp, wh ch experience and time have proved of benefit alike to Ihe national large, and particuliiriy to the poor men of.inteKrily, and mlerestcd in an honest goverumcnt. Land Grants to Railkoads. It is true Ijrire quiintities of public lands have been granted to Railroad Companies, and the time lias come when this system ol d:s»- posing of the public dom;rm mu-lstop. Some ol the laud grants were not made judiciously, and the tciuptalion lo Congicssiona' corrup- tion is very trrenl.. Yet the land uranls given to the PaciDc Railways are, by no means, an nnmixed evil. They have rendered aceeg.>ible manv millions of acres of land— lost in Ihe American desert— which, as long as speedy communication was wanting, could only be used as hunting L'rounds. The Railroad Companies are greatly Inter- ested in emiL'ratiou ; it is ol the utmost con- sequence lo Ihein, to have their long and ax- poscd lines protected bv seillemeiiis ; and, llierelore, they are ollerin- Iheir lands on suen ea-y terms llial eiuigranis prefer them to the public lands further oil. A law. however, ou '111 to be speedily enacted, lixing the mas- imum piice of t.aid lands, and pieveuimg Uieir sale in lartrc coiiUl'Uous bodies lo biiiirle in- dividuals and corpuralioua. 1 am glad llmt public seuliiiieiit has l)een aroused upon thia (Tueslion, und that the workingnieu aud people Generally, wdl visit with political danm.ii.ou Ihe politician who lavors Ihe sipiandcnnL' of ii.e nublic domain. Tue RepuUiieau party and D -ess are lully commiUed aL'auisi lurlUer luuil grams on the terms hilherioo made. Tub Eiout llouit Law. »♦ ihp, demand of lue worKiiitimen. and as . * li mal ciample. the Kepubliean parly en- I wi iri. o ■' all PuWic woi ka, eighl Hours shall " ^^ ;u^'a\lay's worli. This is auoUier evl- 'i'''". I1..1 Un- party has been aui.ous lo se- .':;re"ll!;'^\ull«e •- -^ cu-op«raUou of m, acluMU. 4 THE REPUBLICAN PARTY THE -WORK- INGMAN'S FRIEND. . No. 3. EOONOMT ARD EDUCATION. ^orkinsrmen must, however, act individually for the attainment c* prosperity. So that con- tracts are enforced ; bo tiiat life and property are secure ; so that every youne man Is freely permitted to learn any trade, or enter any voca- tion he pleases, and every man is allowed to change that vocation at will; bo that no law is made which takes more from than thev ought to pay; so that it provides them with a com- plete and free system of education — taking the child from the primary school and advancing Mm to the grammer and high school, and finally sending him to the University without any charge of tution ; the State has done all that it ought to do as an orsranized corporation. The individual workmen must observe tem- Serance, industry, enerary and persistence, abits of study and careful observation, espec- ially in the way of making the mechanical arts and occupations more esteemed. EOONOMT IS OF THE HIGHEST VALUH. Is there anything in the conditious, circum- Btances, or laws of the United StateR that will prevent any of your boys from becoming inde-- pendent and have an accumulated capital of at least $10,000 wuen forty years of age ? I take the following illustration from a recent number of the Dubuque Times, of what immense results the savings of thirty cents per day will accom- plish : How BOTS MAT BBOOME RiCH. In Dubuqtjb there are one thousand boys on the threshold of manhood and business life, possessing sufficient education for ordinary business purposes, and who feel sure that if they only had the capital with which to embark in business, they might, in the course of an ordi- nary lifetime, acquire an independence, if not great wealth. Of these one thousand boys, a large portion ol those who remain alive until they arrive at old age will then find themselves seedy, penuiless and wretched — or but a single step above this condition, struggling for a meager subsistence, by hard day's works de- pendent upon some capitalist for the emplov- ment whereby ttieyearu their bread. And then, in looking back over the past, and questioning with themselves why their lives should have been such a failure, they will declare, and, per- haps, actually believe, that "luck was against them;" that they were ob'i.ifed fo begin life tjyithout capital, and ne' sr lound an opportunity to acquire capital, to serve as a foundation for a fortune. We r* .'pcae to examine into the validity of this plea. The majority of tV"^8e young men, in imita- tion of the habit/ .>» f^e best society, make use of tobacco in the .-Mt^ of cigars. Some smoke rarely, but are select in their taste, and use only the better kinds of cigars ; say, three a day at ten cents each. Others — and by far the greater number— average six cigars a day, at (we will say) five cents each. Thirty cents a day for cigars or tobacco in some shape Is a very moderate allowance for an ordinary habitual smoker. This amounts to (80x365) $109.50 a y«ar. In the course of the year, by purchas- iog at wholesale, the individual may make a Mvlof; of tb« odd $9.50,.l«aying the even tlOO. as ihe arootmi expended' for iMbftCco In the course oi the year. We wlU begin with young mfln sevenleen years of age. Between his seventeenth and eiehtecnih birthday he expends $100 for cigars. That $100, if placed at interest at 10 per cent. on his eiglitecnth birthday, would, bv his nine- teenth birthday, amount to $110. That $110 place,d at interest until his twentieth birthdav, would amount to $121. That $121 placed at interest until his twenty-flrst birthday, would amount to $133.10. By continuing the calculn tion, the smoker will find that the one hundred dollars expended during his seventeenth year, if Bimplv put out at interest at ten per cent., and reinvested annuallv— a very easy thing to do- by the time the Individual had arrived at a good hale old age, ready to "retire from business" and enjov life, would amount to the startling sum of $9,720.03. The amount at ten per cent interest, by the time the individual would be sixty -five years old, of $100 expended in cigars or tobacco by h young man in his — TEAR. TEAR. $ 211l.4?|49ch 1916.48|.50th TEAR. IVth 18th . 19t,h . 20th . 21st . 22d . 23d . '.i4th . 25th . 26th . •27th . 28th . 29th . 8t)th . 31st . 82d . Total $ 9750.03 8820. OS . ^018. :i I 7281*. 28 6,,2rt.5 . 14'l.4l , 133.1(» . 121.(10 . 110.00 . lOJ 00 $105,395. .50 In other words the young man who uses tobacco in any shape, to the value of thirty ceuls a day, in the course of an ordinary life-tirae, expends an amount, which, if instead of spend- ing it for tobacco, he had invested annuallv at tea per cent interest, would pfford him a fortune of over one hundred thousand dollars. We do not think of a word of comment that can add to the force of these figures. A PERMANENT PURPOSE IN LIFE. One thing above all others cannot be im- pressed upon both old and young with too great an emphasis. It is, that a definite purpose of life, and a conviption that what we mav produce with hand or brain, is for the benefit of the world, is essential to our happinoss. An id'e life leads to worthlessness, wretchedness, gam- bling, debauchery, and finally to tho Stntn prison or an early grave. It isan essential c .n- dition, made a law by the Creator Himseif, which no man can, with impunity, tramegress, tint in- telligent, continuous eflort to do and accom- plish something is essential to individual con- tentment. The envy, therelore, whicli som- times enters the heart of the wotkinginen against the sons of rich men whom th'-y ^ee loitering on the street corners, is misplaced. These men do not only, not enjoy the same degree of personal happiness and comfort, 'tut they are often pluuged into recklessne ss .and vice. Look then not to witTumt for relief, but fVom witbti, Among the inalien«,b!e Hgbte of a fT«eio«B atande prosmSnent the right to enter Into a contract, and the right to work for whom he pleases, and at ench wasas as he (or bimeelf may datermine. First class me- chanics oneht to resist the attempt of inferior and incompetent men to control their waees and hours of labor. The man who da^es not to face the world on his own hook — who dares not to take a job of work without permission of some "order" will always remain as poor as a church mouse. A Trade among thb Inalibnablb rights. A trfide or callin? is the birth-ri£;ht of every man and woman who chooses to follow it. To prohibit, by law. by usasre or by combinations, any person from becomms: a mechanic or artizan Is a crime. The assumption, that if tLere are but a lew men to work in a particular calling, doing a minimum amount of work, the price of that class of labor will thereby be enhanced, is entirely fallacious. Theie is a point at which consumption stops. Whenever the production of any article is eo costly that by doing other work we cannot equal it as an equivalent, other articles ate used in )t8 place. Thus, tor instance. If all the bricklayers in the Uuited States were to combine and char-re a hundred dollars for laying a thousand bricks, the consequence would be that brick houses would not be built, and brick laying avoided in every possible way. In fact, we are doing as much v#ork with all the improved machinery thut we now have — with steam power, railways, eteam-boats, power looms, &c.— in a month, than fifty years ago, we did in a year, yet there is more demand for work, a greater demand for skillful and intelli- gent laborers than was ever known before. The more industry there is in 'the land, the greater is the demand for workers, and the more idle- ness, the less capacity is there tor general em- ployment. Thb absence of Capital. Some agitators are trying to make the work- ingman believe that the paradise of the laborer is where there is no capital. In other words, it all the rich men and wealth were svepi. out of existence, and every man had to do his own work, thus being his own employer, holding only as muca land as he, by himself, could cultivate, the millenium for workingmeu would have come. If any of these geutlemen wish to try this condition of aSairs practically; if they wish to live in a land without capital, and, tnerelore, without machinery, without roads, without good schools, universities, churches, public buildings and other necessary institutions of high civilization ; it they wish to go to a land where each man raises enough for his own needs and packs a little surplus, where- with to obtain his tools, on the back of an ass or mule and carries it to the sea coast, let nira go to Santo Domingo, lor there that happy con- dition of society exists. There you have enough to eat — Und nature gives that plentifully; there with very little exertion, you can raise enough tobacco and other products to eschauge lor clothing ; and then you can be as happy as the hog that only needs In addition a mud-pud- dle lor complete enjoyment. The absence of capital, as such, is not a blessing, but a very great disadvantage, and, therelore, the object ol the phdanthropist is to show a way oy which every man, every laborer can become, pardy oy self-sacriflce, partly by higher skill and greater ledDcatiOB, and partly by equitable lawa, a capi- tftlist himeelH W« should try to conyert oo"^ country into a land of capitalists instead of • land of poverty and wretchedness. Stirely, if we have a consciousness of our own immor- tality ; if we regard this lite as only probation- ary—as one fitting the soul for a higher destiny, and greater mental and moral exertions hei eaf- ter, a definite purpose in life which prevents the rufct ol idleness and corraption from corrod- ing our vitahtv, ?s an essential condition both to our happiness here and hereafter. Thus thai laborer who conscientiously does his duty, edu- cates hie children, uisres them to enter an honest vocation, can be, and is the happiest man of his age and time. MEA3TJKE8 OF PERMANENT RRLIBF. But wiiat of the future ? Among the remedies most likely to develope the manhood of the workingmen, and aid their material develop- ment, the following are suirgested: First, The alliance of the workingmen with the partv of progress, humanity, law and order, and opposition to the party of organized villany, deception and fraud. It must be evident to all, that Tammany Hall corruption combined with secession hatret and Ku Klux outrages, would, in case of success at the next election, nation- alize the New York system of organized corrup- tion, and the rule of great corporations. Why is there more poverty and crime in New York city than any whereon the continent? It is because thirty -five millions of taxes are wrung from the producers, annually, to be in great part, divided among a few men of immense wealth like Twead and others. II the workingmen were to organize and to support the Kepublicau party, they could select their own men and place them upon the ticket for Congress in all large cities. 'The Republican party would gladly honor with its support some intelligent and patriotic artizau. Before you rush into the dark, and peril all you have gained, you had better first try what earnest co-opera- tion with the Republican party will do. Seconuly, Oruanized and powerful railway and other combinations mast be restrained in their rapacity by law. There is nothing above the State, aud no combination can be allowed to subvert the general rights of the community. The railways are our only practical public high- ways, and Congress has lu'l power' to regulate the charges on freight and passengers for the proteciion of tue public. The laws of the ScaiHS gave railways tne right of entry on pri- vate lauds, because it was held that they Were necessary ior commerce and inter-communica- tion, and this part of the compact cannot be auuulled by arbitrary and extortionate charges. Tliiidly, The Government ought to aid the couslruclion or construct a double track rail- way from St. Louiyto New York, with a few bianche.5 from Chicago and Cincinnati, in the West, and one to Botton and Baltimore in the East, waicn sliould be open to all persons as a great freight road. A uniform rate oi speed, and a toll sufficient to keep the road-bed in order, with a sitctjal code and the use of the telegraph are all the conditions necQesary. This road would regulate the Iroiahts of all others, and provide moreover cheap transportation for emigrants, and also lor catUe. Fourthly, Tbe Government ought to estab- lisii a svstem of Post Offlce Saving Banks, which would be of great benefit to the Government itself, and of still greater advantage to the peo- nia who baye bo bank AceonntB. There are 'J. 6 ctw»tantlT at resi \n our trtdoly extendea ccran' try from tliree to four hnndrpd miUlonB of dol- lars, wliicl) nre not deposited bronnFe tliey are owi.ed in too ?mall Bums and ftiblpct to con- Btnnt usa. If Xhon the Goverpmcnt were to emnblisl) ti Post Qfnpc Snvincr Bank in everv viHairc of LOOO inlml)itant« or TipwnrdP, at which «11 piTFODS could mnke d^poeitsin su'ns of five doUnrs or more und receive interest on the eamr; at the rate of (onr per cent per anHiim,it wonld be a eiciit inducement to the yonns: to pjive their curninsp, aflnrd a cheap loan to the Gov- ernment, and also cause the payment to the people ol (rnra twelve lo sixteen millions of doU Jars per year on money that is now lying idle. In addition to thig hunlc, a pvstem of transfer drafts could i)e introduced bo that a family orai- prating from Boston could deposit their money lliere, and fake out a transfer draft, payable at 8t Paul. This svRtem ot national paving banks vith traneler dralta wonld be of very sroat and permanent benefit to the working ciasscs. It is also perfectly practical, eapily managed and trnderstood, and very ranch liko the money Older Byctem. As soon as the National Debt is sufficiently diminisiicd to make the interest burden easy, «nd ihe niiichinery ot the Postal Government Saving Bnnkfe is perfectly established, the Gov- ernment niav go one step lurther, and re-loan the peop'e'p money at fivener cent, per annum, lo build up bona fide industrial enterprises, and more particularly, mechanlcb co-operative as- sociations, 1^'t us enforce and set in motion the principles herein pet lorlli, and we will ha\e reached a Ijitther level of social and administrative in- fluences, upon wliicli we can rear & beautiful and permanent superstructure, Tlie liappinefs and prospority of each and every citizen, and not t!ie increase ol commerce or of production, should ho the first object of •ociety and of law ; and It may even be neces- sary lo discourage this wild and often unprin- cipled hunt after material riclics, now inaugu- rated. At all events, every real prosrress is achieved by long, continuous and painful strug- gle, and. therefore, we must not be discouraged because ten or twenty years are required — which Ju the lile of a nation are but as a single year — to gain acceptance for new and important truths. Filily, The Statistical Bnreau ought to be chariicd witli the regular collection ol facts as to the demand of laborers and mechanics in diflercnilncalilics; llie "vages paid, and the price ol land, produee, board, «fec. If several hun- dred thou-and dollars can be spent to announce tlie daily Biate ol the weatiier; surely this in- formation is of greater importance, and can be collected witli less expense. A Betteh System of Education, Sixlly, The majo'ily ol the American peo- Ele are proud ol their system of education, ave spent already laige sums to establish it, aid are willing to make even greater pecuniary Bticntices to enlariie it. And yet it must be evident to every thinker that tlie system is gieaily and radically deficiool. It cannot be expected tliat tins great question shall be here fully discussed, but a few suggestions are tiiiown out whose consideiation may, in time, produce good result?. First and foremost, we must have better and more highly trained teachers. Wo must make Uie oUico of teaciier ijato one of tbe most* It not Vit vaoti important prnfCTslon. Atid wWTa we insist on a long and arduous course of stiecial training, we must also adequately re* mnnerate the successful teacher. The system of hiring young women who only look to teach- ing as a temporary expedient, until a cliance for marriage occurs, is not only money wasted but a very greatand lasting injury inHirtcd npon the rising generation. Tlie cstalilifhment of semi* naries for teachers is an absolute and immediate necessity; for Plato well and truly said, "Ibat while seven years of silent study nre necessa-y to discern the truth, fourteen years are necessary to enable one to learn how to teach it tool hers." I take, moreover, the ground that what we call "education" is exceedingly deficient in compass. It does well enougli within its chan- nel which is exceedingiy narrow, but it does not pretend to educate all the laciiilies ol the hti* man being. The whole system consists in train- ing the memory so that it may retain mechani- cally a certain number of facts; and in sliarpeo- ning tlie intellectual faculties without enlargmq; their scope, I cannot think of one exception to the rule that tt.e United States liave not pro- duced a single man, great in any walk ol life, who has spent the llrst sixteen years of liis life in a city oi upwards of eiglity thousand inhahi- tante. That individuality of character which alone gives personal prominence is entirely wanting, an4 cannot be replaced by meic cul- ture or rtfinemcDt. Onr present system deula chiefly in words and trifles, which, whether re- membered or not, arc of very little consciiuencc. Grammar and spelling are very well in their place, but they ar9 not the cliiof end of educa- tion, II the man is otherwise great, he Icarus them in other t)Hr«uit6, and if his character is dwarfed his snelling is ( t very little consequence. The child lias various faculties, [)hysical, moral, mental and mechanical ; and every sysluin of education that docs not aflord the mcaus ot educating ail of these, is a laiUire. Our educational system ouglit to he monldcd upon the suggestions of Pestalozzi and Froehle. The child between five to eiglit 3cars of age, ought to liave a chance to educate its eye. hands fingers and limbs. Under the guise ol play, it ought to be taught the correct use ol the pencil, needle, tools, &c. It ouglit to be taught lo sing. to recite, to construct and to amuse itself and others. In fact, learning should be made, and it, moreover, can be made, the most pieasiug and entertaining portion of a child's lile. Propek Mouai. Instboctions, In our anxiety to keep out ol our public BClioolsall religious dogmas— that is theology or reasoning about God pri>per — so that Atheists, Deists, Jews, Protestants aid Callioliccj may have no conscienlious scrunles lo send their children, wo liave excluded all moral cultiva- tion and instrucLion as such. We liave exmi- pliflcaliond of the nrtilicial and arbitrary divi- sionsol the sound of every letter in tlical|)h;ibet; we have the most insignificant grummatical deviation duly noted, wo have all the ariihmeli- al, al!4ebrnical aud geometrical rules com- mitted to nicinory, but there is not a ^ingle text book that points out to the growi!lnin and thorou'rh, and Mi'oids (he introduction of thcoloirical doirmas. I'his fulji'Ct is one ol eo crcat Importance that It odL'lit to cxcile liic alicntion of ali who wish to nial'da stand aiiainsl I lie manifest increase of corriipiion in piivalc and public lile. Sunday Bcliools, AThicli ure chiifly encased In teaching llieoloiilcai douraas, arc crvilicly inadequate to (ITU a butficic'cv of purely moral in^'trucllons. I'ltot'Eit Female Edocatios. The masfL-s ol thcKrowinz female children bnvu no suitable educational facdiiics provideil lor their use. Tlie answer '. hatonr unlverEities, liiw and medical collcirus are now opened to all, is like the elit of a stone to those wlio hun- ger forurcad. The dauirhtcrs of our arllzans, tradcj^nicn, laborers and tmall farmers, have not the time to altnnu universities. Nor wouid it bo of any bcncDt to many bLcau=e they have not suUicicnt capacity, for neither the raaasesol men or women arc titled lor the prolessions. Inasmuch us the probabilities arc that lonr tcmales out of Dvc will get married, the Female Polytechuic tchoola should teach every branch of house-keep. n?, and particularly cooking. The waste oi bad cookery is Iriuhtful— fully equal 10 25 per cent of all the food consurued. Dul iiniBmueh as she may never be married, or become a widow, she ouqrht to have tue facility ol learning; a trade. The use ot the sewing and Uniliing machiiic, bonnet trimming, dress mak- ing, tailoring, fancy work, even earriagd trim- miug and paiulini;, and all sorts of trades flttcd !or woman should be taught freely to all. This Is the practical remedy lor four tilths ol the complaints we now hear. It is a great absurdi- ty to ilaiin that lemaies eet less wages than men because they eonnot vote. The reason they get fciualier pay is tiiat thcv do lesr satisfactory woik, and tliC chief cause of this is, that they bave to "pick up," whatever they may uuder- take, withouuhorou2h traininsj or preparation. I TraIjb Scudols Foii Males. I It Is about lime that something should be done to meet the want ol our growing youth that is pre van ted partly by Trades Unions, and partly by a loolisU public sentiment, from leaxuing ostful trades. To many youths anylhiug is pre- leraUlo to regular work. The street railways arc overrun with applications for conductor- ships, though the pay is only two dollars for tout teen hours work. The same men might £0t four dollars for ten Hour's work as machinists, carpoulcrs or masons. A trado is a sheet an- chor It ib a real and abiding capital — a never laiUug resource iu case ot failure elsewhere. Tuo leeling ol eccuiity and power of the man who can say, "very well, if all other means fail I CUD work at my trade" ; gives him courage to VBsothc battle of life witu success. I would eairuat the happiness pf my dauizhter a thous- acd limes rather to a competent mechanic than lo any young man, no matter how genteely eecmiiig, who baa uo regular protessioa or cal- The diploma given by a Polytechnic school of a b'gh grade, alter a thorough examination by experts, would be a passport to foremanships and •o-p&rUier£luf ■ wilh capitaHats. The gradoia- tlon of thesB youthrtrt mechanics, going forth into tlie world, full o( heart and hope that Ihey are able to toll and to build, would be witnessed and applauded by all classes of society. A graduated mechanic, with the training, air and polish of the studout, would be wclcomo In every social circle. Thus rau!«t labor bo honored, elevated and respected. And I ''ope that the Hcpubllcan State Governments will at onco initiate this beneflcient and necessary reform. Lastly, This system of education naturally leads to the last and most important ol all means for the elevation of the workinirmcn— the system of mutual co-oiieralion between capital- ists and workmen. VVueoeyer this system has been lairly tried. It ha.-i been a wonderiul suc- cess. It is tiue mere sham eo-parinerthms, wlierethe capitalists have tried to overreach the employes by Iraudulent entries and cliargcs, have tailed. But an honest and brotherly divi- sion of profltfi has always been a success. The profxisllion that the workingmaii should receive a stipulated fcum, and In addition a reasonable share ol profit, has every where produced sails- lactory results. But a ihorou?hiy educated and trained mechanical class will mjko these co- partnerships the rule instead ol iho exception. Conclusion. What a glorious countrjr ihii wiU be when w« have well educated and scieutilic arlizjns; whea the printer, the book-bindLT, ihj bhicssniith, aud the carpenter will be graduates from instiiuUons, takinif a pride iu their calhng, believing that they arenotoalv equal in law to all other men, but that their vocation is as honorable, as respec.able, and as conducivfi to the comfort and necessity of men as that of the lawyer, the doctor, or ihe mm- ister Thus we will have a real Irateruily, a broth- erhood not in speech but ia fact, a brotherhood of highly-skilled, intellectual men, who choose to be the line thing or the other, btcause they expect to excel in their respective callings. And thus will be realiiod the kindly doclarauoa of bcoiland a. poet of the people, that "Rank is but the guinea's stamp A man's a mau tor a' that." The Government of the United States is at present in honest hands, in safe hands, m patnoUc hands. No one doubts the painolism of I resi- dent Grant, by whose foresight and m htary skill, the workingman's cause was prevented from being the "lest cause," apd the coniederate or capitalist* cause was prevented from being the dominant cause. No one questions the high mtegruy or uo- approachable honesty of Secretary Bouiwell, who presides over our finances in these times oi rapaci- ty and curruptioQ, when men are more eager to accumulate fortunes than to retain reputaUoua for integrity. , . . We are about to lessen the burdens imposed upon us by the slave-holders' war, inaugurated under the auspices of the Democratic party, by paying ofiT— permanently destroying— the debt ol the United States, Thus we are not simply postpoo- ing payment by easy taxation now for gi eater lai- ation hereafter, but by prompt pnymunt of ih» principal, stop the interest and thus aUord per- manent reliet. Two hundred and thirty millions of dollars have thus already been paid, the interest on this sum is no less than fourieeu millons or dollars per year, and the retrenchment and relorn* inaugurated in other channels of the civil service will show at the and of Grant's administraiion, a balance sheet equal lo fifty millions ot dollars of leaa annaai expenditures thxaat iU begmmg. 6 ■ The ereatneee of the nation, iti* jjOt^ev anu vi- tality, its civilization and manhooa must iiot be measured by its prod actions, nor by its com- merce, nor bv its manufactures ; the greatness, DOwer and durabiiity of the nation mu-^t be measured by the intellectual and moral worth of its peonlf^ ; bv their fru'rality, by their tera- pprateness, by their conscientious devotion to duty, by their Felf-sacrificesonthealtar of truth. Prndtiction and commerce onlv show prosneritv m a coav=er form. It is the literature, the poetrv, the art?, and the religion of the land which are the criterion by which to judge of its permanency and power. > America is the ref^ervoir into which the most enersretic and enterpriiina: elf^ment? of all na- tions have Doured and are Donrinqr. It is a crreat nation, grand in its plivsical p'-oportions, ^rand in its nolitical institutions, grand .in its moral asp-rations, grand in its patriotic devotion and hope of a permanent life ; and grand in its ex- ample to other nations. Let us then rally all the progressive elements, all that is mora! and virtuous, into one power- ful and harmonious oartv, sacrificing private views as far as may be for the sake of uoholding our Government, and handing it down to our children, ever increasing in power and glory, A SUMMARY. • What the Repttulio a.n party has done, is PROOF OF WHAT IT WILL DO. 1st. Among the first act9 of the Republican Congress, after some necessary measnrrs to resist the DeinocraLic Rebellion, was the adoption of the Homestead law, under which the whole mass of Ihe public domain is opened to the possession and ownership or the laboring man, upon the condition of settlement and cultivation, at the nominal price of $10 for a 160 acres. 2nd. Provision was made by which this vast property is largely enhanced in value, and ren- dered accessible to men of limited means, over the lines of the Trans-continental Railrond — the construction of which, had. been, delayed Tmdec ' Democratic mJe, by I -e fek./ that free laTKW would possess this rich Inheritance, to the ex- clusion of slave labor. 3rd. The whole system of servile labor was abolished by the Republican partv, in spite of the united and persistent opposition of the Democracy in Congress and on the battle fleM. 4th. A?ain, the whole mass of mirequit-edlabf ,['''* was lifted to the dignity of the country's defer ''".• ders, thereby giving it enlarged opnortunitipir"'* enabling it to command the attention and tv'^^* sympathies of the nation, and rendering i " future subjection to bondage absolutely ii '^^'^ possible, ^sar? 5th. This whole class w»s endowed with citr zenship and all its rights and advantages-against all of wliich acts, the Democrats in Conrrresa and in the States, recorded a united negative — yet it is easy to see that each successive ste; ' added immeasurablv to the dignity and pov "*" of labor. ' '"a"'- 6th. The whole remaining public lands off'. South, were reserved from sale, and approprinted to the exclnsiye use of actual eotth'rs, by which the landless laborers of that section, c^rae to the ownership of more that 45,000,00,0 acres, sufficient for half a million of homes of 80 acres each, and by which, also, the further progress of land monopoly in that section is forevf stopped. 7th. It has given guaranty by a solemn and unanimous declaration of the House of Repre- sentatives, that the futnre land policv of ttie party shall be in the interest of individual occu- pation and ownership, and opposed to sales or grants nnder conditions, which will admit the further growth of personal or corporate mo- nopoly. 8th. And finally it has given practical evidence of its fidelity to the principles of land distribu- tion to actual occupatits, through its organizec* land committees, and in the defeat of numeron land grant bills? at the recent 8e»«*'^ of Cou- I XI lit foids \ bis Fu.' OdL'Ilt , ) mal'c ' )rni|)U iljoolf, ic r Ihfir " and ^ lii LIBRARY OF CONGRESS mil mil mil nil III liiiiininiiiii 001 91S 135 7