and their widows and orphans, were to be provided for by a
liberal pension system.

These were a part only of the questions that must be studied
and understood, under the gravest personal responsibility
by every member of either House of Congress. Under the Administration
of Grant and those that succeeded, of course, there was a
constant struggle on the part of the party in power to keep
in power and on the part of its opponent to get power. So
that it was necessary that a Representative or Senator who
would do his duty, or who had the ordinary ambition, or desired
that the counsel best for the country should prevail, should
master these subjects and take a large part in discussing
and advocating the policy of his party.

During the thirty-two years from the 4th of March, 1869,
to the 4th of March, 1901, the Democratic Party held the
Executive power of the country for eight years. For nearly
four years more Andrew Johnson had a bitter quarrel with
the Republican leaders in both Houses of Congress. For six
years the Democrats controlled the Senate. For sixteen years
they controlled the House of Representatives. There is left
on the Statute Book no trace of any Democratic legislation
during this whole period except the repeal of the laws intended
to secure honest elections. The two Administrations of President
Cleveland are remembered by the business men and the laboring
men of the country only as terrible nightmares. Whatever
has been accomplished in this period, which seems to me the
most brilliant period in legislative history of any country
in the world, has been accomplished by the Republican Party
over Democratic opposition. The failure to secure honest
National elections and the political and civil rights of the
colored people is the failure of the Republican Party and
the success of its Democratic antagonist. With that exception,
to all the problems which confronted the country in 1869 the
Republican Party has given a simple, wise, final and most
successful solution. It has done it not only without help, but
over the constant opposition of its Democratic antagonist.

Every State that went into the Rebellion has been restored
to its place in the Union.

There has been complete and universal amnesty. No man has
been punished for his share in the Rebellion.

In spite of dishonest and subtle counsel, and in spite of
great temptation, we have dealt with the public debt on the
simple and honest pr