Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1868-03-28

@CoNSoLIDATIoN.'-MR.H oLT.-FU-
TURE POLICY.

TURE POLICY.
Vow that the question of uniting Pierce and
st. Croix counties, cannot, for some time at
least, be submitted to The people. it is well to
look at the tactics adopted by some of those
opposed to the proposed union.
A respectable nnmber Of the people of each
county desire such union. 1t would GER
be for their benefit, and they claim for the
benefit of the people generally. These men
have an undOubted right to their opinion
an undoubted right TO seek by fair means 10
accomplish the desired psrpose.
They publicly preached the subject and
invited the attention ofthe people to it. Mr..
Cox went to Madison and secured the intro
duction ola bin submitting the question TO
The people Mr. Holt introduced the bill /;
il was referred to him, and quietly died in his
hands. This. in brief. IS the history of action
in this matter.
Now we ask the people to look reasonably
at the course OF the opponents of this measure.
Mr. P. V Wise was most active. Mr.. Wise
is somewhat known to the people of this
county as a political guerrilla, a persistent
seeker of Office which he never gets. He now
has a newspaper organ at Ellsworth for which
he performs the part of county scavenger, and
the great Shaksperian quOter even stoops to
accuse a ..neighbor. through its columns, of
stealing ring. Judging that a majority of
Il. the
proposed union, Mr.. Wise determined TO try
to make little popularity by being conspic-
uous in opposition to it. lie raTed. He ran
ted. He sewed the county with lies thick as
the. lice were in Egypt. The movement was
work of midnight darkness" "a plot TO
cheat the people. Some of his lies were very
stupid, Tor instance that the clique" of poll
itieians in Hudson were favoring the move
meut, when every man of sense knew that
every ono of the men he referred to were
strongly opposed TO it. He stated that the
bill did not provide for vote of the people,
and persisted in the lie after being assured to
the contrary. HIS newspaper echoed al his
falsehoods, with those of others oflesser note.
Its attack on Mr.. Holt was gross outrage.
The Herald. editorially, in its extra, called
him knave or a fool, and its extremely able
semi-editorial writer "Chitty." endorses the
statement in its last issue. Mr. Holt leeds
no defense from us. But why this abuse of
him? What did he do? He introduced the
bill providing for vote on consolidation of
the counties, had it referred to himself and
let it die. The strongest opponent of the
measure could hardly have done less. Why
this attack on him ihenS 1t is simply this.
Mr. Holt is known to be a fair, candid, hon.
oTable man. He does not try to help Mr..
Wise TO Office. He probably does not expect
TO go to Mr.. Wise when he dies. Therefore
al the little Guns in Mr.. Wise's newspaper
kennel are barking at him. He win survive
their attack. and be the stronger for their I'M
meriied abuse.
The ambitions or quarrels of little politicians
are of small importance to the public, but in
their quarrels pnblic interests should not be
overlooked Now what is for the interest of
the people ofthis county, in relation TO the
consolidation question. 1t is TO settle the
matter defuately by their vote. We believe
that large majority Of those opposed to the
measure are willing and DESTROYS of having
it submitted to a vote. If beaten, no harm is
done. Ifsuccessful it could not be defeated
by delay. Tor the will of the people cannot
be permanently thwarted. The subject is o.:
Importance enough to demand and enforce a
hearing. The sooner il is settled the better.
The county wants peace-a settled policy.
Let all agree that next winter the question
shall be submitted to the people, and then
acquIesce in the result, and go on with needed
Improvements. If the opponents of union,
believe, as they claim, tina; the people are Ov-
overwhelmingly against it, they can well de-
sire rather than oppose their expression.
We think that the project for union would
be badly beaten in st, Croix, and probably
beaten in Pierce. We believe a majority in
this county are dissatisfied with tho present
location Of the county seat, bat for local reas-
ons. ii is now and always viii be impossible
to unite majority vote on any other point.
We think the county seat of Pierce County
viii remain permadently at Ellsworth. and
those who wish to keep it there, viii gain
rather than lose, by having a vote of the peo-
| pie on the consolidation question,
and thus remove the uncertainty which
| viii exist until such a vote is taken.