Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1873-08-07
but when thus commissioned it will move for
ward To the acc0x,,xal q aaert Of the desired

but when thus commissioned 1t will move for
ward to the accomplishment of the desired
end with a power which no force, however
strong, can resist. Let the American farmer
commission the Republican party with the
business Of putting legal restraint and con-
troll upon monopolistic corporations, even
to the extent of declaring forfeiture Of
franchise, and it will be done. The anti
monopoly agitation has now proceeded so far,
that any withdrawal of the people from the
contest would be tantamount to an acknoWl-
edgment that these corporations are supreme
above the law, the constitution and the people
an acknowledgment so deadly in its nature,
rs TO sweep all liberty from every hearth-stone
in the nation in an hour. Who then is silly
enough to imagine that the great party OF
freedom is committed to the fatal error OF
protecting these monopolies as against the de
mands of the people? Could party, inspired
| with the burning love of liberty, and far adj
vanced in greatness, goodness and grandeur,
be guilty of such inherent depravity? The
| highway of nations is strewn with the dry
| bones of parties which persisted for the want
| of these living principles, as warning to all
who pass that way.
| Let no man be deceived, for though no
| party leader now in office, whether Republican
| or Democrat, was elected when present issues
were before the country, yet in obedience to
the sovereign will of the people, the Republi-
| can party will be the first in the field to stay
with its strong arm the aggressions of the
soulless monopoly. Notwithstanding the
twaddle of demagogues, men of sense can yet
| be found who believe that the Republican
| farmers of the country are just as much OPP
| posed to monopolies as the non-descripts who
are to-day the self-appointed champions of a
new party; and who further believe that when
| these Republican farmers assemble in conven-
| ton they have the intelligence to make, and
ns
platform as the one you have sent me with
which, by the way, | am well pleasedl, and
| that upon such platform they can and will
nominate just as able and faithful candidates
as any other party. Until they fail or
| refuse to do this, it would be hard
| should bolt off after the aimless pro-
Jects OF public agitators. And though
1t is sometimes urged that it
would tend to soften the asperities resulting
| from the late war, if the people would change
about in their party relations; vet if so it be,
| that the American people cannot forgive and
forget their trespasses one upon another, then
| indeed, it matters little how individual and
party relations may be adjusted, for the day is
| near at hand when We will be called upon to
| surrender all there is of home and free govern
| ment. In these times, when the tendency is
| TO push away from a condition of extreme
| confidence to that other equally dangerous
extreme of absolute and universal distrust,
| the rock of conservatism must be kept well in
| view by all lovers of country. 1t must be
| clear to all, that if the masses of the Republi-
| can party have not the power and the will to
| retain and preserve in their organization, the
| progressive feature, and through it remedy
| ana correct by appropriate legislation, the
| evils resulting from monopOlies, then it is
| hardly worth while for these same people to
| form themselves into q new party for that
| purpose.
| 1t is charged with great gusto that individu-
| ais in the Republican party have been guilty
of corrupt practices in office True, but who
| has the temerity to say that the great masses
| of the party will or have approved these prac-
tees? Or who can successfully argue that
none but honest men will commit their polit-
| zeal fortunes to tie keeping of the new party:
! Or, in short, who will pretend with any degree
| of sincerity, that the machinery Of the new
party will be any better calculated to prevent
scoundrels from securing power and place
through ii than other parties are or have been:
Bad men have played the confidence game on
all parties and associations of men since the
earliest history of organized society, and the
Republican party has not been an exception to
the rule. If ii can be shown to the Republican
voters of the country, that the new party will
be so admirably adjusted in its arrangements
as to be proof against imposters, confidence
men and thieves, and that in imitation of the
Republican party, it will embody in its creed
liS pioSltSSlNt feature ana W III 20 one IlOLl
one grand achievement to another in promot-
ing the freedom and happiness of the people,
thereby emitting itself to a longevity co-eX-
tensive with the nation, it will not lack sup
posters.
Nay, sir, you will find that the Republican
| party will, in the future, as it ever has in the
| past, be the first in the field TO defend the
rights of the people, to crush out monopolies,
to punish corruption in office, TO equalize
the burdens of government upon all classes,
and put the brand of infamy upon him who
betrays the confidence of the people. Instead
| of shielding party leaders from the legitimate
consequences of their crimes and misdemean-
ors in office, in imitation of the practice of
other parties, you will find that this great
party will come manfully up to the require
| ments of the occasion, and visit swift and GER
| tain punishment upon those who bring the
least stain upon party integrity or national
| honor.
As an humble citizen, conscious of no rea-
son why the party to which l belong should
| be assailed rs a monopolistic party, submit
these views to the candid Judgment of the
| people, and abide the decision Of the Republi-
| can Convention. Very truly
| = q STP AVN