Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1874-01-22

Not alone because of its intrinsic |
Importance does this interest demand |
your especial protection and defense
The farming population OF our state
are far removed from the centres of
political power. Their occupation,
thas far. has been wholly individual
ICED Unlike great monied interests
which are organized and cohesive,
they are never found in the Iobhes
of our legislature. 1'hey employ no
attorneys to iEfest your presence and
to corrupt the fountains Of law -
They seek no private avenues TO the
public treasury. They ask no spec
ial enactment for the benetit OF the
few at the expense of the many
They enter into no combinations for
the subversion of the principles OF
mutual Justice and equality between
man and man. Submissive to tie
stern decree which compels them to
lives of hard but cheerful toll, they
trust alone to the fidelity of their
sworn representatives To violate
this confidence and permit the work.
ingmen of our State to become the
prey Of the professional sharyer. and
spokesman of the lobpies, would not
merely be technical violation of our
oath of office, but surrender of
every attribute of our manhood.
COMPLAINTS OF PUBLIC CORRUPTION,
1t must be admitted that the com
plants of public corruption manifest
III the country at he present time are
not without substantial foundation =
These complaints do not originate al
together in specific assaults upon ihe
public treasury, or special and definite
violations OF the popular rights by the
legi ,lative power. They relate to the
whole social and political structure -
The period Of our civil war was sue
ceeded by pablo debt, and public debt
has been accompanied by inordinate
expenditures for the support of the
Government A secondary result is
the effort to place the interests of par
tisan organizations above the claims
If good government, and to protect
favored classes at the common ex-
pense.
Private life never fails to profit by
public example. Greed for office, So
cial extravaganza, immortality, con
tempt for honest labor, corporate eX-
tortion, and the efforts of the specula
tive classes to amass and enjoy wealth
not honestly earned, are evils which
have ensued in their logical order.
| am not unconscious Of the diff
culties attendant upon the endeavor
to resist established currents of thou't
and reverse rules OF action invested
with the sancity Of long practice and
precedent. We shall not be likely to
forget, however, that the responsible
now absorbing public attention is
much enhanced by the fact that our
peop'c were among the first to realize
The magnitude of those issues, and to
demand formal recognition of them
by their representatives in power.
The influences of your action and ex-
ample, therefore, arc not wholly limit
ed to your immediate constituency,
but in an important degree possesses
a national aspect 1t is for us to de-
termine whether the purposes OF gov
eminent are superior to the purposes
of party whether honesty and inteli,
gence or personal avarice and impor-
unity, constitute qualifications for of
fee whether legislatures shall intelli>
gently reflect the popular will, or bee
come the instruments Of the impertin-
eni, the lmportnnate, the mercenary
and the corrupt.
POLITICAL ORGANIZATIONS.
1t is true that political organiza-
tions are necessary TO the triumph
Of right over wrong; but let Us also
remem Der that development and
progress are dictated by The law Of
God that all parties that are blind
TO this decree must decay and die
that u political parlizan-hip which
renders the public good subserqiont
TO the success Of party, or which re-
quires electors under any circumstan-
ces to elevate vice and ignorance TO
public station, as party obligation
is to be depIored and condemned
that the honors and em0luments OF
Office rightfully belong TO those
who have earned them by lives Of
personal honesty and intelligent in
dustry, and hat the greatest reward
of political service is the conscious
ness Of having faithfully discharged
public duty. No political organI-
cation which fails to recognize these
principles OF action is worthy OF toll
Grafton.
CONCLUSION.
In conclusion, il becomes me to
acknowledge to you, that [ have en-
tered upon the duties of the exccu -
tive department with much diff
dence, and with great distrnst in my
{ Wo ability, but with firm belief
that / shall not be deried yonr gem
erous counsel and hearty co>opera-
ton, and that the guidance and
blessing Of an ali wise ProvI-
dence will attend all our endeavors
to promote tho public good
WIN r. TAYLOR.
Madison, an 10, 1874.
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