Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1874-10-22
EX-GOVERNOR TAsHBURN AT Lam
CASTER.
He Addresses the People npon the Political
Topics of the Day.

O|S' ~~NN'S OiA = oNobdl ANob w Wv ~
ceived with admiration by a large
number of people. Unfortunately Mr..
Magoon was unable to be present, and
both the afternoon and evening APP
pointments to speak fell to Mr. Wash
burn. The Governor introduced his
remarks with graceful reference to
the honors he had received at the
hands of the Republican party, and to
his endeavors in the past to faithfully
perform the duties assigned to him
We have not the space to publish in
full the Governors able speech upon
the political issues of the day, but con-
dense and quote only portions thereof.
Concerning the Reform party hum
bug he said that within a year only
the control of the State government,
after fifteen years of honorable adj
mlnistration by the Republican party,
had passed into the hands of the Dem.
ocratic party under another name. -
This party which now carries the
banner of reform, was discarded by
the people of Wisconsin fifteen years
ago for dishonesty, corruption and
fraud. Hungry and clamorous, and
remembering the jolly days of old
when they were allowed to sack the
State Treasury and plumber the school
fund, they raised great hue and cry
last Fall of extravaganza and corrup-
ton and told the people if they could
once get into office and hold of the
books they would develope startling
frauds by the Republican administra
ton previous. But after nine months
in office there has not yet appeared
the slightest accusation against any
department of the State Government
while under Republican rule, or that
they had not all been managed with
the strictest fidelity to the public in
terest. Can as much be said of the
new administration?
The Governor then proceeded to
disarm the transportation question,
and said substantially as follows:
"Upon the question of legislative
control of railroads | have in many
public speeches before the people OF
the state since 1866 and in two an
nual messages to the Legislature, de-
clared myself in unequivocal terms.
But my early and continued advocacy
Of the right of legislative control was
in no spirit of hostility to railroads
l we'll know what they have done for
civilization and the development of
the country. They are good servants
but dangerous masters. Witnessing
for years the vast aggregatlons of cap
ital in the hands of corporations,
whose will appeared to be the SUI
preme law, long since became con-
WINGED that they were becoming q
dangerous power in the country, and
that if not checked and controlled by
the people, would become their mas
tiers; that they would dictate the laws
of the country, and would make and
unmake presidents, senators, and rep.
resentatlves in congress. L said this
in speeches in 1865 had no private
grievances; the railroads had always
used me well, and | had no special
cause for opposition to any, and what
| said at that early day was not in
reference to the railroads of Wiscon-
sin, but the whole system under which
such vast powers were concentrated
in the hands of few men, who, if dis
posed, might WELD it to Cypress the
people. | early felt that they should
be controlled by fair, just and reason
able laws, and that all communities
and individuals should receive fair and
just treatment, aud all favorltism
should be at an end; and it was in that
view that l drafted and presented to
the legislature in 1860 a pro rata tariff
bill, which passed the lower house by
large majority but was defeated IN
the senate"
Here the Governor called attention
to portions of his first annual message
in January, 1872, in which he referred
to the vast concentration of capital in
railroad interests, and recommending
in the organization of board of
railway commissioners to inquire into
all complaints and abuses and the gen
eral working of the railway system,
that an adequate remedy might be
applied. The same recommendation
was repeated in his second and last
message, but the railroads were too
powerful and nothing came of it
excepting to secure tor the speaker
their continued and deadly hostility.
The companies renewed their oaths
of vengeance against an administra'
ton that would dare to move in the
direction of their control, and organ
lied the opposition that resulted in
the "ringed, streaked and speckled"
party that carried the State last Fall
and is still in power. So far as the
Potter law is concerned, it was intend
| ed to work justice to the producer as
we'll as the carrier, and he thought it
would if honestly enforced. Governor
Washburn's remarks upon this all alb
sorbing question were somewhat ex-
tended and generally well received
He then gave hasty review of the
Republican party in the State, and
the utter failure of the Reform party
during its nine months career as a
party of reform and economy.
Governor Washburn's evening ad-
dress was very lengthy, reviewing
the important questions of national
interest, and in closing enumerated
many of the beneficent acts of the
Republican party for its brave and
successful conduct of the war, and its
preservation of the Union which the
Democratic party North as we'll as