Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1875-03-24

there IS little or no proba bility that W
shall DC forced to such an extreme altern q
tive, II We voluntarily step forward in
spirit OF justice and confidence, and frml,
resolve to stand by each othar, in MAXIM
such reasonable and sincere offers as will
carry conviction to the people of Wisconsin
that if this disastrous fight is kept up NJ
prolonged, the fault is not ours but is t.
be sought in the avarice snd cupidty O
our extortionate prosecutors. We car
easily keep ourselves in the right, BY
punctually redeeming all our promises
fulfilling all our engagements, regarding
all contracts as binding, and letting it be
observed, by our undertaking good faith
that SO far as any new obligations en-.
tered into with us are concerned, they will
be held sacred, and our pledges and per-
formances go hand in hand until the wei.
come day of deliverance dawns.
That the policy Of adjustment, in some
form or other, is the true one for US, may
be logically inferred from the fact, that il
it could once be put in operation, with uni
versal consent aud concurrence, the rapid
increase of business and the permanent
advance in the value of all kinds of prop
erty, both real and personal, would 60 far
to compensate the taxpayers who must
bear this burden, for the immediate and
transient sacrifices they will be compelled
to make in the shape of additional lavies,
reaching though limited period Loss in
resisting or in paying, look at it as We will,
is now inevitable and unavoidable, and
stares US squarely in the face. Can it De
denied, that it is better to take bond
J.
be perpetuaIly drained of our money by
delays and law suits, which really dispose
of nothing, but which pile up costs, that
would 60 far towards helping to finally ex-
tinguish the evil that is hindrance so Sc
rious to our progress, and more than neu.
tralizes all our commanding advantages
Those who have hitherto most strenn-
ously resisted and defeated all attempts at
settlement, claim to belong to the working
class, and are comparatively small proper
ty owners. If this is correct how can they
expect to find regular and remuneratlve en-
ployment. when they direct their efforts to
prevent all men Of capital in our midst,
or those coming from abroad, from embark
ing in those enterprises and improvements
which require large numbers of skilled
them on? In our unfortunate state Of
strife and uncertainty, few or none who
have the ability or inclination will engage
in building or manufacturing, because they
can see no end to this conflict, or estimate
what effect it will have on their invest.
ments. Consequently, we all have to re-
greet that little or nothing is undertaken
but what is absolutely necessary. This
condition of things, is highly injurious to
the interest of artisans and laborers, whose
pressing want is work at good wages, no
matter what branch Of industry they are
pursuing, and on which they mus: depend
for the support of themselves and their
families. Here laborers are many. while
those needing their services are few, nor is
there any hope of an immediate change
for the better, without there is a speedy
change in the management of our public
affairs, which will quickly revolutionize the
policy of opposition and obstruction to
every attempt to honestly settle this stand
ing dificulty-our railroad bonds. We
would ask those who, we believe, have
been mislead and misnformed on this sub
ject, how they can anticipate any perma-
nens improvement in this respect until it is
quarrel is TO close, and how much long
er they want their homes exposed to Leg
islative interference, which has already
been threatened. AMI their all subjected to
the mercy of courts, that must and will en-
force law, without regard to the fa.al con-
sequences to the victims of obstinacy and
delusion-rich or poor?
Here we would respectfully call attention
to the practice that to a considerable extent
has prevailed, of imputing selfish and mer-
cenary motives to those who, apprehend-
ing the prospective evils of postponement,
honestly seek to settle our outstanding
bonds. The accusation is made that su.h
persons own bonds or are in some way Pc
cuniarily interested in getting the highes
price for them. The truth on strict int
vestigation. will be found to be that very
few of our citizens have ever owned any
bonds, or now own any. 1t is not meant
to be affirmed that no bonds whatever
have ever belonged to some OF our fellow
townsmen, but the proportion is SC small
as hardly to make it worth while to take
the insignificant fraction into account. If
every Que who manifests a desire to settle
our public debt is to be debarred by such
groundless charges, how is it possible Tor
people to come forward and exert their in
f1uence in direction so commendable and
praiseworthy We now assert that we
are impelled to the course we deem it best
to follow by no other considerations than
affect the general welfare, and we have no
individual gain to make in the disposal of
the bond question in which the public will
not be full and equal sharers. Our relation
to these bonds is this whatever will ben
eft the community will benefit us-separ-
ately and colsc vely-whateve will in
jure the public, will injure US personally,
and as members of society. fai
In this address to our fellow citizens, the
design has not been to enumerate and en-
large on all the reasons which should in
duce US to form and pursue some enlight-
ened policy calculated to give US the most
sure and substantial relief from the diff
cuities and dangers in which it is our mis-
fortune to be involved. We now merely
allude to the inconvenience of the practical
Reorganization OF our municipal govern
ment, the unceasing vigilance we are COM
PEELED to exercise in order to save ourselves
from hostile and fatal legislation, which
the bond holders are persistently seeking
III, flo1 L l.,