Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1875-09-02

and to give the reasons for our
opinions and action, and not wish
ing to be personal, offensive or OBJ
trusive, but prompted by our own
self respect and by what we deem
to be for the best good of the party
and the State, we shall canvass free
Iy, as we have thus been challenged
to do, the merits and claims of this
one arrogant and self seeking can
didate.
Two years ago VIM. r. Taylor
sought and obtained the nomination
for the office from a newly formed
party organization, which had no
knowledge of its strength, as mere
experiment, without a thought en-
tertained by any one, including him
self, that his success was possible.
The nomination alone was regard
ed by him as sufficient honor, and
which then filled the measure of his
ambition.
The success Of the ticket aston
ished everybody, and shocked and
paralyzed the candidate, and con-
sidcling his entire uniitness for the
place, it was the common remark
that if his success had been even
possible in the opinion of the mem
bers OF the convention, he would
never have been dreamed OF as q
candidate. This result, 80 unex-
pected, whatever may have been its
causes, we are assured was not in
any view caused by the popularity
Of Mr.. Taylor.
The law fixing railroad rates,
commonly called the Potter Law
was passed by the Legislature of
1874, and which was not in the
strictest sense a party measure, was
the result of the Reform victory.
The constitutionality of the law was
most ably and pausibly attacked by
the railroad companies and their at
torneys, and it was disobeyed and
treated as void by the advice of
some of the ablest iurists of the
country.
1t was the constitutional duty of
the Executive to have ali the laws,
the Potter Law" included, "faith-
fully executed, y and it wac his
simple duty, without regard to the
policy OF this law or his views OF It's
eXpcdiency, SO long as he found it
upon the statute book, to enforce its
obedience, and in doing so, he did
not become the supporter of this
law or its special advocate any more
than ii any other law was violated /;
and he has no right to claim any
special merit for 50 doing, as the
champion Of this law against rail-
road eXtortion and monopoly.
In the performance Of this plain
duty, he demonstrated not only his
want of ability and discretion, and
appreciation of the dignity and mag
nanumity OF his high Office, but dis
played the very lowest and worst
traits of character and the blind
recklessacss and arts of the dema-
gogue, 10y institutiug measure Of
| petty and malignant prosecution,
and setting on foot multiplicity Of
criminal prosecutions before magis
trates in distant and out OF the way
! p aces, not against the corporations
or their officers aud managers, but
against innocent ticket agents and
other employers, whose constant
! duty il was 10 be punctual and faith
,ui in the discharge Of routine duty,
subject to superior orders, in order
! 90 casurse the safety and convent
enre of the travelling PUBLIC and the
/ speedy transportation OF property.
The result was ~ he wished It, a
/ great public excitement, Interrupt
tion of the trains and the business
If the roads, an incaiculable injury
to the business and general interests
of the people and the credit of the
State. ami depreciation Of the
property and credit q all our rail-
way corporations. wl,loutap;roaca-
/ lug tbe settlement us tho uuUbtlul
ai tueeonstiuutcaaatv md
validity OF tho lav itst't: taa first
: aaJ only thin, Wt,sa the State and
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