Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1878-08-01
Correspondence Between Hon. M. IN.
Strong and Hon. Owen King.


49,
MINERAL PoINT, WIS, Jul. IS, rs
Hon. OwEH KMG--My Dear Sir
congratulate you upon your nomi,
nation as candidate for Congress-, ano
the voters of the Sd Congressional
District upon the opportunity which
your nomination gives them Of taking
an important step in the direction Of
obtaining relief from the ruinous tax
alton which manufacturing monopo-
lies have so long inflicted upon the
country by means of high protective
tariffs, and from the expressions oil
the money power, by operation Of the
financial measures OF the u. S. Gov.
eminent, E
The revenues derived by the gov.
eminent from duties on imports for
the fiscal year ending June 3oth, 1877,
were Sl30,956,493 o. To obtain this
sum it is estimated that the amount
paid by the people for the increased
cost Of articles subject to duty ex.
ceeded S5oo,oOo,0oO; while it is no,
torlous that the interest on bonds from
the use of National Bank notes is
many millions more.
1t is of the first Importance that all
who agree in the policy Of substituting
a revenue tariff for a protective tariff
and in substituting greenbacks for the
national bank notes, and in wiping
out the entire banking monopoly
should ignore all dead issues and
unite in one harmonious effort to elect
a representative iD Congress who will
vote to carry out this policy.
That our present representative
will not so vote, is, unfortunately, TOO
we'll known, and that he will be re-
nominated by his party is conceded.
His reelection can only be prevented
by the cooperation of all those who
desire to prevent it. Such union il
cordial and thorough, would be GER
tain to effect that result.
The vote in this congressional dis
trict at the last election for Governor,
was for Smith [rep.] $500: against
him, lo,757; majority against him
l,4S7. (See Blue Book 187s-page
1857
Now the practical question is, can
this majority vote of those who are
opposed to the political principles OF
Hazelton be consolidated, so as to be
cast unitedly for some other candi-
date, who will more truly represent
their principles.
have been well acquainted with
you ever since you was old enough to
assume political responsibilities, and
during that time we have stood to-
gether shoulder to shoulder, battling
for the success of the principles of the
democratic party, and were always ia
perfect accord upon those principles
of taxation and finance to which
have referred, and four years ago
zealously advocated your nomination
to the legislature, and rejoiced in
your election.
One year ago, being younger than
| was, more ardent and perhaps more
impatient under the intolerable op-
pressions of our political task mas
tiers, you thought the ends we both
sought-revenue and financial reform
could be more speedily and more
certainly attained by cooperation
with a new and independent party,
then called "Greenback," than by
continuing the warfare under the old
banners of the democratic party. Per.
haps you was right; perhaps not. 1t
is not nay present purpose to discuss
that question. l shall be entirely sat.
isfied to see you elected, whether you
are called Greenbacker or Demo
crat. With me ga rose by any other
name will smell as sweet" l know
that if you are elected, every vote
you give will be entire harmony with
those Democratic principles-especial-
ly in relation to revenue and finance
TO maintain and advance which we
have struggled, and | shall therefore
vote for you and hope that you may
be elected, as you surely, in my
opinion will be, if there are but two
candidates.
But there is the difficulty. There
are SO many of our good Democrats
whose zeal is in excess of their dis
erection; with whom party names are
OF more Importance than party prin-
ciples, and who are reluctant to vote
for any one who has not the shibbo
leth of Democratic nomination; that
| fear the opportunity now presented
OF securing triumph OF our princi-
Piles may be lost by the action of our
Democratic convention. But / hope
not.
If all the Democrats of the district
or those who may represent a party
in convention, knew you as we'll as
/ do, they would be satisfied that
they could nominate no man, who if
elected as a Democratic candidate,
would more faithfully or more zeal
ously, by his votes or his influence,
strive to carry out Democratic princi-
pies than you; and it is solely be-
cause they have not that knowledge,
and because / desire that they may
have in the most authentic form, sat.
isfactory evidence of your opinion
upon one of the most important ques-
tons that the members of the next
Congress will have to vote upon, that
l have written this letter.
The platform adopted by the con-
vention that put you in nomination is
sufficiently clear and explicit upon
the subject of financial reform and
the substitution of Greenbacks for
National Bank notes. But the Dem.
ocrats Of this district, who almost un.
animously desire revenue reform, will
regret thai it bad not been more pro-
nounced on the subject of tariff.
For the satisfaction of that numer-
GUS class of voters who agree with me
as regarding tariff reform as the pres
ent paramount political issue,I desire,
If yon think proper, that you inform
me-with authority to use the infor-
nation publicly-whether you are in
favor of such a modification of the
tariff laws as will give the greatest