River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1878-10-24

on Saturday next for the nomination
of county ticket, and old comrades
are beseeched to help put down politi-
cal monopolists. Who are the leaders
in this movement does not appear
from the call, while the public gener-
ally will doubtless feel little curious
to know who constitute the political
monopolists of Pierce county. Dur
ing the past ten years that we have
observed the workings of Pierce coun-
ty politics, no man, set of men, or
even political party seems to have had
a monopoly in the political line so far
as this county is concerned. While
we would in no sense underestimate
| the valiant services rendered by those
| brave men, who offered their all upon
their country's altar, who left those as
| dear to them as life itself and exchang-
ed the comforts and luxury of home
for the poIils aIiu aluolipo OF imill-
tary career that their county might
live; whose heroic deeds of valor on
many fiercely contested battlefield
are indelibly inscribed upon the pages
of imperishable history, and who hay
ing performed their whole duty in war
returned to the peaceful avocations of
civil life there to enjoy the fruits of
their sacrifices, we would with the
utmost Difference question the propri-
ETY. of the organization of SOLDIERS
Party of the distinctive character of
a political organization in the general
acceptancy of this term. Such a
movement will be ''class' array that
cannot be justified by facts or sound,
logical reasoning. The heavy burdens
of our great civil strife were not borne
by soldiers alone; many who never
shouldered musket aided very mate
rally in the prosecution of the war;
soldiers were to be paid, and other
sinews of war provided; millions of
money were furnished for these pur-
poses by those who during the
conflict toiled in the workshop |
and followed the plow; civilians,
too, passed and executed laws rails
ing bounties for volunteers and |
money for the relief of soldiers fami-
lies; both civilians and soldiers shared |
the burdens of the war and we can |
see no just reason why either class
should claim as an exclusive preroga-
tive the privilege of filling the offices
of honor and profit. Let us take a
casual retrospective glance over the |
past ten years and see if soldiers have |
been ignored in the distribution of Of |
fees, and ascertain whether or not |
they have been literally or even rea-
sonably recognized in official prefer
ment: Since 1858 the position of |
Chief Magistrate of the nation has |
been filled by soldiers, and in their APP |
pointments their comrades have not |
been forgotten; six years of this time |
the Gubernatorial chair of Wisconsin |
has been filed by soldiers; the repre-
sentation in Congress from this State |
has been largely made up of soldiers
this District having been represented
by able soldiers during eight years of
this time; four years soldiers have
represented us in the Assembly; eight
years the Sheriff's Office has been filled
by soldiers; nine years the Office of
County Clerk has been filed by a sol
dier who was promoted to the respon-
sible and honorable position of Secre-
tary of State; eight years the office of
County Treasurer has been filled by a
soldier; ten years the offices of Regis
ter of Deeds and Clerk of the Circuit
Court have been filled by soldiers. In
these observations we have taken into
account only the past ten years be-
cause we are personally more familiar
with the facts as they have existed
during that time, but the record will
warrant us in going back still further
in the offices of Governor, Secretary OF
State, Congressman, County Clerk,
Register of Deeds and Clerk of the
Circuit Court. and perhaps others had
we the disposition to give this matter
a more extended investigation. Be-
sides what we have already noticed
the offices of State Superintendent, At
torney General, State Treasurer, Bank
Comptroller. Commissioner of Immigra-
ton have been filled by soldiers, while
we doubt not that soldiers have been
literally recognized in appointments
to subordinate positions which they
have sought. With these facts before
us, and with due appreciation OF that
spirit of patriotism which prompted
our brave boys in blue to march for
ward at their country's call, it strikes
us that the soldiers of Pierce county
| have no just cause for complaint on
the score of official position, neither
| do we believe that as class they have
any such complaint to make, but that
they will generally adopt the more
conservative course implied in this ar
/ ticle and vote for the candidate of
their choice-chosen without any ref
erence whatever to his ''previous con-
dition.
DIDN'T the politicians promise just
as much good would follow the intro
duction of silver money, as they prom
Use now for Greenbacks? Who is any
better off The truth is, money must
be earned, no matter whether it is
coin or paper. Chances to earn money