Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1880-07-01
The Issue of the Campaign.

The Democrats are entitled to
whatever of happiness they can find
in ratification meetings-they have
nominated a man who has no crook
ed political record, for the first time
ia many years. The fact that he has
no political record at all does not
weigh heavily against the fact that
it isn't rooked--considering he is a
Democrat. But after the cannonad-
ing and hewgagging, the people will
settle down to the consideration Of
party principles. They will want to
know what il is all abcat and what
the successful candidate and his
party propose to do. While it is
true that Gen. Hancock devoted four
years to shooting Democrats, still
the people will ask whether the
party whose will lie will carry out,
has changed its attitude in relation
to public questions by his nomina-
ton. The platform Of the two par
ties differ but little. Both favor
many things, including civil-service
roform-as to which, if either, is
sincere, the histories Of the parties
must tell The platforms differ in
one respect--the Democratic party
holds IN adherence the tendency to
Capitalization, while the Republican
party is alarmed at tho aggressive
character OF State rights. TIE
course of Democratic Congress on
one hand and Republican eyecu-
tive on the other, and the discus
sions in the newspaper organs of
The two parties, show how wide the
Inference Is.
The Democratic party is determin-
ed 70 wipe cut the legislation Of
the war What in reality the Dem
acrats propos, to wipe out and the
republicans t. maintain, is the right
Of the Federal Government to pre-
serve national institutions from the
effects of fraud and yiolence--the
right to see tn Mt elections for mem !
hers of Congress, Tor instance, are !
free and honest. Another is the
right of the Federal Government to
enforce its own laws and TO protect !
its own agents in the discharge of
okeir official duties. The National
Government hasnot been strengthen
ed exccpt by legislation necessary TO
render the constitution effective
that is the full extent Of our cen
trali2atiou. Aud this is the basis Of I
the struggle. 1t is to preserve these
rights that the Republican party .
asks the people for their support.
10 overthrow these rights, TO repeal I
the legislation which made these I
constitutional rights effective, is the
purpose Of the Democratic party as
shown in its legislation and in the
utterances Of its press. The qaes- I
ton comes before the people as an I.
appeal from Washington where the I
has been characterized /
70 appropriation bills on the /
part Of the Democratic Congress and
veto messages on the pant OF the Re-
publican President.
1t is to be noted that the Repubii .
can party does not advocate add I
tional power in the Federal Govern +
ment. There is no question Of de- ,
priviug the States ct single right
that belongs to them under the /
coussitution--the talk of the ten !
dency to Capitalization is demagog-I
ism. All the Republican party de-
mands is that the rights which the
confer5 on the Federal
shall not be taken away
aud bestowed upon the States. 1t
is simply the question wether the
Federal Government shall remain
as strong rs the constitution gives 1t
tha wight TO be, or shallit be weak
cucd to the advantage to the States.
This question is to be thoroughly /
discussed on both sides during this
campaign and no man should allow
himseiI TO be delu!ed by the enthu-
siasm OF partisans. 1t is q question
that deserves calm consideration
aud on which every intelligent voter
should be informed. It is Of vastly
more consequence than the person
ality Of any candidate.-Iihcauhee
Sfaiae!