Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1880-04-22
WashbuTne is the Strongest Can
didate.

Under the above caption, the Port
age Register gave us the following
as the last of a series of similar
articles, which no doubt had much
to do with the election of a solid
Washburne delegation from Column
bia county to the approaching State
convention. If it shall influence the
selection of like delegation by the
Iowa county Republicans at Dodge
vile next week, we shall feel more
than compensated for its repub-
LEGATION.
"a man of nerve and heart and brain,
A man whose life is pure and clean.
Whose public record shows no stain,
Whose name is stamped on no machine"
That is very easy to say, and it is
equally easy to say the same of any
other candldate, but mere assertion
without reason amounts to nothing.
We propose in this article, to
show something of the great strength
Of Washburne as presidential can
didate, at this time. A man may be
very strong at one time, and atan
other may be very weak. III what
does Washburne's great strength
consist We answer, first aud fore
most, in his integrity, his reputation
for sterling honesty, in which there
is no discount. Never before was
there time when this attribute was
more loudly called for by the Amer
lean people than just now.
The war caused such great OK
pendtures of money, and there have
been so many chances to make large
sums, out OF government work, gov
eminent contracts, government aid
to railroads, whisky rings, credit
mobilier, subsidies and various enter
prises, and such advantages have
been taken by those in Office in
working these chances, that not a
few men have come to believe that
there is actually no official integrity
in the land.
For Il years Elihu B. Washburne
represented the great state of Hi
uo.s in Congress, aud not only was
| he never accused OF anything crook
ed. but such was his diligence in
guarding the government funds,
that he acquired the name Of "the
watch dog of the treasury" In other
words, he would neither steal himself
nor allow others to steal.
Secondly, we give as a reason for
his great strength, he is statesman
of very great ability and experience.
What other candidate has served a
commonwealth like Illinois II con
secutive years in congress, and that,
too during the period when ability
and patriotism of the first order
were demanded and put to the test 7
1t is well known that during those
dark days when the existence OK the
government was threteued by armed
rebels. and when patriots We're free
IS giving their lives sacrifice on
( the altar of their couutry's salvation,
no patriot was more loyal, the SOL
dier in the camp bad no better
friend, the commander IN chief in
the saddle and the commander in
chief in the White House, had no
hear.ier or more stalwart supporter
thon Eihu g. Washburue.
Alter serving his state for IL
years in the popular branch of the
national congress, having been pre-
yiousy fitted therefor by thorough
business experience, when others
who stood high in the esteem Of
their fellow. citizens bad sadly fallen,
through their connection with rail
road subsidies, credit ,nobiIier, salary
grab, back pay steals, whisky rings,
sc, 0c, ad aul@cdAa, this oak,
grown on the hills OF Maine, season
ed on the broad praiiies Of Illinois,
and wrought into the ship OF state,
has lemuiued firm and upright
through every storm which has
tried It,
After having become fully ac-
duainted with the growth AMI wants
of his county from an Inside view
- -, t..,, s,,,.s,fr tvs ratI II. for