Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1881-10-13
WISCONSIN REPUBLICANS,
A Stirring Address by the State Conn
mittee.


much moment as those relating to slavery, to
the defense of the Union against rebellion to
the reconstruction of the States or ofhe Great
contest for the national credit and sound cur
renoy. But it not during the storm, amid
waves and winds and clouds. that the ships on the
ocean make the greatest progress in their yoy-
ages, neither is t during the storm OF political
contention that the ship OF state may make the
greatest progress. AS it is in the fair weather
WHEN the sea is calm and still. that the
slips move on their journeys with the greatest
speed, safety and profit, so il is when the waves
OF political passion and contention are still that
the nation should make the most progress in
the development of what is best and noblest in
its political and national life.
He is an unwise or Illogical patriot who mabes
the very conditions that give him the greatest
opportunity TO render useful service to his
couEtry his excuse for doing nothing. There
has never been a time when the future welfare
Of our country and Government more earnestly
demanded united and faithful action ON the
part OF Republicans than it does to-day.
The State Convention, meeting in the midst
of the gloom cast over the land by the death of
our beloved and honored President, nominated
a ticket composed of wel-known and worthy
citizens. 1t adopted platform embodying the
liberal and progressive views of the national
Republican party, platform upon which every
citizen can stand who believes in fostering a
vigorous national spirit, in maintaining free and
honest elections, in encouraging and protecting
American industry, in keeping the public credit
unimpaired, and in asserting the right OF the
people, through the legitimate channels Of leg
islation, to secure themselves against undue
exaetions and abuses on the part of corpora
tons. For this ticket and platform we invite
your cordial support.
Against the gentlemen who are nominated
on either of the tickets opposed to us as Re-
public.ns this committee has nothing to saw
AGAINST the lrincinfpa and tbaprha thew
sent it is not necessary to say more than will
briefly define our difference from them, and
appeal to the intelligence. Judgment and hon
esty of the people as the arbiters OF these
differences.
The Greenback party was first in the field
with platform and in favor OF a theory
that has been fully discussed, passed upon
and rejected by the. American people-and
nowhere moro emphstically than in the
State of Wisconsin, where, when approved
and commended in the most authoritative
manner by the Democratic organization, il
only drove intelligent voters from that party
and led to its overwhelming defeat The
representations of evil to result from the tri-
umph of Republican principles during the cur
rency discussion have not been fulfilled. tour
enemies themselves being the judges" On the
contrary, it is almost universally admitted that
tho country owes its unprecedented prosper
ty to the firmness and faithfulness of the Re-
Eubiicdll EAttN NcfOilbl " hOuikI Eiiaucl8l
principles and national integrity and honor
Having examined the Witnesses, argued the
questions involved, submitted them to Jury
of the whole American people and received the
verdict i'll our favor we shall not reopen the
case on the currency question.
The Temperance or Prohibition party IA in
the field asking your votes The Republican
party claims TO be- and is the friend of tenn
perauce, sobriety. good morals and good or
der
The Irohibitionists demand that an amend
ment to the State constitution. PROHIBITING the
manufacture and sale of spirtuous and malt
liquors, be Submitted to the people. That is a
question which belongs wholly to the LeGisla-
s,isfai 5eoa 'ea ieEitY ri the nenple desire the
the power to elect Legislature which viii
ecute their will But there is large number
Of Republicans who do not believe such an
amendment IL desired by the majority of the
people WI consequently think ii would in
voive IS labor and expense and who, judg-
ing by the experience of other States, and TAX
ing into consideration the character Of our
population, firmly believe that prohibitory leg
isIation III this State would accomplish nothing
to abate the evils Of intemperaiice. but would
remain dead letter upon the sta ute book.
They are confirmed i'll thls opinion by the fact
that but few localities avail themselves of the
existing local-opti0n law, and that in many in
stances where 1t has been tried ii has proved
=
ton, in order to be effective must conform to
the convictions of a large majority of the peo-
pie and they know that, even II majority
Of the voters of the State favored Prohibition,
there arc extensive districts where great mr.
ioTity or the inha Ditants would regard II rs an
outrage upon their Personal liberties Hence
the Republican party III this State has from
the beginning steadily refused to make pro-
hib.ton an article Of its political faith. 1t
hes left lis members free to entertain their
own CONVICTIONS on this subject. The last
State convention took no new departure, hut
adhered to the established lolicy of the party
The evils OF incompetence aIe no greater noW
than they have Eetn al any time since the
party was organized in 1854, the necessity for
prohibition is no more Urgent. On the con-
trary it is believed hat, IN the last twenty
years, through tho efforts IN part Of tue
temperance organizations employing only
moral agencies, and in part through the gem
eral social progress made there has been
marked Improvements in the habits of the peo-
pie in respect to the immoderste use OF IN
toxcatng drinks. Hence there was no rea-
son Why the late State Convention shoul
abandon the policy hitherto pursued
on this subject, and practically con
vert the Republican party in Wis
conain, established for the promotion Of great
national interests into q local prohbitory-
hquo,-law organization. Il will doubtless be
urged that the Republican Convention was not
asked expressly to approve prohibition; what 1t
was asked to do was to affirm that it ia the duty
of the Legislature to propose a rrohibitory
amendment
The difference between direct approval and
the eourse proposed is merely the difference
between frank, msnly and straightforward con-
duct AMI e cowardly attempt TO reach the same
end by shutting and evasion. No Legislature
would bo ju~tlaed in proposing an snendnert
lea1 Tri I.yfr
and mi.chcyous if adopted. When it submits
tn amendment, by that very act it recommends
it's adoption.
The Democrats party is also in the fell with
ticket or part of one. It's platform and its
ticket, rs presented are additional evidences OF
the old fact that il has no principles Of It's own
which It q wlID" to avow, though ITS steaitty
purpose ia easy detect. II wants ofi,e and
power at any sacrifice OF independence, cor
sstency or manhood. And the real issue Is
still between these two great psrties-thc Re
ublican and the Democratic. One or tho other
If hose pariios we know must control the Gov
ernment OF this nation. Which Of them can we
1t afford to trusty To which Of them can we
best afford to give our support2 These are
nc questions for every voter 10 ask himself,
md ansg3er aud act according to tho
ljgtt Of reason. sense and prudence. The
great orator OF the American Revolution
said . There is no way Of judging the future
hat by the past and Judging BY the past, he
asked. .,uat had there been in the conduct
4 the British Ministry and Parliament to JUS
tifv the hopes Of better treatment Of the colo
nies With which gentlemen had been pleased to
/ solace themselves and the couatrvn Ard &c
We say It is trIe -thtre Is vet no way Of Judging
/ the future Lui by the past, and, judging by
4 tie past. what ans there heen in the conduct
/ Of the Democratic party. for the last fifty years
70 ius,ify the hope that It's return to power
would be ANYTHING but a disaster to all the tesi
ana highest interests Of chr Government AID
6aniry? Ii wes the FREUD of slaveTv snd or
+ preston IL va tie frietai OF treason and Ne
4 cession it was the friend 81 imitation abd re-
pu3lsiOD. Where would our country he 70
I day if the Democratic psr.s's position OF
either Of these great Issues he'd i-ecn IL
tio7sed " tie American peopseZ We would
have slavery. divided Union, and = repudi-
ated 1t, VITA all their dangers, disasters ans
4 iisglaccs Can the judgmen. and ense q
Justice ratr otism and hon or that Sanctioned
and advocl;ed these things In the past
lie tIrat, in the fulnre2 The policies uosi
I. earnestly advocated By the Democrats part,
! and with which its name il identified arc al
( ready The shame and disgrace Of American
! istsrv On the other hand. fhe Whole Tee9rC
] # the r, pihllcsn party IL the glory ri on
I Ii<iorr. Al great contest th2t shall 20
the destiny toe Ia, Or woe - siIii Waee
! ietEesp these two greet partifs-the Iepr
| sents' rves Of liberty. EiG5u and pr0sress o.
lie one hand. snd slavary. recession and re
pudiation en- the uther-ani not tin an ths
! fruits Of the long contest have been sscareg
aud free schools aud free ballot are as wei
projected South "a North. can We, 81 Rsunbsi
cans afford to lose sight Of the cause fpr VIII ]
50 much blood IVES shed and 80 much ire zs;,st
expended TIE solid South IS beginning L
break nader the dgseouragemenE OF repcate1
E-.H-