The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1881-10-14
WISCONSIN REPUBLICANS,
4 Stirring Address by the State Com
mittee.

sres to call the attention OF the elccIOFS ol ti1e
State to the Importance of the present canvass
and of the electionswiSh which it will close.
It's true no sharply defined oyershadowing
issues now present themselves such as we have
had to meet in the past; no questions OF so
much moment as those relating to slavery, TO
the defense of the Union against rebellion, to
the reconstruction of the States, or TO the great
contest for the national credit and sound cur
rency, But it is not during the storm, amid
waves and winds and clouds, that the ships the
ocean make the greatest progress in their yoy-
ages, neither is it 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
ships move on their Journeys with the greatest
speed, safety and profit, so it 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.
Heis an unwise or Illogical patriot who makes
the very conditions that give him the greatest
opportunity to render useful service 10 his
country his excuse for doing nothing. There
has never been 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
orr beloved and honored President, nominated
a ticket composed of well-knoWn and worthy
citizens. 1t adopted platform embodying the
liberal and progressive views of the national
Republican party, q platform upon which every
citizen can stand who believes in fostering
vigorous national spirit in maintaining free and
honest elections, in encouraging and protecting
American industry, in keeping the public credit
u11impaired. and in asserting the right of the
people, through the legitimate channels of leg
islation, to secure themselves against undue
exactions and abuses on the part of corpora
tions: 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-
publicans this committee has nothing to say.
Against the principles and theories they repre-
Gent it ia not necessary to say moro 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 a platform and in favor of theory
that has been fully discussed, passed upon
and rejected by the American people-and
nowhere more emphatlcally than IN the
State of Wisconsin, where when approved
and commended in the most authoritative
manner by the Democratic organization, 1t
only drove intelligent voters from that party
and led to its overwhelming defeat. Inc
demonstrations of evil to result from the trt-
umph of Republican principles during the cur
rency discussion have not been tulhlled. " our
enemies themselves being the judges. On the
contrary it is almost universally admitted that
the country owes its unprecedented prospect
tv to the frnness and faithfulness of the Re-
publican party's devotion to sound financial
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 in our favor, we shall not reopen the
case OH the currency question.
The Temperance or Prohibition party is In
the field asking your votes. The Republican
party claims to be, and is, the friend of tenn
perance, sobriety, good morals and good or
der.
The Pfohibitionists demand that an amend
ment to the State constitution, prohibiting the
manufacture and sale OF spirituous and malt
liquors. be submitted to the people. That is
question which belongs wholly to the Legisla-
ture. ia majority of the people desire the
submission of such an amendment, they have
the power to elect Legislature which will eX-
ecute their will. But there is a large number
of Republicans who do not believe such an.
amendment is desired by the majority of the
people, who consequently think it would in
volye useless 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
islation in this State would accomplish nothing
to abate the evils Of intemperance, but would
remain dead letter upon the statute book.
They are confirmed in this opinion by the fact
that but few localities avail themselves of the
existing local-option law, and that in many in
stances where it has been tried it has proved
nearly a total failure. They hold that leglsla-
ton in order to be effective, must conform to
the convictions of a large majority of the peo-
pie, and they know that, even if majority
of the voters of the State favored prohibition,
there are extensive districts where great ma
iority of the inhabitants would regard 1t as al
outrage upon their personal liberties. Hence
the Republican party in this State has from
the beginning steadily refused to make pro-
hibition an article of its political faith. 1t
has left its members free to entertain their
own Convictions on this subject. The last
State convention took no new departure, but
adhered to the established policy OF tho party
The evils of intemperance are no greater now
than they have Eeen ut any time since the
party was organized in 1854, the necessity for
prohibition is no more urgent. On the con-
trary. it is believed that, in the last twenty
wears, through the efforts In part OF tne
femperance organizations employing only
moral agencies, and in part through the gen
eral social progress made, there has Deen q
marked improvement IN the hablts OF the PeO-
nile in respect to the mmoderate use OF In
Foxicatine drinks, Hence there was no rea-
son why the late State Convention should
abandon the policy hitherto pursuee
on this subject, and practically con con
vert the Republican party in WIS
consin, established for the promotion OF great
national interests, into local prohlpltoIy-
liquor-law organization 1t Will douDtlesS pe
urged that the Republican Convention was not
10
was asked to do was to affirm that 1t Is the duty
of the Legislature to propose prohlbltory
amendment.
The difference between direct approval and
the course proposed is merely the difference
between frank, manly and straightforward con-
duct and cowardly attempt to reach the same
end bv shutting and evasion. No Legislature
would be justified in proposing an amendment
which, in its own opinion, would be lnJddlclous
and mischeYous if adopted. When it submits
an amendment, by that very act it recommends
its adoption. 4
The Democratic party is also in the field with
q ticket-or part of one. It's platform and Its
ticket as presented, are additional evidences OF
the old fact that it has no principles of Its own
which it is willing to avow, though its stealthy
purpose is easy to detect. 1t wants Office and
power at any sacrifice of independence, con-
sistency or manhood And the real issue is
still between these two great parties-the Re-
publican and the Democratic. One or the other
of these parties we know must controlt the Gov
eminent of this nation. Which of them can we
best afford to trust? To which of them can we
best afford to give our support? These are
the questions for every voter to ask himself,
and ansF1er and act according to the
light Of reason, sense and prudence. The
great orator Of the American Revolution
said "There is no way Of judging the future.
but by the past and judging by the past, he
asked, Z" what had there been in the conduct
of the British Ministry and Parliament to JUS
tify the hopes of better treatment of the colo
MES with which gentlemen had been pleased to
solace themselves and the country" And so
we say it is true-there is yet no way of judging
the future but by the past, and, Judging by
the past, what has there been in the conduct
of the Democratic party, for the last fifty years,
to Justify the hope that its return to power
would be anything but disaster to all the best
and highest interests of our Government and
country 1t was the friend of slavery and OPP
preston it was the friend of treason and Sc
eession it was the friend of imitation and re-
pudiation. Where would our country be to-
day if the Democratic partys position on
either of these great issues had been in
dorsed by. the American people? We would
have slavery. divided Union and repudi-
ated debt, with all their dangers, disasters and
disg1Hees. Can the judgment and sense of
Justice. patriotism and honor that sanctioned
and advocated these things in the past
I l--k-,. IL. -