Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1882-09-15
THE DEMOCRAT.
Mineral Point, Friday, Sept. Is, 1882.
Geo. Crawford. Robt. M. Crawford
EnIIoRs AND PRoPRIEIoRs

EDITORS AND PRoPRIEIoRs.
1t is worth while for all who
care more for the development and
growth of pure morality and sound
political doctrines among US, than
they do for the personal success
Of either Mr.. Hazelton or Mr.
Keyes, to consider what will be
the moral result of the heated
and excited canvass now going on
for the Republican nomination for
member of congress in this district.
VIII the electors who enter into
the contest with heart and soul
come out of it better prepared to
intelligently and honestly exercise
the right Of suffrage as becomes cit
liens of the best government up
on earth? And will the spectacle
presented to those who, although
taking no part in it, are earnest
beholders of the struggle?
We fear the most sanguine
optimist would be unable to find
a single reason to warrant an assuring
answer to these questions. Not one
redeeming feature has been presented
since the beginning of the canvass.
No political principle is at issue;
the contest is a purely personal
one, and the personal characters OF
the candidates are not attractive.
1t does not appear that either of
the candidates holds decided views
upon any of the issues now forcing
themselves upon the country. 1t
is true that both wear the .Repub-
lican party label; but who does
not know that such a label is no
more an indication to their opinions
on questions of public policy, than
it is to their convictions on ques-
tons OF religion or morals. And
it ought to be considered an in
suit to intelligent electors for a
candidate to ask their support
without presenting something more
tangible as an index to his political
creed. As no political principles
enter into it the contest is there
fore as we have said a purely per
sonal one. This would be bad
enough were the candidates men
of such character as to respectively
command Il large following of en-
thusiastic friends; who relying upon
the good qualities of the heart
and mind of their leader, would
set them forth to attract voters to
his standard. But far worse than
this is indeed the case. eve have
two evils presented, and we are
in duty bound to choose the least"
or III other words: both candidates
are graccless scalawags, and we must
choose the lesser one, is the main
argument used by the supporters
of both IIazelton and Reyes This
dcplorable state of affairs, together
with the the charges of corruption,
of packing caucuses, the use of
money etc, made by each side
against the other can have nothing
but an evil effect upon the average
voter, and will work as strong
force to draw politics still deeper
into the mire than they are at
present. Nobody can deny that if
things go on from bad to worse much
longer we will have reached Il stage
in politics too fearful to contem-
plate. On to this stage the repub-
lican leaders are driving their party
at a rapid rate; and there is no
hope of amy reform from them.
Now it is the duty Of all cour-
ageous, patriotic members of that
party realizing this sad state of
affairs, to make an independent
stand, and refuse to be driven that
way amy longer If cither Hazelton
or Reyes is nominated at Monroe
to-day. republican boilers will serve
their country and their party best
by doing all in their power to de-
feat the candidate of their paaty at
the polls.