The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1882-09-30
The Thoughts and Sentiments of rsn
Honest Man.
From the Eau Claire Free Press.

lAAoHl tne EAU claire Free preSS.
In the joint caucus of the Republi-
cans OF the Wisconsin Legislature of
1881, the first ballot for a successor to
the late Matt. H. Carpenter as United
States Senator, showed several votes
for VIM. [. Price. Mr.. Price arose
to withdraw his name and made such
a speech as has been the fortune of but
few to hear, and of which the follow
ing Is but an incomplete and halting
extract
We can not, gentlemen, ignore the
fact that ever since the world was
rocked in the cradle Of infancy there
has existed an antagonism between
capital and labor; an antagonism al
ways unnatural, often imaginary, but
at present widespread, deep and rap
idly solidifying. The recently perfect
ed schemes to consolidate railroads
and telegraph lines; the startling ten
dency to aggregate capital invested in
these great arteries through which
pulse the life blood of American com
merce, cannot fail to awake the liveli-
est apprehension on the part of pro-
ducer and consumer, that combinations
may be made by which agriculture
and commerce may be throtled, and
the industries Of our state thrown pros
trate at the feet Of corporations and
monopolies.
There is a growing and very nat
ural restiyeness among the people, that
the theory that the people themselves
rule, is only a theory, and that our po-
litical affairs are managed too much
by men who are simply politicians and
place-seekers-men who have no inter-
est in politics except as means Of sup
port-men who know nothing of the
struggles and hardships of the people
themselves; men whose selfshness
would overthrow this fair fabric of
republican government, if by that
means they could enthrone themselves
upon the ruins and avoid honest
work
If we are recreant to duty; if we
are careless or indifferent and thus
permit ourselves to be defeated by
the place-seekers, these imprudent
doctors, these self-constituted masters,
these men who never felt heart beat
in sympathy with honest toll, we shall
deserve to suffer under the conscious
ness of a high public trust betrayed,
and the reproaches Of an outraged
constituency.
"Rise, men, friends, legislators;
throw off this despotism, assert your
independence, and with God above
you, and God within you, meet the
just expectations of those whose agents
you are, by selecting for this place in
the highest legislative body in the
world, some man broad and compre-
hensive in his understanding; kindly
in his sympathis; conscientious in his
conduct, with brain to measure, and
a heart to feel for the wants of all
mankind; some one who has the cour-
age to defy northern demagogues and
southern secessionists; a man who
seeks no place, but will modestly ac-
cept the honorable service we demand
of him; a man who would not, by a
cold and calculating selfshness, vault
to the shoulders Of the people, and,
enthroning himself upon their necks,
look down with cold indifference or
scorn upon their more humble lives
and pursuits.
" I speak earnestly because | feel
deeply. Never in the history of our
state has a legislature been called to
meet an emergency fraught with con-
sequences SO seriously eventful as the
present.
g plead, not for myself, not for
my friend, not for my favorite; these
are as nothing. But | plead for my
state; | plead for my nation; | plead
for the party of freedom and equal
rights; | plead for the men and women
of toll; / plead for the success of the
of self-government.
q invoke you by the blood shed
in three wars; | invoke you, as you re-
we're the memory of the men who died
that the principles of self-government
might live, to stand by that principle,
and let that little ballot that you shall
deposit be a singing rebuke to this
most offensive oligarchy.n