River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1882-10-26
HON. WIZ. T. PRICE.


The following extracts from speech
delivered in legislative caucus called
to nominate q successor to Matt. III.
Carpenter in the United Safes Senate
illustrate the feelings toward the peo-
ople entertained by the Republican
nominee for Congress;
The eyes of one and third of mil
lion of people are upon us. They have
no lobby here; they have none of the
appliances of wealth to move upon us;
they are struggling away out upon the
bleak prairie, or swinging the AK in
the woods, or the sledge or hammers
in the forge, to keep their loved ones
warm in their humble homes. They
send us here believing us to be true
men; men who could not be swerved
from the path of duty by any personal
considerations, by any combination of
wealth, or any dictation from self
constituted rulers.
We cannot, 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
MERGE cannot fail to awaken the live
Hest apprehensions on the part of the
producer and consumer, that combina-
lions may be made by Which agricul.
ture and commerce may be thr0ttled,
the industries of our state thrown
PROSTATE at the feet of corporations
and monopOlists.
Again there is growing and very
natural restiveness among the people
that the theory that the people them
selves rule, is only theory, and that
our political affairs are managed too
much by men who are simply politi-
clans and place.seekers-men who
have no interest in politics except as
means of suppOrt-men who know
nothing of the struggles and hardships
of the people themselves; men whose
selfishmess would overthrow this fair
fabric of republican government, if by
that means they could enthrone them
selves upon its ruins, and avoid honest
work.
If, then, we are not recreant to duty;
if we are careless or Indifferent and
thus permit ourselves to be defeated
by these place-seekers, these impudent
dictators, these self-constituted mas
tiers, these men who never felt heart
beat in sympathy with honest toll, we
shall deserve to suffer under the con-
seriousness of high public trust be-
trayed, and the reproaches of an out
ragged constituency.
Rise, men, friends. legislators; throw
off this despotism, assert your indie
pendence, 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 sympathies; conscientious in
his conduct, with brain to measure
and heart to feel for the wants of
all mankind-some one who has the
courage to defy Northern demagogues
and southern secessionists; a man who
seeks no place, but will modestly &C
cept the honorable service we demand
of him; man who would not, by a
cold and calculating selfshness, vault
to the shoulders of the people, and en-
throning himself upon their necks,
look down with cold indifference or
scorn upon their more humble lives
and pursuits.
/ plead not for myself, not for my
friend, not for my favorite; these are
as nothing. But plead for the party
of freedom and equal rights; | plead
for the men and women of toll; [
plead for the success of the expert
ment of self-government.
| invoke you by the blood shed in
three wars: ] invoke you as you ven
crate memory of the men who died
that the principle of self-government
might live; to stand by that principle,
and let that little ballot that you shall
deposit be d singing rebuke to the
moot offensive oliyarphy -