Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1884-10-31

Green County, l find the following
letter, written by Henry Harnden, of
of Madison. Mr.. Harnden is the In
ternal Revenue Collector for this
district.
| MADISON, Wis, Oct Is, 1884.
J. n. Eulette, Monticello, Wis:
DEAR SIR-Yours of the 10Th is just received.
| You say that T. C. Richmond started report in
your place that R. NJ La Toilette has been around
in the saloons in Madison treating to intoxicants,
and that he takes some himself for his stomach's
sake; and wish for an answer. My reply is that
the charge is a base slander.
| have known Mr. La Toilette long and well,
and know him to be just as good a temperance
| man as Mr.. Richmond is himself, or any of the
men who, under the guise of temperance, are
seeking to disrupt the republican party. No one
ever heard those charges against Mr.. La Toilette
until after his nomination fer congress, and it be-
came evident that he would be elected. unless
some extraordinary means were used to defeat
him.
Do you think the temperance men of Madison
who know Mr. LaFollette, would be supporting
him unanimously, if he was not sound on the
temperance question? Out of the whole Metho-
dist Church, in Madison, not to exceed two, are
going to vote against him; and certainly do not
know Of but one. For my part, 1 will vote for
man who is not 4 temperance man. and shall
vote for Mr. LaFollette if live until election day.
Mr. LaFollette is, on any subject frst-class
young man, and ne will live to uphold republican
principles lcng after his traducers have sunk out
of sight in the democratic party.
Very Respectfully Yours,
HENRY HARNDEN.
When I read the above, although
it does not report correctly what l
said, I Immediately went to the saloon
Zone of them) where Mr.. LaFollette
has been in the habit of buying his
liquor and to some of the men whom
he has treated in that saloon, and
found that what 1 had stated to few
friends in Monticello, on what I be-
lieved to be good authority, is true
absolutely true-dU of 1t. tits true
ia spirit, as we'll as in letter. 1t is
true in general, and in particular. 1t
is true in statement, and in implica-
ton. The man who ISLANDERS or ira
duces his fellow man is one of
| the meanest of the race
and when Henry Harnden states
that I have slandered any man,
or insinuatcs that have traduced any
man, he says what no manly man
will say of another without the
most positive proof. When Henry
Harnden wrote the above letter he
either wrote about that of which he
knoacs nothing, or he wilfully stated
what he knows to be untrue. IN
charity to him, am inclined to think
| the former; for | believe he was
misinformed and misled by over zeal
Gus or untruthful partisans. When it
is shown that l have said anything
untrue, unjust or unfair about the
republican nominee or about any
other man, it will be pleasure to me
to make due acknowledgment, suit
able apology, and, as far as I am able,
ample reparation. This much every
honest man ought to be willing to do;
this much am willing to do, at any
time and in every place.
For the republican nominee, | have
only the best wishes, and towards him
only the kindliest feeling; no man
knows that better than that gentle
man himself; and for his sake, 1 am
sorry to be compelled to publish this
in self defense.
We are carrying on campaign not
against individuals, but against achisk
ey parties es-republican and democrat
ic alike.
But further in regard to the above
letter. Whether Mr.. La Toilette is
''as good temperance man as Mr..
Richmond" is not the question now.
The question is, has he been treating
others to intoxicants in Madison sa-
looms, and does he drink some him
self C'for his stomach's sake'D2
Further, while he is doing this, are
his friends trying to deceive temper
ance men into voting for him2
answer all these questions in the
affirmative; and if what have here
stated is denied by the republican nomi-
nee over his own signature, I will
produce and publish afidavits Of all
that I hare said or irritten on the
subject
Further, it is not true, as stated in
the above letter. that the temperance
men of Madison are unanimously
supporting Mr.. La Toilette. 1t is
not true that Extraordinary means"
are being used to defeat him. We
stand upon, and have resorted only 20,
the truth. 1t is not true, as insinu-
ated, that we are trying TO disrupt the
republican, any more than the demo
cratic, party. They are both whisky
parties, and we are fighting them
both. The prohibitionists are con
due ting their campaign in an open,
manly way. They are fighting for a
principle. They strike at all the sup
porters of saloons, no matter where
found. They say what hey mean.
They traduce no man. They slander
no man. Let those who have no
principle to advocate, use SANDERS
tongue and libel's pen; We have no
use for either.
l regret exceedingly tie necessity
that compels me to write this letter.
but it is written to defend myself
against an unrtdnly and uncdfled
for attack, and not 10 expose in this
way, the weakness of any man, or the
nominee of any party. 1 will say in
conclusion that the republican party
in this congressional district is doing
only what 1t is doing all over the
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