Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1884-10-02


rob him of his rights, and this they do
without mercy.
If they favor his education, it is only
such an education as prepares him to
be useful in a servile condition, not one
that gives him anything like a fair
chance in the battle of life. The Chris
tians who engage in self-denying labors
to elevate the freedmen are ostracised
and treated as outcasts, Or, ia the Ian
guage of the South. like ''niggers." 1t
is not to be forgotten that tie uhre-
p3ntant rebels are the controlling power
in the democratic party. They are, if
not the heads of the party,
THE CAUDAL APPENDAGE
that moves the body of the animal. The
triumph of the old slave power, and
prepare the way for the obliteration of
all distinctions between loyalty and
treason. This is indicated by the utter
ances of rebel brigadiers on the floor of
congress and elsewhere. jeff Davis
more than intinates that the rebel SOL
der should be pensioned from the
treasury of the United States. Let the
South gain the control of the country
and how long will it be before it de-
mands compensation for the losses sus-
tanned in their efforts to destroy the
nation? Should the democratic party
admit the justice of these claims, and
tax the country to pay them to the
uttermost farthing, there would be
nothing in such action inconsistent
with its past history. Never had this
party less reason than now for asking
the votes of patriotic citizens. They
have placed at the head of their ticket
a man whose moral character is so base
that the mention of his name excites
disgust and loathing Ia all virtuous cir
cles. And for vice-president they have
nominated a copperhead of the copper
heads, an apolOgist fer the rebellion,
who not only refused to vote supplies
for the war, but who threw his whole
influence against its successful prose-
cution.
WHEN THE PAST HISTORY
and present condition of this party is
candldIy considered, one is reminded of
cribed as being "badly cooked and bad
ly served, as bad as bad can be-" And
you, my brother, would have NE believe
that between this party and the party
of Justice AID humanity; by which it is
choose. To do this, [ must stultify my
self and become oblivious to the history
of our country for the last twenty-five
years. Do you ask ''What has this
party done?" [ reply with the blessings
Of God, it suppressed or crushed out the
most gigantic rebellion known in the
worlds history. In doing this it disap-
pointed the hopes of old world tyrants
and elevated our country to foremost
position among the nations Of t. earth.
1t emaHcipated millions Of slaves and
lowered them with the rights of citi-
zenship. It has given our country a
currency than which there is none better
in the civilized world. Without oppres-
sing the people with burdensome taxes
it is paying our national debt with a
rapidiGy that is surprise to ourselves
and an establishment to our enemies.
The most sober and careful statement
of what this grand old party has done
for the country since it called Abra-
ham Lincoln to the presidential chair
in 1860,
SOUNDS LIKE WILD EXAGGERATIONS.
And you and the friends who are CO.
operating with you are content to have
this party superseded by democracy
represented by men like Grover Cleve-
land and Garter Harrison! [ am gla
that you appreciate the fact, that you
are rendering the democratic party an
invaluable eervice in supporting the
prohibition candidates. Ii would be an
Impeachment of your intelligence to
suppose that you are ignorant of this
fact. You have no doubt observed that
the democratic press INDUCES in no
criticism on your course, but cOmmends
in the most emphatic terms your con-
sclentiOus adhesion to your principles.
Do you never ask yourself
''What evil have done that these men should be
praising me?''
You are candid enough to admit that
the triumph of the democracy in Illinois
would probably lead to great increase
in drinking and drunkenness. Such a
victory would give staggering blow to
the cause Of temperance and be follow
ed by such legislation as would be ac-
ceptable to the brewers, distillers, and
saloon-keepers of the state. Your as
sumption that an increase of voice aud
crime would be only temporary and
lead to reaction that would
PROMOTE VIRTUE AND TEMPERANCE,
seem to NE not only unreasonable, but
pISHOopOhOIao' LILO khull IO1 F1OiuObiuS
reform is so entirely original that one is
led to suspect that it was made to order
and for special purpose.
! We do not think of sending ship loads
of watermelons to Naples as a remedy
| for cholera, nor recommend an increase
of mad dogs as cure for hydrophobia
If we are to engage in the work of over
coming evil with evil, let us proceed
| cautiously and on small scale. We
might commence by breaking up a sim
| gle Sabbath school, and send the boys
to a low Sunday the atre or dime
museum. The lewd songs and indecent
performances might SO disgust them
that they would return to the study of
the bible with new zest. Such ''feac-
ton" would be gathering grapes Of
thorns' and figs of thistles, and that
would be something new under the sun.
Let us take another view of the subject.
Society is but an aggregate on of indi-
viduals, and is improved only as indi-
viduaIs are made better
One of vnIIr 11aiob bnrS hoe -,