Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1885-06-11

tendencies of the Demo
cratic administration, that he has in
spurned all offers of advance
ment and come out under the banner
of true progress and reform. 1t is a
brave and manly letter and well de-
serves the wide perusal which it will
TO THE PUBLIC - For twenty-five
years | have been an active member of
the Democratic party, doing everything
IN my power to place its candidates IN
control of the various departments of
government. During that considerable
period / have marched IN its process
sions, contributed and disbursed money
for its campaigns, associated and been
intimate with many of its leaders and
filled, to the best of my ability, some of
its humble offices. / have studied the
ways and doings of its sages and coun-
sellers, watched closely its general
course-more recently at short range
digested and proclaimed its professions
of principles and learned its platforms
almost by heart.
Should | not know the Democratic
party? think know its secret work.
ings, its capabilities, its heart, its con-
science. | also think | know its true
value to the citizen, its true worth to
the state.
The conduct and enunciations of the
Democratic party have not always met
my approval, and l have openly so de-
clared, as occasion so arose. Some
times | had misgivings concerning the
sincerity of those who assumed to be
its oracles and high priests; and my
faith in the ability of those whom the
world believed to be patriotic to cope
with those who cared nothing for prin
ciple or country, was not always firm.
sometimes, too, in spite of campaign
enthusiasm and the rigor of party ties,
| found myself debating whether the
Democratic party, with so much in it
that |, a Democrat. could not endorse.
was the one to be fully entrusted with
the control and guidance of the destin-
les of a nation as mighty as ours.
Although Hope had these contentious
with Doubt, yet the name of Democrat
sounded sweet in my ears. and strup-
gled on Tor success, really believing
that after all victory would bring to the
front the ablest and truest generals. the
wisest and most conscientious states
men OF my party-in whose hands pub
lie affairs would be safe, the country
prosperous, the people contented and
happy.
Last fall, that long-looked-for and
long-fought-for victory came. The
Democracy, chastened by many disas-
tiers, was placed at the head of public
affairs; the real trial of its virtues and
craftsmanship which / had expected
would wipe out all my doubts, had at
last come. Three months of that trial
are now before us, and what a misera-
BILE record it is! AS "a new broom al
ways sweeps clean,n so the OPENING
months of the Cleveland administration
must be accepted as more cautious and
conservative than any that will follow.
Yet what do we see ? Instead of
broad, progressive craftsmanship; in
stead OF an honest, healthy reform of
the civil service; instead of guidance by
men of ripe attachments and full ex-
perience; instead of a clean-cut and
hlgh-toned administrative policy, we
have long series of false pretenses.
demagoguery, personality and blunders.
We see appointed to high offices,
drunkards, social if not criminal out
casts and participators in election butch
cries and frauds; enemies of fair and
free elections; enemies of our beneficent
public-school system; former and pres
ent enemies of the union-men nm
cleansed of treason, unrepentant, unre-
constructed and with their disabilities
yet upon them. Can soldiers who left
limbs on the battlefield, stand these
thingsP Can they condone and indorse
them? If there be any such, am not
of them. want no more Democracy
upon my plate. fought hard to oct
the present administration in, and
shall fight still harder to get them out.
They are not the men to rule the coun-
try in this day of enlightenment and
progress.
Look at the vast system of blackmail
and perjury inaugurated by the post
master-general. Were affidayits for
political purposes, against friends and
neighbors, ever heard of before? Were
men ever before libeled and slandered
at wholesale, by agents of the govern
ment? Was there ever time when so
many disreputable appointments had
to be reversed, to satisfy public opinionP
Was there ever before a time when it
was political crime for man to at
tend caucus and vote or speak his
party convictionsp
No! And after the current four years
| trust the present reign of falsehood,
masquerading, shame, retrogression and
blackmail will end forever.
This step of mine is taken upon no
sudden impulse. 1t has been well
studied, we'll considerable been
growing upon me for some time.
/ also fully understand my humble
position. do not expect to create a
political revolution, nor throw the pres
ent administration from the track.
After seeing the Democratic leaders
placed in charge of the ship of state,
have lost faith in even their fair weather
seamanship. and therefore, just as my
party is entering upon an era of power
and patronage, / take occasion to an
nounce my convictions. so that no one
can impugn my motives. More espec-
iallv, as | shall no longer be looked
upon as an indorser and defender of
those thugs which | cannot possibly
defend and endorse, so l shall be no
bearer of false colors. open TO no charge
Of espionage or cowardice.
Let me be fully understood: am no
Democratic mugwump, kicking against
disappointments or fruitless office-seek-
inos: but am and wish to be consid-
cred full-fledged Republican and in
perfect communion with the Republican
party-the only party capable Of prop
erly governing this country and fulfill
ing the manifest destiny of its people
the party that, after seeing them both
tried, most nearly meets my approval
and accords with my convictions.
/ fear no consequence, ask for no
quarter, expect no reward, but am do
ing simply what believe to be right.
| would rather live on mush and milk
with a party that attempts to be fair,
patriotic and honorable, than be the
grand mogul of the present crowd of
blackmailers, slanderers and dispensers