Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1888-04-05
An Address.

To THE VOTERS OF WISCONSIN,
Now for the first time in over twenty
years, is before the country as party
issue broad question of political
economy. BY tho wise, honest snd
conservative policy of the present nd
uiniStratiJn is established what all fair
minded people have known, that the
union and the good results of tie great
civil war are sacred to the Democratic
party aud sure of protection at lis
hands Aud for the first time in Il gen
GRAFTON our party is free to assume aud
champion the cause Of the psopie
against the mouopolies. and strong
enough to attack that policy which robs
the farmer and the laborer to enrich
and aggrandize q favored class, butt
ressed and eutrenched though that
policy is by the colossal fortunes and
aggregations of capital which it has
brought INTO existence.
The war is over. Most of the impor-
tant questions arising from it have been
settled or ontgrown. But after twenty
three years Of perfect and continuous
| pouce the producers of the country have
not boen relieved from any part Of the
excessive tariff taxation upon the DecesS
saries of life, levied upon the plea that
extraordinary revenues were required
20 meet the usual expenses of war.
While the manufacturers of the east
have gtowh :;Gh Though HE benefits
derived from high protective tariif and
great annual surplus OF over $780,
900, 600 has been piled up in the national
. h.. -
ton, the agricultural states of tho west
have been mortgaged to eastern capi-
taiisls
The question presented to the voters
of the country to-day, is plainly aud
fairly put by President Cleveland In his
ahnnsl iiiessage to the Fiftieth congress.
He believes that the taxation on the
necessaries of life-food, clothing and
household necessities, should be re-
duced. The Democrats of Wisconsin
heartily coincide with this view. as will
be seen by the following resolution,
passed amid enthusiasm, at the last
! Democratic state convention, held IN
| 1886;
| Rcso;Ued, That the reduction of the tariff to a
revenue basis is cardinal principal OF the Dem
ocretic party, and that those members of the
| present hOuse Of representatives, selected Is
| Democrats, who voted againet considering the
/ bill for the reduction Of the tariE, deserve no
| recognition IN Democratic councils.
The question presented, if viewed
candidv, has little sentiment in Il. 1t
is a plain business question that appeals
for answer to the intelligence and in
terest of every producer in the land. 1t
is not proposition to introduce Free
Trade or join the Golden club. The
people are merely asked iftaxa ion that
collects from them annuaIlyS100,0 600, 900
more than is needed f0I tho legitimate
expenses of the government, is to be
sustained, or if they wish to aid the
Democratic party in reducing both taxes
aud expenses TO tue basis of economy
that times Of peace imperatiyely de-
mand.
The men who constitute majority
of all the voters who will participate in
the coming national election, who are
the active majority in commercial
affairs. md who are to day paying the
bulk OF the taxes OF the country, have
become voters siuce 1865. since the war
closed. La Wisconsin, there is maior-
ity OF $4,000 such voters this year. 1t
is to them that the plain, business intel.
! hSesce If President Cleveland's mes
sage should appeal with the utmost
force Their duty TO themselves, to
their families, and to their country, Is a
present duty. and their judgment
should not be clouded by any Of the
smoke of ancient political prejudice.
Every voter who can endorse Presi-
dent Cleveland's honest efforts to re-
duee taxation, and secure honest and
economical government is earnestly IN
vited to work snd vote TO aid
the Democratic party. In caucns. in
convention and at polls.
BIZ order Of the Democratic State
Central Committee.
JOHN z. WRIGHT. ELLIS B. USHER.
Secretary. Chairman.
Dated. Milwaukee,, March IS, 1883.