Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1888-08-03

and life long republican, to Mr.. James
L. Sparkham, also of this city, will be
read With great interest by many republi-
cans who are faltering, hardly knowing
which way to turn, b%5 are certain they
have enough of the &. 0. p, as well as
all democrats. 1t is a clear statement
of the present deploraD!e condition of
the republican party, and can hardly fail
to carry conviction to any reasoning
no lelessly on the decline. The state
ments made are simply irrefutable.
THE LETTER.
| Mr.. Weaverson says:
| DEAR SIR:-You can doubtless recall a
conver ersation we had early in the winter,
during wk;ch you observed my apathy
towari both the great political parties.
| That Indifference had arisen from what,
to me, appeared q hidebound, stationar y
| policy pursued by both parties. Since
our conversation, however, and perhaps
| in part resulting from it, l have looked
more particularly into the drift of both
| parties, and have become aware of thei-
changed and still changing attitudes
both toward progressive movements and
| the legislation necessary to convert such
movements into perm anent folces for the
1
strength | have hitherto been more or
less i'll active sympathy with the rePubli-
can party, which was, undeniably, the
offspring of heroic aud nsgniticently
| humane impulses. the party has made
glorious record, and every man who
acted with it may feel a just pride, not
| only in its achievements, but in his own
share of their accomplishment as well.
| This is a tribute most cheerfully given.
| But no party record, however brilliant,
can be rightfuliy used to
| BUY IHE INTELLECT AND CONSCIENCE.
The most valuable opinion on any sub
| ject, politics Included is that which is Oh
| tanned by inde pendent investigation. 1t
| must, of necessity, be the only really
honest opinion, Therefore, L find that
| toe result of my study of recent republi-
can action has placed me in antagonism
to the party on about all public ques
tions. As political force il has come to
halt. 1t is busy with memories of its
youth and manhood. It's conduct seems
governed by the belief that an irresIsti-
bic conflict is still going on, calling for
war spirit and war methods. 1t stands
motionless, gazing raptly at q fast re ced
ing past, just as the old bourbon democ-
racy stood, blocking the path of national
progress 25 years ago. Indeed, the rela
tive attitudes of the parties seem to be
exactly reversed. Democracy has rehab
ilitated itself with new ideas, new meth
DDS of action, new and better conceptions
of governm ent, while republicanism is
ssill engaged with the war of the rebel
lion.
THE PARTY PLATFORM.
Parties should be judged by tteir plat
forms. Candidates are rarely more than
materalized convention talk. The St.
Louis platform may, doubtless does In
some respects, fall short of what the
people might have expected. If 50, SO
much the worst for the party. But, after
all, it ia a solid document, which carries
conviction with it. The Chicago plat
form reaches Olympian heights of auda-
cious esseveration. Its atfirmations and
denuncations alike lack the elements of
truth and justice, as is copspicuously
shown in the public lands, civil service,
currency and tariff planks. Just here
] may say that had the present admi2is
tration no other claim upon my favor,
lis action in restoring to the public do
main forfeited land grants and grabbed"
lands would compel my respect. In this
matter and that of the Indebtedness of
of the transcontinentel railways, the re
publican policy has been, am sorry TO
say, one of either mastery inactivity or
manifest favor to the corporations in
volved.
UPON THE QUESTION OF TARIFF
| | never was in sym pathy with radical
protectionism. l could never convince
myself that protection was more than a
! means to an end. The policy of protec
tiou for projections sake has been useful
| to In the organization of our indus
| trial system it has secured Us safety, dur
ing our early and weak period, from the
| com petition of the established and com
nercially powerful manuf 'cturers of the
old world. But in country of such un-
limited natural resources as ours, com
merce and trade must outgrow the in
| fancy stage. Very many industries have
done so, Others are approaching the self
| sustaining state. When any industry
| becomes powerful enough to kill com
| petition in the homs market, it is quite
| time to let 1t wage its own battle against
foreign competion-irdeed, it may have
become necessity to open our ports TO
| foreign producers to save our own
| people from the rapacity and
best test of the validity of ideas Is their
adaptability to popular requirements.
The best methods are those which find
! justification in great natural laws. The
| American system has played q great part
in building up, expanding aud elevating
! the nation. But we have ousgrOwn its
| wider application, and time as well as
| conditions point to the need of a read
| justment to conform with the present
status of the nation.
As far back as 1912 republicans began
| 10 recognize the necessity for
RECAsTISG OF OUR TARIFF LAWS.
Once their efforts resulted in apparent
ly reducing the duties, but really increas-
| ing them. At President Arthur's suy-
gestiOI commission was appointed to
gather needed information upon which
| to base q general reduction, and although
| the whole proceedings were obviously
| favorable to capital!2tic interest, vet the
| commission reported in favor of a 25
| per cent. reduction. There the matter
| dropped as far as republicans were
concerned. Now, democrats have taken
| up aud propose TO carry out this oft-rec-
| commended policy, and the republicans
stamp On their own record, and array
| tASu4-E!- - III q LkO-E OACAelTctE lOStlle
attitude to a child of their own brain.
The einconsistencies of their utterances
are too glariDg to uesd stating here.
They will keep the tariff, but will reduce
the revenue by unleashiug rum, and that
too, in the face of the advice of their ''un-
crowned king" They condemn trusts,
combines, etc., yet prefer to argument
| the system which alone makes them pos
sible. They pat the lsboring mans back,
yet will close the only doors WHEREBY he
can enter upoa steady employment and
better wages, viz: free raw material, and
wide, unrestricted markets. Upon the
farmer il would heap additional taxes,
and wrap in the mantle of protec-
t1on the sharks who fatten upon and de-
spoil him, while he is condemned
by the iron law of necessity to cenpete
With the most servile psuper labor in she
world, in marketing his products. By
Juggling with facts aud figures, and mas
terly misrepresentation, the party in op-