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

| o6Ium of free trade upon the partv in
| power, when the fact Is, the Democracy
| has only taken up the lines which some
! potent but secret power has caused TO
| fall from the hands of he repubIicans
| There does seem color of truth TO the
! charge that the opposition, or its leaders
| at least, moves st the bidding of q more
| puissant though invisible power than that
! of the will of the people.
THE sURPI Us AND REPUBLICAN FOLLY.
! To examine the subj ect at all is to be
| convinced of the wickedness and folly.
| to say nothing of the iujustic of a
! policy which compels q government to
| take, by taxation, from the people mil.
! lions OF dollars which it does rot need
| thus creating hoard which robs trade,
| disturbs industrial relation, and invites
| corrupt practices aud robbery on the part
| of Legislators. No condemnation of a
| party can be too mphatic which, having
brought the nation face to face with
false and periloUs position, seeks by trick,
bubble and sophism TO prevent proper
and righteous reaC jus ment. Muca can
be forgiven when motives are high. bus
in this case deRire of official power is
stronger than the dtsire OF public good.
and the people must suffer because 1t
would be bad politics to allow an op-
ponent to serve his country benefciahy.
While | cannot affirm tnat ali has been
accom- plisbed that might have been in
the direction of civil service reform, yet
MUCH PRAISE Is DUE MIR. CLEVELAND
for ha7ing secured so much under CON
ditlons especially difficult and hinderlng.
Il is obvious that the people like the re-
form, and that it has come to stay; that
parties must accept it and obey it.
In reference TO the liquor question,
there seems but two rocks of refuge to
those who do not believe in q deluge of
rum, viz: Prohibition and democracy.
As on the tariff, the republicans have
hitherto ranged On the ground the demo-
cracy now occupy. 1t is mighty leap,
that from being, apparently, the party
of temperance, TO being the advocates
of free whisky. The quibbling sop
thrown to the prohibitionists by Mr..
Boutelle was gratuieOuS insult. The
excuse offered for this great change is as
grimly humorous as it Is melancholy evil
dence of decay. They refused TO do the
bidding of whisky trusts and foreign
manuf&c turers. Comment, in The light
of other obvious facts, Is unnecessary.
DEMOCRACY THE FRIEND OF LABOR.
l have left small space for labor. l
may say this, howeyer, that in this state
at least most of the substantial benefits
the working classes have received have
come from the democratic part. IN many
ways protection and security have been
insured to the laborer; his hours of toll
have been shortened; his Saturday nalf
holiday made sure by the watchfuI
care of Governor Hill, its author, and a
special holiday set apart in which to es-
pecially honor industry. Now the letter
carriers are also indebted to democrat
ic administration for a much needed |
shortening of their days labor. Gener- !
ally speaking, believe the true interests
of labor are conserved in the democratic
policy of tariff revision.
AS TO THE INsINOERE AND CARPING CRITICISM
do not think they believe what they say,
nor expect others to believe it. |
But the tariff has been dark Sc
oret" to the vast majority, and undoubt
edly they fatter themselves they are |
talking to an ignorant constituency. 1
believe that they are deluded- There has |
been good deal of private study of the |
tariff question INDUCED in Gf late. Any |
way; 1t is always dangerous 10 bank heav
lily on ignorance. It is q very Unreason-
able monster.
Finally, 1 do not believe that conscien-
tiousness and honesty are out of place in |
the field of politics. Neither do think |
partisanship the proper tribunal to sit in
Judgment upon the worthliness of aman's |
motives. Individual political opinion is
rising in value and independence is
growing in popular favor, because |
it is seen to be the result of sober, ssri- |
Gus consideration of men and measures. |
Political Independence means purer |
politics, higher and more intelligent |
more contented body polite. The party |
which soonest recognizes and accepts the |
molding influences of these forces will be |
the one to claim the allegiance of all who |
are interested in broader development, |
wiser motives of action, and the higher |
claims of duty. While my political |
action can have but small value in the |
great and gathering turmoil of the ap-
preaching campaign, yet such as it is | |
shall give in cordial support of Mr.. |
Cleveland and the democratic policy. No !
man should remain either silent or idle
while great and vital questions are clam
oring for arbitrament. As citizens who |
enjoy all the benefits good government |
cOufers, it behoOyes Us to do all iu our
power to secure the permanency of such |
blessings.
Very truly yours,
FREDERICK WFAYERsON.
New York july 81.