Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1888-02-23

| wise legislation, of perfect administra-
tive methods, of creative statesmansbin.
of military glory and of magnapimitv
and forbearance, than the world had seen
in thousand years. That it made mis-
takes, no one will deny; but, in the light
of its resplendent record, its mistakes
are like spots upon the san. 1t did
another thing which should always be 70.
membered with gratitude. In it's own
good time and way it gave Mr.. John Bull
always our industrial enemy-an OK
ce.ient opportunity to settle or fight.
| And he settled.
/ In 1884 IN campaign the like of which
! for cowardly SANDER and detraction |
! hope may not come again, martialed by
leaders as gallant as sny whose plumes
ever waved IN front of column, it en-
| countered its first defeat in a quarter Of
a century. The Democratic forces
marched back into the citadel, and to-day
this ancient adversary of our party,
which has had "a look at the books" and
| has counted the money" and has
turned on the light" stands before
deceived people, daily fulfilling the Re
| publican Prophesies of its governmental
| incapaoity, and bearing dumb, unwilling,
reotitude of Republican administration,
and the perfection of Republican
methods.
WORK FOR THE FUTURE.
But, gentlemen, the clarion call for duty
never rang out more clearly to the Re
publican party than it does tonight. Its
work is not half done. We linger loving
ly on its shining past, only 10 gather in
spiratiOn for the conflicts yet to come, as
the soldiers used to sing around the
| cam pfre, the sweet songs of home, to
nerve them to higher effort in the next
days fight.
Before this anniversary day shall come
again a supreme battle is to be lost or
won. Great issues challenge the party's
best effort, and demand the party's best
leadership. One of the parallels OF his
tory confronts us. Minority rule has
come again into the nation.
By strange faulty the colored race,
always kindly and inoffensive, is still in
the hands of the Southern Democracy, a
factor of danger and outrage in our poll
tical system. The republican party,
clothing the former slave il the bright
raiment OF citizenship, placed wisely or
unWiseiy in the freed hands our badge of
sovereignty ballot. With too char.
liable faith in the Developments of the
future, 1t changed the basis Of representa-
tions, without adequate safeguards, and
to day its magnanimity and thrustfulness
are turned like weapons of death against
Us.
The Southern Democracy accepted with
alacrity the enlarged basis of representa-
ton, and by fraud, bloodshed and threats
has proceeded TO stamp out the franchise
upon which it was based, and is back
again in control of the government,
stronger as a dominant element than ever
before
Tell me Whist higher issue could sum
mon the Republican party to great effort
than the protection of the ballot; the in
tegrity of the suffrage; the enforcement
of constitutional rights; the redemption
OF the pledges of the past; the mainten-
arce of constitutional equality among the
states?
Now and then some demoralized leader
of the party sends ont his warning that
the people have grown weary of this is
sue, aud that we must take from our ban
ner the legend "a free ballot and a fair
count" and fight the battle of 1888 upon
economic questions solely. What does
this mean? Is the Republican conscience
to DO Quoted into slumber by the sooth
ing spirit of profitable trader Is this
violent wrong upon the people, this gross
usurpation of power, no longer to inspire
the party of freedom, because forsooth
the men who perpetrate and thoA mo
profit, cry with uplifted hands "bloody
Shirt" or because here and
there once Republicans turn YEARLY
YEARLY and complacently to
worship at the shrine of ciyil-service
reform, which invented trial by affidavit
ON charges Of craftsmanship" which
folded Eugene Higgins TO its bosom,
which "divorces the offices from politics.
by giving them all to the members of one
party and WI ich thrusts the great weight
of executive influence into county cleo
ton against the protests of decency?
The people may we'll have grown weary
of sentimental talk about the New South
and the spirit of love- and the ERA of
reconciliation as the basis OF a demand
which seeks to hush the republican party
into acquescence, in q national crime. We
long for the coming of new south. The
republican party has not been, and will
not be, backward in aid to her upbuild-
ing or in Fastening her advent; but, sir,
we can recognize no south, as ne.
south, in political aspect, which comes
to us with her heel upon the Negroes neck
with destcrated ballot box in her hand,
and usurping with fraud and violence,
disproportlonate power in the affairs OK
the government.
If there is nothing in this any longer
to arouse the republican party, to stir the
blood and quicken the heartbeat, then,
Mr.. President, turn the pictured, patient,
and pathetic face of Abraham Lincoln to
the wall, and let his old party die.
The protection of American industry,
the elevation of American labor Who
shall be the ii champion of these, but the
republican partyY hese are matters of
gravest concern, but much involved,
pray you to remember, in the vital issue
of pure, free, and honest ballot.
SOUTHERN DOMINATION.
The spirit of southern democracy,
dominant in control of itssparty; dIctat-
ing the ind ustrisi policy of the govern
ment, is the spirit incarnate OF free
trade. Is it not soY Prof. Carlisle's