Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1888-10-05
AN ADDRESS.
Democratic State Central
Committee.

Now, for the first time in over twenty
years, is before the country as party
issue a broad question of political econ
omy By the wise, honest and conserva-
tive policy of the present administration
is established what all far-minded people
have known, that the union and the good
results of the great civil war are sacred to
the Democratic party and sure of protect
ion at its hands And for the first time
in a generation our party is free to assume
and champion the cause of the people
against the monopolies, and strong
enough to attack that policy which robs
the farmer and the laborer to enrich and
aggrandize favored class, buttressed and
entrenched 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 import
ant questions arising from it have been
settled or outgrown. But after twenty
three years of perfect and continuous
peace the producers of the country have
not been relieved from any part of the
excessive tariff taxation upon the neces-
saries of life, levied under the plea that
extraordinary revenues were required to
meet the unusual expenses of war.
While the manufacturers of the east
have grown rich through the benefits de-
rived from high protective tariff and a
great annual surplus of over 500, 600, 900
has been piled up i'll the national treas
ury the result of needless taxation, the
agricultural states of the west have been
mortgaged to eastern capitalists.
The question presented to the voters of
the country to-day, is plainly and fairly
put by President Cleveland in his annual
message to the Fiftieth congress. He
believes that taxation on the necessaries
of life-food, clothing and household
necessities, should be reduced. The
Democrats of Wisconsin heartily coincide
with this view, as will be seen by the fol-
lowing resolution, passed amid enthus-
iasm at the last Democratic state Conven-
ton, held in 1886:
Resolved, That the reduction of the
tariff to a revenue basis is a cardinal prin-
Ciple of the Democratic party, and that
those members of the present house of
representatives, selected as Democrats,
who voted against considering the bill for
the reduction of the tariff deserve no
recognition in Democratic councils.
The question presented, if viewed can
didly, has little sentiment in it. it is a
plain business question that appeals for
answer to the intelligence and interest Of
every producer i'll the land. 1t is not
proposition to introduce " Free Trade :"
or join the Golden club. The people are
merely asked if taxation that collects from
them annually 500, 600, 900 more than Is
needed for the legitimate expenses of the
government, is to be sustained? or if they
wish to aid the Democratic party i'll re-
ducing both taxes and expenses to the
basis of economy that times of peace
imperatively demand?
The men who constitute a majority of
all the voters who will participate i'll the
coming national election, who are the
active majority i'll commercial affairs, and
who are to-day paying the bulk of the
taxes of the country, have become voters
since 1865, since the war closed. In Wis
consin, there is majority of $4,000 such
voters this year 1t is to them that the
plain, business intelligence of President
Cleveland's message should appeal with
the utmost force. Their duty to them
selves, to their families, and to their coun-
try, is present duty, and their judgment
should not be clouded by any of the smoke
of ancient political prejudice.
Every voter who can endorse President
Cleveland's honest efforts to reduce taxa
ton, and secure honest and economical
government is earnestly invited to work
and vote to aid the Democratic party in
caucus, in convention and at the polls.
BY order of the Democratic State Cen
trail Committee.
John +. WRIGHT, Secretary.
ELLIS B. USHER. Chairman
Dated Milwaukee, March IS, 1888.