Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1888-04-27
An Address to the Voters of Wisconsin


Now, for the first time in over
twenty years, is before the country as
a party issue, broad question OF
political economy. By the wise, hon
est and conservative policy of the
present administration is established
what all fair minded people have
known, that the union and the GOOD
results of the great civil war are sa
cred to the Democratic party and sure
of protection at its hands. And fol
the first time in a generation our party
is free to assume and champion the
cause Of the people against the monop
olles, and strong enough to attack that
policy which robs the farmer and the
laborer to enrich and aggrandize q
favored class, buttressed and en-.
trenched though that policy is by the
colossal fortunes and aggregations OF
capital which it has brought into ex,
istence.
The war is over. Most of the i'm
portant questions arising from it have
been settled or outgrown. But after
twenty-three years of perfect and con,
tinuous peace the producers of the
country have not been relieved from
any part of the excessive tariff tax
alton upon the necessaries of life, lev,
led under the plea that extraordinary
revenues were required to meet the
expenses of war.
While the manufacturers Of the
east have grown rich through the ben
efits derived from high protective tariff
and great annual surplus of over
500, 100000 has been piled up in the
national treasury, the result of needless
taxation, the agricultural states OF
the west have been mortgaged to east
ern 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 following
resolution, passed amid enthusiasm
at the last Democratic state conven-
ton held in 1886:
Resolved, That the reduction of the tariff to a
revenue basis is a cardinal principle of the
democratic party, and that those members OF
the present house of representatives. selected as
democrats, who voted agasnst considering the
bill for the reduction of the tariff, deserve nc
recognition in democratic councils.
The question presented, if viewed
candidly has very little sentiment in
it. 1t is plain business question
that appeals for answer to the intelli-
gence and interest of every producer
in the land. 1t is not proposition
to introduce Free Trade" or join the
Golden club. The people are merely
asked that if taxation that collects
from them annually 500, 100000 more
than is needed for the legitimate ex-
penses of the government, is to be
sustained, or if they wish to aid the
democratic party in reducing both
taxes and expenses to the basis of
economy that times of peace impera-
lively demand.
The men who constitute majority
Of all the voters who will participate
in the coming national election, who
are the actual majority in 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 Wisconsin 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
themselves, to their families, and to
their country, is present duty, and
their judgment should not be clouded
by any of the smoke of ancient polit-
ical prejudice.
Every voter who can endorse Pres
ident Cleveland's honest efforts to re-
duce taxation, and secure honest and
economical government is earnestly
invited to work and vote to aid the
democratic party, in caucus, in con-
ventiOn and at the polls.
By order of the Democratic State
Central Committee.
ELLIS b. USHER, Chairman.
JOHN E. WRIGHT, Secretary.