Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1890-09-11

prove. w nat all the world wanted was
easy to do. am not greatly proud to be
speaker of the house, but am proud with
all my heart to be one of that magnificent
majority of the house of representatives of
the Fifty-hrst congress, witch for nine long
months has never for one moment faltered
in its duty.
when we cleared the docks for action
there was plenty of work to do and we had
done it to the full measure Dissatisfaction.
We have achieved all that the republican
party promised and more. Most platforms
are but glittering generalties, good enough
for the campaign, but our last platform
has been treated by the house of represen-
tatives like deed 70 trust We promised
the people that the tariff should have
FAIR AND EXHAUSTIVE TREATMENT,
that the principle of protection should have
full recognition, and in three important
bills we have kept the promise to the hope
By the administrative bill wise and dis
eliminating offer has been made to secure
to our manufacturers and merchants the
complete benefit of the rates OF duty I'M
posed by law. By virtue of that bill we
hope we have made valuations and duties
alike in all ports.
1.-TWO years ago the democracy in the
house admitted that owing to the change
In the methods OF manufacturers the whole
wooden industry was lettering to fall I'M
less woolens and worsteds were put upon
footing of equality. Nevertheless, for
the purpose OF adding to the votes of the
Mills bill, which could never pass, they
sacrificed the wooden industry which need
ed immediate attention. Without delay
and without waiting to strengthen their
own tariff bill by the support of the worsted
men, Maj. Mckinley and Gov. Dingley
pushed through the measure OF justice
which has rescued so many of our wooden
mills from disaster and ruin.
But these bills, useful as they are, were
but the forerunners of that tariff bill, over
which the senate is now pouring the
multitudinous waves of oratory. The Nc
Kinley bill was not made in the closet;
was not the product of one man who tried
to know everything. If any tariff bill
was the result of the beliefs of the whole
people of the United States, the Mckinley
bill was that bill.
Another great achievement of the
house of representatives is the silver bill.
1t was necessary to provide such increase
Of currency as would supply the loss of
circulation of national banks, such in
crease, too, as would provide growing
people the money they need for more pros
porous business. The mining camps, the
pioneers Of civilization in the far west,
deserved also all the encouragement they
could have consistent with sound currency
and genuine bimetallism On that subject
the republicans had promised that all the
silver dollars should be furnished which
could be kept equal with gold. Such a
bill, fulfilling that promise to the utter
most, now adorns our statute books as a
tribute to the wise conservatism of the
republican majority of the house. Already
silver seems to be climbing to par with
safety to all the interests of the country.
THE ELECTION BILL.
There WAS also another promise to he
kept, made long ago and often renewed.
For years the republican party declared
most righteousy that there could not be in
arepublic duty more sacred than the duty
of upholding the right of every citizen to
participate in government. Vino has for
gotten the ringing words of that great
Soldier, so soon to lie among the unfor-
gotten brave on the Heights of Arlington:
"The people have made up their minds
that they will have loyal government
1.-The house of representatives, true to its
duty, has passed bill which. when it be-
comes a law, will give to the people of the
United States the sufrages of millions,
1t will enable votes to be cast and to be
counted as east.
| "What an enormous hubbub has been
raised about that simple bill. There has
been nothing like it since Walter Scott
| described the uprising of the virtuous peo-
pie of Alsatia on the approach of "A sheriff.
| What is this bill on which so many in
teresting epithets have been rained? 1t
is a simple proposition to havesthe United
| States supervisors to see that United States
elections of United States officers shall be
honestly conducted; that all honest votes
shall be cast and honestly counted as cast.
| If there be any man in this country who
opposes this bill there will not be many
years before he will look like those who
proclaim the divine origin of slavery.
| That the democrats now denounce with
| violent epithets republican measure is no
new fact III their history. So prosecuted
| they the saints, When Abraham Lincoln
proclaimed that this land could not be per-
manently half free and half slave, the
democracy of my younger days all declared
| that he said so because he wanted his sis
ter to marry negro. So when the repub
icans of our day proclaim that in repub
| lie one million of voters can never be per-
manently DISTINGUISHED the democrat of
our day shouts negro domination and
'bayonets,
| CREDI FABLE LEGISLATION.
| The speaker next referred to the open
ing of Oklahoma md the admission of the
new states. He cited further as credltable
legislation of this congress, the measure to
relieve the stress on the supreme court; al
so the bankruptcy bill, the meat inspection
bill and the lard bill. Every bill present
ed by organized labor had been passed,
and state control over license had been pre-
served by action of the house after the
package decision The mails had been
Closed to lotteries. and before the end of
this congress the speaker expected pas
sage of the tonnage bill. Then Mr.. Reed
continued thus
Every inch of our progress has been
contested by the opposition. Highway
rohbarv of time has been abolished; petty