Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1890-09-18
tatives like deed fo 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.
''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 a
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. DingIey
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 fo erunners 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 a 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 bimetailism. On that subject
the republicans had Promised that all the
silver dollars should be furnished which
could he kept equal with gold Such a
bill. fulfilling that promise to the utter
most, now adorns our statute books as a
tribute tc the wise conservatism of the
rennhlican majority of the house. Already
silver seems to be climbing to par witt"
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 righteously that there could not be In
arepubIic a duty more sacred than the duty
of upnolding 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
and an honest ballot and fair count. -
The house Of representatives. true to its
| duty, has passed a bill which, when it be-
comes law, will give to the people of the
United States the suffrages of millions.
1t will enable votes to be cast and to be
counted as cast.
What an enormous hubbub has been
raised about that simple bill. There has
| been nothing like it since Waiter 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
toresting epithets have been rained? 1t
| Is i simple proposition to haveqthe 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 VIII,
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 epitk ets republican measure is no
new fact in 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-
licans of our day proclaim that in repub-
lie one million of voters can never be per-
manently disfranchised the democrat of
our day shouts negro domination, and
'bayonets,
CREDITABLE LEGISLATION.
The speaker next referred to the open
ing of Oklahoma and the admission of the
new states. He cited further as creditable
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. Ev very 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
| robbery of time has been abolished; petty
larceny has not. Onl y strong, vigorous
public sentiment pre- yailing among all the
constituencies will ever do that. But in
closing what have had to say it would
not be just to rest the claiLas of the house
upon even the catalogue of its great deeds
| What the house has shown the country
that any house can do is worth prince 5
ransom. Henceforth promise cannot be ex-
cused except by performance.
''Hencetorth great measures cannot be
lost and nobody know what has become OF
them. Party responsibility has begun anC
with it also the responsibility of the peo
pie, for they can no longer elect a demo
cratic house and hope that the minority
will neutralize their action. or republi
can house without being sure that it viii
keep its pledge If we have broken the
precedence of another hundred years, no,
| bier than the last, wherein responsibility
will wait ON power. and wherein the peo
pie, with full knowledge that their servants
can act, will choose those who will worthily
carry out their will
REPUBLICAN LEAGUE CLUBS.
Encouraging Addresses Issued by the Ma
| tional Republican Committee.
SARATOGA, n. Y, Sept THE exetu
tive committee of the National League Of
Republican Clubs held its semi-annua