Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1890-09-05
A STRONG ENDORSEMENT.

A STRONG ENDORSEMENT.
The democratic convention at Mil
waukee last week was the first dem
ocratic state convention held in Wis
consin since the close of President
CleveIand's administration. Judging
it from whatever standpoint we may,
it can be truly said that it was unqual-
ifedly the best democratic convention
ever held in the state. The delegates
of which it was made up, were men
of character and high standing, and
many of them Of eminent ability.
That there was much division amongst
them as to who should be selected to
lead the party to victory, was credit
able, rather than otherwise. An exam
nation of the vote for candidate for
governor will show that the delegates
from many counties were divided in
their choice. Take for instance, Kewau-
nee county, which, on the first formal
ballot, cast 2 votes f0~ Peck, vote for
Knight, and | vote for Winans; and
Waukesha county, which on the same
ballot cast 5 votes for Peck, one vote
for Knight, and one vote for Winans.
Even our own county of Iowa was
divided against itself, and on every
ballot cast votes for Peck and l for
Knight.
The delegates were untrameled,
and in the main uninstructed. Favor
tie candidates were pressed upon
the convention with an earnestness
and zeal worthy of the object sought
to be attained. The convention was
truly representative Of the brain and
heart of the democracy Of Wisconsin,
and the successful candidate for the
nomination for governor might well
say-as he did Say,-that its action, in
selecting him, had made him "the
prOudest man in the world tonight"
In view Of the high character of
the convention, it may be pertinent
to here inquire, if President CleYe-
lands administration and the bold and
manly fight made by the President and
his chief advisers for the complete tri-
umph of the cause of greater com
mercial freedom, have not strength
ened and unified the democratic party
of Wisconsin, so that mere questions
of leadership cannot distract or divide
it?
Wisconsin's abIest orator and fore
most statesman, ex- Secretary Villas,
who stood shoulder to shoulder with
the President in his policy of govern
ment, and in inviting the contest for
tariff reduction. was delegate, and
was selected to draught and present
the admirable platform which was
afterwards SO enthusiastically adopted
by the convention.
The democratic party of Wisconsin,
by the adoption of this PLATFORM
which in its declarations regardiT ma
tional affairs, embodies the doctrines
subscribed to and advocated by the
puresJ and best leaders of democracy
the cOuntry,-has not only
emphatically endorsed Cleveland's adj
ministration and the commercial pol
icy so boldly championed by him, but
it has fearlessly challenged the republi-
can party to contest upon the real is
sues which divide the parties. 1t ought
to be source of qualification to dem
ocrats everywhere in Wisconsin that
the coming fight is to be one for prin-
ciples and not alone for the offices.
Every mention Of the name of
Grover Cleveland was greeted by the
convention with storms of applause.
And when Col. Villas, in response to a
call from the convention, near its
close, delivered the most powerful
speech to which the delegates had ever
listened, the applause and cheers with
which he was greeted was an en-
of which any man might
well be proud.