Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1891-05-07
GARRISON FOR CHIEF.
Tue Convention Of Republican
Clubs Means Him for Presi-
dent OF the League.
Ringing Speeches of John M. Thur
ston Defining the Attitude
Of the Party.
Harrison Heartily Endorsed and
the Debasement Of the Cur
repcy Denounced.

The meeting of republican clubs at Gin
cinattl last week was the occasion of
notable gathering of the party workers.
The attendance was large and the enthus-
iasm was great. Powerful speeches were
made by many delegates, including John
M. Thurston, Mayor Mckinley and ex-
Gov. Foraker.
President Thurston's speech was elo-
quent, and was received with demonstra-
tions of approval from the opening sen
tence to the close. He spoke Of the league
as
The volunteer political organization of
the republican party. 1t has no pay roll;
1t controls no patronage; it asks no adj
mlnlstrative favor, it is devoted alone to
the advocacy and perpetuation of those
great principles which guarantee liberty
and equality to every American citizen
and make possible the prosperity of al
who love to dwell in the protecting shadow
of the American flag. 1t follows the per-
sonal fortunes of no leader, and will not
commit itself to the candidacy of any man.
1t is for the nominees and the platform of
the republican national convention. The
league Is an army Of privates; its officers
serve with the rank and file. Epaulets,
cooked hats, dress parade, and spectacU-
lar exhibitions are not included In its
plan of operation. 1t has no desire to as
sumo control of party machinery or usury
the functions of any committee intrusted
with campaign mana cement. 1t seeks to
popularize political action; it offers to
every republican in the land an equal
share Of the responsibility, the labor, and
the glory of political service and success.
1t addresses itself to the intelligence and
patriotism of the American people, and
proposes by honest methods and fair
means to commend republican principles
to their deliberate judgment. 1t seeks to
establish a permanent club in every COM
munity, and to carry on political organi-
cations and political education every week
day in the year. The delegates present
represented more than 10000 permanent
republican clubs and more than mil ion
members.
PROTECTION TO LABOR.
He spoke of the devotion Of the party to
the nobility Of human labor. By wise
protective measures; by generous home
stead laws; by the development of our
wonderful natural resources, and the di-
versi6cation of our industries, it has di Z.
vided the harships and doubled the re-
wards of America s toiling masses. The
DRY can wave subtle arguments to prove,
and Ignorance can brazently assert that a
protective does not increase the prosperity
of a people; but the fact remains, never
theess, that in a single quarter of a CEN
tury there have built In the United States
and paid for, out the accumulated savings
of its workingmen, ), COO, 900 comfortable
American homes. Our country is an en-
plre vast IN area, unmatched In resOrces,
imitless in possibilities. 1t can produce
and manufacture almost anything for hui
man use. Its citizen are equal before TIE
law entitled to equal opportunities, and
possesses equal privileges. There is no
class and no section which should be favor
ed at the expense of another for success
and failure must In the end be shared by
ali. The factory and the farm are the
two great producers of national wealth.
They are dependent on each other. For
every spindle that ceases to him; for every
wheel that no longer turns; for every forge
that fails to grow, some farmers plow
will trust in the furrow. The republican
party undertakes by wise legislation to
foster and develop al our varied and di-
versifed interests. Our system of protec-
ton is designed to build up our manufac-
turing interests, and thereby greatly in
crease the home demand for agriculture
products; while the genius of the nation
greatest statesmen have coupled with pro-
lection a broad system of reciprocity.
which is already opening up to the irwin
chile Yankee.
THE BEST MARKETS OF THE WORLD.
The result of the late cor gressional
election, and the phenomenal growth of
the farmers alliance have been heralded
by the democracy as the forerunner of re-
publican defeat, and the vital abandon
ment of the protective system. 1t is true
that the enactment of The Mckinley bill so
near election day that its provisions
could not be explained, its practical effect
determined, or the falsehoods concerning
it refuted, cost the republican party thou
sands of votes. But before the next presi-
Dental election its beneficial effects will
have become apparent, and If any of It's
schedules prove to be excessive or unjust
the republican party stands ready to cor
rect its own mistakes, without destroying
or emascuating the foundation principles
of the American protection. The farmers
alliance was undoubtedly an important
factor in the last election. 1t was first
organized in the southern states, where it
has declared and proven itself faithful
ally and supporter of the democracy. Its
organization in The west has also been en-
Outraged by the democratic party, as its
membership must be largely down from
the .homesteaders and the veterans, whose
votes have heretofore made the prairie
states certainly and reliably republican.
The importance of tnis movement must
not be underestimate by tine republican
party. In the west It's members for the
most part are honest, intelligent, patriotic
men. The low prices OF 1889 and the
short crop of 1890 brought great hardship
and financial distress to the agricultural
west and its farmers naturally turned to-
ward movement which at once enlisted
their sympathies and seemed to promise
almost Immediate relief. The time was
also most opportune for those political
damagoeues, outcasts of both political
parties, to whom famine is festival
and a prestilence picnic.
THE HOPE OF THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY
to-day is based upon its ability to combine
with the alliance on electoral tickets in
the western states, and thereby throw the
election of president into the house of rep
resentatives. In my judgment this re-
suit will never come. The men who car
ried the muskets and followed the flag OF
the Union and freedom, will Lever assist
the democratic party back into power.
They will never consent to replace a man
in the presidential chair who voted the
pittaaces voted by democratic congress
to the helpless survivors of the war OF the
rebellion. And the men whose home
steads have been secured through the leg
isiaticns Of the republican party can not
be permanently arrayed against an organ