Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1891-01-16

| days.
/ when we see the extravaganza of pub
| lie expenditure fast reaching the point OF
| reckless waste, and the undeServed diStri
| button of public money debauching its re-
| clplents, and by pernicious example
| threatening the destruction of the love OF
! tru9aIty among the people, we will re.
member that economy IN the public ex
| pense' is an important article III the true
| democratic faith.
when we see our political adversaries
| bent upon the passage of federal law,
| with the scarcely denied purpose OF perpe.
| tratlng partisan supremacy, which invadeS
| the states Sith election machinery design
| ed to promote federal interference with
| the rights of the people in the localities
| concerned, discrediting their honesty and
fairness, and justly arOuSing their jealousy
of centralized power, we will Stubbornly
resist such dangerous and revolutionary
scheme, in obedience to our pledge for
the support Of the state governments in
all their rights.
Under the anti-Gemocratic encourage
ment we have seen a constantly mcreaS-
ing selhshneSs attach TO our political af-
fairs. A departure from the sound and
safe theory that the people should support
the government for the sake of the bene-
fits resulting to all, has bred sentiment
Of manifeSting itself with astounding
boldness, that the government may be en-
listed in the furtheranCe an advantage of
private interests, through their willing
agents IN public places. Such an aband-
ondment of the idea of patriotic political
action on the part of those interests, has
naturally led to an estimate of the people
franchise so degrading that it has been
openly and palpably debauched for the
promotion of selfish schemes. Money is
invested in the purchase with the dehber-
ate calculation that it will WELD a profit
able return III results advantageous to the
investor. Another crime akin to this in
motive and design, is the intimidation by
employers of the voters dependent upon
them for work and bread
Nothing could be more hateful to true
and genuine democracy than such offenSeS
against our free institutions. In several
of the states the honest sentiment of the
party has asserted itself, in the support of
every plan proposed for the retjhcation of
this terrible wrong. To fail III such sup
port would be to violate that principle in
the creed Of true democracy which COM
mands \ jealous care of the ri-ht Of
election by the people, for certainly no one
can claim that suffrage purchased or cast
under the stress of threat and intimida-
tion represent the right of election 10y the
people.
"Since a free and unpolluted ballot
must be conceded as absolutely essential
to the maintenance of our free institutions,
| may perhaps be permitted to express the
hope that the state of Pennsylvania will
not long remain behind her sister states
in adopting an effective plan to protest
her peoples suffrage. In any event the
democracy of the state can find no justif
cation in party principle, nor in party
traditions. nor a just apprehension of
democratic duty, for a failure earnestly
to support and advocate ballot reform.
81 have thus far attempted to state some
of the principles of true democracy, and
their application to present conditions.
Their enduring character and their con-
slant influence upon those who profess our
faith have also been suggested. If We're
now asked why they have SO endured and
why they have been invinclble, | should
reply in the words of the sentiment to
which | respond: They are enduring be-
cause they are right, and invinciblc be-
cause they are Just.
Il believe that among our people the
ideas which endure and which inspire
warm attachment and devotion. are those
having some elements which appeal to the
moral sense. When men are satisfied that
a thing is morally right, they become its
adherentq for all time There is some
times a discouraging distance between
what our fellow country men believe and
p h,,r IL, IN, =, q i,,1+t THAN,
ton III accordance with their belief may
always be confidently be expected in good
time. A government for the people and
by the people is everIastingly right As
surely as this is true so surely is it true
that party principles which advocate the
absolute equity of American manhood and
an equal participation by all the people in
the management of their government, and
in the benefit and protection which it af-
fords are also right Here is a common
ground where the best educated
thought and reason may meet the
most impulsive and instructive American
ism. 1t is right that every man should
enjoy the result of his labor TO the fullest
extent consistent with his membership in
civilized community. 1t is right that our
governmenG should be but the instrument
of the peoples will, and that its cost
should be limited within the lines of strict
economy. 1t is right that the influence of
the government should be known IN every
humble home as the guardian of frugal
comfort and content, and a defense
against unjust eXaCtIonS, and the unearned
tribute persistently covered by the selfish
and designing. 1t is right that efficiency
add honesty in public service should not
be sacrificed to partisan greed; and it Is
right that the suffrage of our people
Loud lie pune and free.
The belief in these propositions, a,
moral truths, is nearly universal among
our countrymen. We are mistaken if We
suppose the time is distant when the
clouds of sehshnsss and perversion will
be dispelled and their conscientious belief
will become the chief motive force in the
political action of the people.
II understand all these truths to be
included IN the principles of true democ-
racy. IL we have not at all times trusted
as implicitly as we ought, to the love our
people have for the right, in political
action. or if we have not always relied
sufficiently upon the sturdy advocacy of
the best things which belong to our party
faith. these have been temporary aber-
rations which have furnished their inevita-
ble warning.
1--WE are permitted to contemplate to-
night the latert demonstration of the peo-
pies appreciation of the right, and Of the
acceptance they accord TO democratic doc
trine when honestly presented. In the
campaign which ha. just closed with such
glorious results, while party managers
were anticipating the issue in the light of
the continued Illusion Of the people. the
people themselves and for themselves were
considering the question Of right and
justice. They have spoken and the dem
ocracy of the land rejoice.
I'm the signs of the times and In the re-
salt of their late state campaign the de-
mocraey IF Pennsylvania must find hope
and inspiration Nowhere has the sensi-
tiveness Of the people on questions invol-
wing right and wrong been better illus
trated than here At the head of your
state government there will soon stand a
disciple Of true democracy, elected by
voters who would have the right
and not the wrong when their con-
sciences were touched. Though
there have exis ed here conditions and in
| huences not altogether "a Eorable to an un-
selfish apprehension of the moral attri-
butes Of political doctrine, | believe that
| If these features OF the principles Of true