The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1891-07-08
The Iowa Democrats,

OUT one OF Jnem can DC nelu on the same
structure, but the builders must deter
anime which one shall be excluded; IL
prohibitionism be excluded saloonism
can be admitted, if saloonism be ad-
mitted prohibitionism must be excluded.
The Democratic party OF Iowa deter
mined that, as there Is much more money
to be collected from the sa,oonkeepers OF
the State i'm aid of its campaign than
from the prohibition societies, the bost
thing to be done by it was 10 admit the
saoonsm. Accordingly, nearly the first
resolution adopted by the Democratic
Convention pronounced the prohibition
lists TO be "anathema maranatha." eX-
communicated from the porch and from
the altar, from the harvest field and
from the thra shing floor of Democratic
politics, and all that legislation pro-
hibiting the sale or manufacture OF in
toXicants must be repealed, not even
local option being allowed, but that
everywhere, in every village and at
every orossroad of the State whoever
will may sci intoXcantS upon pay
ment of license. The great brewers,
the distillers, the wholesale dealers in
intoXcants in neghboring States now
may be expected to contribute largely 10
the Democratic campaign fund, and
those gentlemen resident in Iowa whose
breweries, distilleries and saloon proper
ties have been made Improbable by the
prohibitory law will contribute even
more largely. As a plank for revenue
only the Democratic resolution against
prohibition is inserted ingeniously. But,
even without regard for revenue, il was
eminently proper that the Democratic
party should resolve in favor OF free
whisky.
Were the Prohibtonists as shrewd as
the Democrats they now would abstain
from putting Il third ticket in the field
and wouldithrow their whole strength in
support of the Republican party, which
is likely to stand pledged against the re-
peal Of the law now in force, which
practically is prohibitory. Yet it hardly
is to be expected that the Prohibitionists
will act wisely. 1t is likely that by
running "a straight-out ticket" they will
strengthen the Democratic party, which
has pledged itself to repeal all vcstiges
OF prohititory legislation.
Taking special care 20 secure saloon
ism firm footing upon its platform,
the Iowa Democracy invites all the
other isms, except prohibitiOnism, TO
stand thereon. Never having itself ac-
complished any measure of social, finan-
cial, administrative, or elective reform,
always having been found in opposition
TO every such measure whenever there
appeared 10 be a possibility of its pas
sage, the Democratic party of Iowa now
processes sympathy with every real,
every fanciful every idiotic scheme of
reform. 1t is the old negative platform
of generally being in faver of everything
and specifically pledged TO nothing that
the Iowa Democracy has reconstructed
i'm n vain hope of deceiving the people
For, excepting 10 repeal of the prohib-
itory law, the Democratic convention of
Iowa specifically pledged itself to nothing
that the Democrats of the State can ac.
complish if placed in control of the Leg
islature and i'm possession of the Cover
nor's office. The resolution in favor of
taxation OF all kinds of property is vague,
for if all kinds of property held within
the State now are not taxed, then the
assessors have failed of duty. The reSo.
luton is meant TO convey the idea OF the
Democratic party being favorable to
more exact assessment of railway proper
ty, but il is careful not to say so. 1t is
so framed as to be capable of eXplana-
tion TO the farmers as meaning much,
and to the railway men as moaning moth
ing. 1t is dishonest juggle. Ii is M re
impotence that charges the Republicans
of the Twenty third General Assembly
with defeat of the Australian ballot law;
whenever fair and practicable scheme
of electoral reform is proposed the Rc-,
publcans will be found voting for it,and
it will be very strange if the Democrats
are not found voting against IT, That
control and regulation of railroads as
now enacted by law" which is approved
by the fifth resolution of the Democratic
convention, is Of Republican conception,
and the only practical opposition to it
has been manifested by the Democratic
party, which sought 10 retard its opera
tion by cndeavoring to elect railway par
tiSanS as commissioners TO execute It,
In its resolution for "tho free coinage
of silver" the convention overreached
itself The West does not desire to have
the United States coin without charge
all the European, Asiatic, Mexican, and
South American silver that can be
dumped on its shores The West does
not desire to have the currency OF this
country contracted by the payment of
millions yearly for the purchase OF for.
eign bullion. The Republican Conven-
zion of Ohio truly voiced Western senti-
ment when it resolved for "the free coin
age of American silver" There will be
money enough if all the silver of Ameri-
can mines be coined. But the Iowa Dem
)cratS, like their Eastern brethren. hate
any project that protects or gives adj
vantage to any American industry or
institutions; they must coin tho silver OF
Asia or the gold Of Madagascar, where
miners receive eight cents day on
equal terms with the products of our
our own high wage-paying mines. This
s the veriest wanton eXaggeration of
she free.trade spirit. Our own mines
can supply us with silver in plenty, and
the demagogic utterance on this point is
merely wanton display of Democratic
hostility to American institutions. "Free
coinage OF American silver" is good
enough, and that Is tho Republican de.
anand as voiced by Ohio, which Iowa viii
approve.
In national as in State matters .hc
Iowa Democracy is opposed to American
industries. ave denouncc the Mckinley
t,;uD aro tho first words Of thair plavantb