Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1891-01-30

pun OClu5 lul1OINCcu 10 the duUlenc
by President Horn, Col Villas was tender
ed another ovation. and at its clos
said:
= lfr. Chairman and Gentlemen Of the caucus:
Your committee, who with obliging courtesy
have brought me to your presence, have com
municated your decision to nominate me to tn,
legislature as the choice of the democrats Of ou
state for a senator of the United States; and W,
all now know that the democracy of Wisconsin
need no longer nominate in vain.
I am, hope and believe, sufficiently sensible O
the dignity and Importance of the public trrIs
reposed in that high office, and not unconscious
of the personal distinction which its possession
alone must necessarily confer.
But the far greater satisfaction 10 me- and a
think the far higher honor, spring from the fact
! by your unanimity publicly testified that after
| forty years as boy and man among them, the con
fdence and favor of the people of our good state
! often shown me, remain not abated but confirmed
and strengthened. With this, no houors of Office
| can compare; aud by this mention more than by
thankful words, l can tell my gratitude and meas
ure my obligation to them, and to you, then
trusted representatives, who thus give me so good
title the highest pride that after sef-reSpeCt
true democrat may rightfully admit to his
breast. in possession of the esteem of his fellow
men.
Neither am I, in saying this, vainly blind to the
fact that circumstances have conspired TO point
your choice which entirely consist with an equal
favor, with the most cordial respect and honor
for other gentlemen eminent in the esteem of our
people, who have had prominent public mention
for this nomination. And l know voice your
common feeling, in saying also that these gem
tlemen have imposed high obligation on our
party by their generous contribution to the fra
ternal harmony which now rules all our counsels
and gives happy prophecy of continued success
to our cause. Nor, however incQnsIderable in
comparison, can refrain from expression of my
hearty personal Acknowledgements of their con-
sideration, which must add much to the useful
ness of your representative in public service.
This concentration of the party upon its great
principles, this spirit of self abuesation an sub
ordination OF personal interest to the common
cause, potentially contributed to the splendid
triumphs of the late election in the state. They
ever are sure marks Of health and vigor in polti-
cal association. They stand for intelligent IN
derstanding and upright citizenship and testify
the party's true possession Of the cause of the
people.
Gentlemen, while not unmindfuI of the rule
that public officer ought to represent the entire
body of his constituency, diSembarrassed of mere
partisan feeling, also know that he cannot dis
charge his full duty, more especially in such
place as is now in view unless he faithfully main
tains the principles and promotes the public pur-
poses which have prevailed in his choice. l am
now, also, before a high council of our own party
and may justly suppose you expect some further
words in reference to the cause we espouse and
the situation in which it stands
The aspect of our political affairs has recently
undergone great change, transformation as
sudden and complete as benefcent and prom
ising. The change came as such events are wont
to come to men, For many years the arguments
of sound reason have been steadily pressing like
the for ; of gravity, toward the governing cen
ter, the ratio of human social law
the liberty and welfare of all, not the privilege
of the few. But they have been bitterly encoun-
tered by lust of power and greed for gain,
skilfully combined, strongly entrenched in the
government, and long accustomed to its man
agement for their advantages; and these power
full incentives have been reinforced by the
natural inertia of masses the sow-coolng passions
of the wartime, party trammels, and, perhaps
our reasonable Anglo-Saxon conservatism. Thus
the struggle against an unjust system, the strug-
gle of reason against force, has been severe and
long protracted, chequered with dubious for
tune, and at length so seemingly overborne that
a lawless recllessness came TO characterize tdfe
arrogant rule of the possessors of our power.
But not yet can the people of America be so
despiSed. Io! through the very clouds that
hung heavie over our hope, the lightnng-bast
descended; The sky cleared away, and, in the
open sunlight, all men have seen their array
broken and dsOrdered, driven from many points
of vantage, while astonishment and alarm were
depicted where naughty contempt had but shortly
fed.
1t is, however, of the utmost importance that
we do not over estimate or misc 0nceiye the ex
tent and nature of the advantages resulting from
the great popular victory in the late elections
1t would be most perilous, a very betrayal of the
peoples cause, 10 accept the result as an ac
complishment, or guaranty of accomplishment,
in any degree, of the great ends which they are
entitled to secure. Material benefits have, in
deed, been gained, but of limited character; in
some respects, merely local in effect. in others
only preliminary to a better maintenance of the
d1ltI struggle WHICH lies DelOTt US. MUCH OF
the value of this recent expression appears to me
to consist in its manifestation of entire
change in the current of popular thought on po-
tical affairs, of new perception and stronger
grasp of the true relations of the chief contend
ing forces in our political life in the burst of
light, so TO say, upon the real pathway which
opens to the advance of honest equality in rights
and privileges and genuine development of the
best uses of free government il our country
The cover has been stripped, at least to some ex-
tent, from the purposes and plots that so long
have stealthily directed governmental action
against the common veal to private and class ad,
vantage. A look has been gained at the inner
circle, the hidden council chat for years has ruled
the party )w in power; and through its whited
exterior of sentiment and profession, the cause
has been seen of the hard grippe in which the
" wealth-producing labor of the country has been
neId
But to see the evil, is not redress of it. Action,
constant, concentrated action, alone
can give that boon. There can be no hope yet. |
Of the enemy surrender. Discovery has, indeed,
raised alarm, but it has also intensified the spirit
Of resistance. The awakening of the public |
mind moves no relentiug in the rulers of that
party; the will of the people is not to have !
but, if possible, rebelious overthrow
Already, this has become abundantly manifest
They have not. since the election. wanted for
good counsel within their own household The |
foremost of the republican party press, more es-
pecially in the west, have bFavely and loudly |
halt, crying out for submission to the
popular voice, for a countermaud of the policy
Of oppression, reversal Of injurious legislation
They cry in vain. They seem to know not the
power they supplicate, nor that their appeal
falls on ears deaf to justice, the tyrants to
the petitions of his slave II is an unrelenting
master which rules the republican party of to-
1ay-the aggregate greed, all the spirit of class
domination all the surviving remnants of aristo- |
cratic Inheritance which abide in the land, in |
firm confederacy to WELD its power, regardless |
Of the peoples rights or pains, for the uses Of |
them who control it.
The last session OF the 51st congress is now half
finished but the oft-iterated vauut of the first ses
sion. that they but executed the Will Of the peo-
pie, is heard no more. The condemned tariff
legislation remains untouched even by mitigating
amendment, much less by repeal They lift no
hand TO take from the shoulders Of labor the bur
dens 50 unjustly laid upon them The country's |
loud demand receives no answe-. But with IN
nisrakable uurrose in fervor Of raaa FvforssIy