St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1892-08-12
ID EMCCRATIC WISCONSIN.

l.
ocratic on the Tariff Issue-WiII
Surely Go for Cleveland and Ste.
venson.
Wlseonsin's constitution was adopted
in 1S4S.
Although slavery was becoming the
theme of excited political discussion in
and out Of congress, the tariff had been,
up TO that time the most prominent
issue of the day. The Walker tariff
was passed in 1916. 1t was a revenue
tariff and Democratic measure Its
adoption seemed to settle the contro-
versy and gave to the slavery question
an Importance that led to the breach
between the ''LocofOcOS" and the Free
Sellers" within the Democratic party.
and to the nomination in 1S4S of Van
Buren, ia opposition TO Cass, the regular
Democratic candidate.
In that election every state of the
new West was carried by the Demo-
Gratis. The settlers of Wisconsin had
gone from Western New York and New
England. and their anti-slavery feeling
was very strong. The farmers Of the
Northwest, i'll the prosperous Gays that
followed the adoption of the Walker
tariff, and the succeeding act of 1851,
were against the party of protection.
In 1913 Wisconsin gave Cass 1901
votes, Taylors13.747. and indicated its
position on the slavery question by cast
ing 10.41S votes for Van Buren,.
In 1852 the state was still strongly
Democratic. Pierce receiving 1858
votes, while Scott had 22.240 and Hale
ssh.
In 1854 the Republican strength be-
gan to increase in Wisconsin. The
slavery issue had become clear and
dominant, and the tariff policy of the
government seemed TO be definitely
settled. In the Thirty-fourth congress
Wisconsin had Republican senator,
and two of its three representatives
were in favor of free men, in the ter
ritorieS. In 1855 the Democratic ma
jOrity for governor was reduced to 15S,
while the majority for the Republican,
candidate for supreme court judge was
7.14S. The result was that the office of
governor was given to the Republicans
on a contest.
The party affiliations of the North
west were about to be TeyOiutiOuiZed.
The majority for Fremont in Wisconsin
was 12.66S and for Lincoln $1,000. The
war came, and Wisconsin remained
steadfast to the faith that she had en-
braced in 1860.
The corruption of the Republican
majOrties in congress was felt in Wis
consiu as elsewhere. The Fond du Lac
district had chosen Democratic repre-
sentative in congress in 1868. In 1871
the Milwaukee district followed the ex-
ample, and in the tidal wave of 1874 the
Winnebago district gave third Demo-
crat to the states delegation.
In 1872 the Republican plurality was
1851; in 1876 it was 6,l50. In 1880. the
unfortunate year which broke the Dem
ocratic advance, the Republican plu-
rality was %, 1853. In 1874, the first tidal
wave year, when the Republicans lost
control of the house of Representatives,
the aggregate Democratic ma jority in
the districts was 357.
In 1884 the Democrats of the state were
hopeful. In the state election of 1882
they had beaten the Republicans bv a
majority of 1900 and had elected six of
the nine congressman. They made the
campaign on the tariff issue, appealing
especially to the Swedish and German
farmers, and while Blaine carried the
state the Republican plurality was re-
duced from 90, 763 to 14,69S.
Thereafter in no state of the Union
was the campaign OF education on the
tariff question more diligently and intel
w
This effort in behalf of the Democrats
was aided by the sumptuary laws passed
by the Republicans, but more especially
by the Bennett law, in which the Re-
publican party commits itself to the
theory that it is the right of the state to
interfere with the education of the chill
dren not only in the public but in the
private schools.
In 1888 the Democrats again lost the
state, although their vote had increased
in sixteen years from Sc. At to 155, 1882
In 1890 they carried the state for COVER
nor by plurality of %. $50. In the
same year in the congressional districts,
where the campaign was fought strictly
on the tariff issue. the Democratic plu-
rality was nearly 81. 600. and of the nine
members chosen all but one were Demo-
Gratis, while Democratic majority of
thirty-fve on joint ballot in the legiSla--
ture elected William f. Villas as the
first Democratic United States senator
from the state since the ante-bellum
period.
On the tariff issue Wisconsin is a
Democratic state. and with this and the
state issues already mentioned there is
every reason to nope for victory in the
coming election.
1t would be most grieyous mistake if
the Democrats should fail to put forth
their strongest efforts to carry this most
promising commonwealth. The clouds
of prejudice engendered by the war
and by appeals to sectional passion and
prejudice have been diSsipated.
The issue on which Wisconsin was
Democratic in 1S4S, and until the slay-
cry struggle, is at the front again, and
if the voters of the state are made to
recognize this fact the twelve votes Of
Wisconsin will be cast for Cleveland
and Stevenson in November.
The next president must be a Demo
crat.