Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1892-03-05

NIL
conflict and gradually swinging back into
he domain of purely economic questions.
In 1888, thanks to the persistent efforts of
the revenue performer who had corraled
Mr. Cleveis ld, the democratic party was
led out into the open, and for the first
time in all its history it made a
square stand-up fight. 1t was on the
tariff. We had got back to business.
When the polls closed the people had
given the republican party another vote of
confidence by the bestowal into its hands
O. power in all the departments of the
national government. There was no mis-
taking the meaning of that vote. II was
decision after a full hearing upon the
merits of the question. Wisely or un-
wisely intelligently or unintelligenty, the
people had voted in favor of protective
tariff, and had committed to the republi-
can party the responsibility for its enact
nent No one knew better than the ex-
perienced and sagacious leaders upon
whom this responsibility fell how great
we're the risks of the experiments
none knew better than they the inpossi-
biity Of framing measure that would
no. be for a time at least source of
weakness TO its authors. 1t uncovered
the whole front to a cunning, persistent
and INSCRIPTIONS enemy, who, having no
line of its own to defend, mad nothing to
do but bring its heaviest guns to bear on
the adversary's vulnerable points.
From the democratic point of view, it
was not good politics to pass the Nc
Kinley bill. A hasty judgment upon what
followed it in the election of the present
congress might confirm that view 1t
could have been easily avoided. 1t only
needed that the rules of democratic con-
gress should be continued so that the
minority in the house could obstruct
business, as has been their habit. The
democrats would then have been response.
be for defeating the wishes of the people,
and the republicans would have been freed
from the risks of the experiment. This
was clear to the republican leaders in the
htty-hrst congress as it is to any of us
looking back over it to-day And what
did they doP Dodge? Take to the cover
Of democratic preredents to excuse in
action? Not much. They just unfolded
their front and marched straight on to
what the people sent them there to do.
And that was neither sudden impulse
nor the result of long deliberation. 1t was
what the republican party has been doing
all IFS lite since the people selected Abra-
ham Lincoln to De president of the whole
country, and it cost 900, 900 lives and I'M
told treasure to maintain his right. 1t is
its instinct, lts ulrth mark. It answers
TO the peoples WILL because between the
party and the people there is mutual trust
"a trust that outllves all misunderstood
lngs and survives all temporary estrange-
ments.
II was tavOrite mugwump sheer that
the Republican party is living ON its past ;
that it Is Cffete and outworn incapable
and corrupt; that it is not equal tc present
emergencies; that having done its work il
must step down and out It is not so
common as it was. The party stands to-
day ON its very latest record. 1t meets
every issue, as it did in 1861, with the
steadiness of its fixed convictions, and the
unshrinking courage which is the natural
inheritance of party born out of the long
pain and travail of the nation and Graded
amid the tempest of war. There are TO
my mind very few things in history
worthier Of admiration than the magni6-
cent steadiness with which The republi
can majority of the ffty.frst congress
marched straight on to the work it was
elected to do. And the history of parlia-
ments furnishes no nobler figure than that
OF the leader who with rare combination
OF quIckness and foresig ht, judgment and
tact playfulness and power, determined
Will and infinite good nature sat in the
chair, dismissing cobweb objections,
laughing at abuse and holding congress
tolts work.
Over against this record, which may
well arouse the enthusiasm of youth and
Fur the blood Of age, stands whatY A
motley array; but the same that for thirty
years has hung upon Our TANKS. What is
us recoTd2 1t is not written on the sum
m's OF national achievements but hidden
10 tae dlstressful intervals. What has it
soaer Nothing Of any moment, thank
Hod What does it seek to do? The
answer Of its wrane ling factions Is, it does
n'. know. What is it2 Organized hun
gt-r and thirst. What does it want?
''e.lals and drink
- we enter on the campaign of 1892
d. .ra u opens we salute the sincere men
Y 'front.', with whom we are az plain and
pointed issue and with high courtesy we
,-aHh them for the work they did in the
.o4f years Of MIR. ClevelanG's administra
...1, IN bringing the party Of bushwhack
ana moonshlDers at once into the open
Trough their endeavoIs we had in 1888
'ar stand-up fight We won, ana, as
believe, advanced and drove our stakes
march further on in the nations
f.''psrous career. We abide around
XII standards 1t remains to be
71 whether the free. traders, whose opin
-' We oppose, without doubling their
.ty have influence enough with the
4"1ackers TO bring them once more
20 ias open field. That conflict we in
w II our opponents believe the con
A2hal elections Of 1890 we're conclu-
p the popular verdict on the McKin-
2i, or that they represented the
rsa1lsstactlon of the people with the
..ls ne ot the ifty-frst congress, they,
-A2ad welcome such an issue.
wing out all claims on account Of
conferred in the past, waivins the
-4. &C. Of its blrthright and Inherit
Pr republican party says 1--WE are,
ftzssnt purposes, our own ancestors;
p- no consideration on account Of
*a- done ten, twenty. thirty years
wat We aid yesterday Ourselves we