Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1892-10-22

pr7ncrpIe or equal ponucal nights
throughout the Union. The Democratic
party not only repudiated the doctrine
when its representatives IN congress
voted against the constitutional amend
uents at the close of the war, bat in its
political practice it has continually fol-
lowed the worst traditions of slavery in
fomeuing race prejudice and establish
ing minority rule.
The Republican party throughout It's
history has been fighting the battle Of
free labor Ia The beginning it was a
popular agitation to prevent the exten-
sion Of slavery TO the territories, and
subsequently 1t was a terrible battle
with a slave OW=z=s' rebellion. but IN
the end 1t has been prolonged cam
paign In the interest of American labor
menaced with destructive and degrad-
ing competition from the labor Of less
prosperous and enlightened European
states.
Since the first election Of Lincoln TO-
100000 aliens have found homes and
workshops in America, vet nOtwith-
standing this immense addition to the
working force Of the nation there has
been a gain of nearly 90 per cent. in the
average rate Of wages. That result
could never have been accomplished
without Republican legislation for in
ternal improvements and the operation
Of the homestead laws, and above all
without systematic protection of Ameri-
can labor employed in home industries.
For this comprehensive national policy.
which has not only converted the older
eastern states into hives of manufactur-
ing and filed the wild reaches Of the
west with the pulsating Leat and throb
Of industrial energy and American en-
rerprise, but has also created the new
south, with its boundless resources,
credit is wholly to be given to the Re
publican party.
The Democratic party has never lost
the impress Of the domination Of the
slave power. A low tariff and free trade
were the economic doctrines Of the
southern planters and were embodied in
the Confederate constitution. The Demo
cratic party has remained loyal to these
Lnalign traditions. It's first and only
president since Buchanans election on
platform Of progressive free trade" lost
no time in giving the signal for d tariff
reform campaign, which, if successful,
would leave american industry and labor
without protection and support. The
party stands today fully committed not
only to the low tariff cause TO which both
Douglas and Breckenridge were pledged
by the platforms OF 1860, but also TO the
extravaganza vagary of Calhounism that
protection is unconstitutional. As it was
the friend and ally Of slavery, so also it
is the irreconcilable foe Of free labor.
The history Of the two rival parties
since Lincoln's first election offers a
5tartling contrast between survivals Of
the worst and the best traditions. EQUAL.
ity Of rights and sympathy for the mass
Of the common people were the leading
principles Of Jefferson. A latter day
Democracy stands in the south for I'M
equal rights and minority couspiracies
and throughout the Union for tariff
policy by which American labor will be
degraded to the European level. Jack
sons great strength lay in his intense
devotion to the principle Of nationality
and in his adherence OF sectionalism.
A latter day Democracy, b the revival
of the constitutional quiJbling of Cal
hounism and by its persistent hostility
to national policies, has repudiated his
principles. What has been best in the
tendencies of history has fallen into in
nocuous desuetude. What has been worst
in the theories and practice of its slave
owning and sectional leaders is tena-
ciously preserved.