The Oskaloosa herald., 1892-09-01
NUMBER ONE.
Letter Of Acceptance Of the Pro-
hibition Candidate.
Gen. BidweII Gives His Views On
the Liquor Traffic and
Other Matters.
FIRST IN THE FIELD.

letter of acceptance of Gen. John Bid
well, of California, nominee Of the pro-
hibition party for president Of the
United States, has been given out for
publication. The letter is long
and discusses the principles of
the party as enunciated in the
Cincinnati platform. On the basic
principle of absolute prohibition,
Gen. Bidwel says that the danger
of monopolistio tendencies menacing
the government is not SO great as
that of the destructive results
sure to come from the liquor
traffic. 1t is the constant menace of
labor, which creates the wealth of
the nation, and the traffic is now sap
ping and impoverishing the very
foundation of the national fabric
Passing to the question of woman's
suffrage he urges the immediate
emancipation of women. The nation
that first gives women equal rights
with man, he says, will earn a crown
of imperishable glory. He fears delay,
as England will lead. On the question
of finance he says the position
of the party that the money
should be gold, silver and paper,
fair and broad. He also advocates
the legal regulation of the rates of in
terest in all the states, believing that
it will do much to check the tendency
to Capitalization of the money power.
Labor Questions.
On the question of labor he says:
In order to relieve the labor Of the country Of
its abnormal and often congested condition
there should be the earliest possible revision
and restriction Of the immigration and
These laws so inimical to American
labor and the best interests OF
all, II not SO purpoSely enacted, have doubtless
been kept in force for partisan considerations
for fear Of detriment TO partisan interests till
our country has become the almost daily scene
OF riots, lawlessness and bloodsned. and not
infrequently on such a scale as to portend,
If permitted to 60 unchecked, the posi-
bic supersession Of all authority. Ths
discord between capital and labor cannot safely
be allowed to continue No matter what the
cause, it is imperative to remove 1t. II it IL
necessary to have organizations as q defense
against capital or competing labor such organi.
cations should be authorized and regulated by
law.
Tariff and Income Taxes.
On the tariff he says
We must concede that all nations have ths
night to levy tariffs. AS Americans We are in
favor Of protecting all American interests. The
tariff proposed by the democrati party and that
of the republican party differ only in degree;
both are sufficiently high to be termed pro.
tective To the objection that tariffs have been
uneQual-that is to say. that under them the
rich pay comparatively nothing and the masses
nearly all the revenues so derived TO support
the national government-must be added the
further objection that they are binding and de.
ceptive.
The establishment of a system of in
come taxation, he says, could work no
hardship and do no harm. When the
rebellion tho income tax was imposed
and worked like a charm. He con-
tinues:
1t helped them TO save the union, and will
help to save the na1ion now in another rebel
ion-the masses against the classes.
One of its beneficial results, he
argues, would be the equal distribution
of wealth, which would go far toward
healing the discord between capital
and labor. He advocates government
control, and, If necessary, the govern.
ment ownership Of railroads.
Public Schools.
On the q'destion Of public schools,
made prominent in the platform, he
says:
The teachinEs Of the American public school
should be in accord with American ideas
and with American civilization, which
of course, Is Christian civilization
but they must be strictly and ab
.solutely non-seCtarian. The standard oi
morality must accord with our civilization and
pervade all the books and teachings Of the pub
lie school, which must not in any phase be q
school Of immortality.
Immi grafton.
On the question of immigration he
says the doors must be closed in sCNlf
defense, and adds:
We do not want to war against foreigners:
we do not ask foreigners coming to this land of
freedom to change their faith; we do not pro-
pose to ProtestantiZe or Romanize, or In
any manner sectarianiZe them. But we
do insist that they shall not de-
stroy our liberties by any attempt to
forelgnize or anarchize US or our government;
that they should appreciate our liberties and
privileges that are q condition OF citizenship;
they should learn to speak our national Ian
auage and TO read and write 1t fairly well.
Gen. Ridwell closes his letter with a
resume, adding that there should be
taught in the public schools the prin-
ciples of the freedom of the ballot and
the settlement of differences between
men by arbitration.