Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1892-04-15
Our People Have Good Memories.
To the Editor.


of the great political parties, and their
leaders are at times treated to surprises
which they little expect and for which
they are poorly prepared.
At best the ballot but partially
expresses the voters choice, and the
reasons leading up to the voters
selection of men and measures to-day
may have been for years gathering
force in his mind.
1t is no matter for wonder then, that
at the last congressional election sc
many districts in Wisconsin, heretofore
solidly Republican returned low-tariff
men to represent them in Congress.
Among many instances which might
be given showing that the people have
good memories, shall cite two:
No school boy studying his country's
history has failed to note why it was
that in order to cripple the States in
rebellion during the Civil War, Presi-
dent Lincoln issued a proclamation
blockading southern ports and to what
end string of armed vessels kept
watch along our coast, capturing any
vessel carrying goods to or from the
people bearing arms against the general
government. To shut off exchange Of
products was to weaken the enemy
was to reduce the resources of Re-
bellion. That this blockade had much
to do in bringing the war to close,
that the end justified the means, no
one cares to deny. That was its pur-
pose.
Today what? The man who as a
boy in school read of that blockade
and it's object and result, reads today
that orders from the same high source
has placed upon our sea coast, our
lakes and rivers, Custom Houses, and
has patrolled our coast and inland
waters with armed vessels under orders
to capture all outsiders attempting to
exchange goods on even terms with
our people. Not only is it now crime
to trade on even terms; but, as during
the war, such goods are liable to confis.
cation by the Government. Henaturally
asks himself what was in issue when
Abraham Lincoln signed the order for
blockade? The answer comes on the
wings of memory-the freedom of
four million slayes-the supremacy Of
the nation!
What was in issue when Benjamin
Harrison signed the Mckinley block
ade? His judgement replies, the greed
of the men who own the mines and
mills, $4,000 of them), on the one hand,
and the rights of sixty millions toiling
consumers on the other! Or, as we are
pompously informed, the development
of the nations resources, whatever
that may mean.
In the one case we pointed the
muzzle of the gun toward our enemies,
in the other we turn it towards our
selves.
Think you, Editor Democrat, the
people did not and do not understand
this matter2
l have said our people have good
memories, repeat it. For instance,
they remember that in 1871, the
dauntless city of Chicago was wrapped
as in a mantle of fame and smoke
from which thousands of her citizens
emerged homeless, penniless, The ap-
parent loss of property has been esti-
mated; the actual loss never was, and,
in the nature of things, never can be
estimated. In desperate energy her
people turned, as if by instinct, to con-
gress, then in session; delegation of
her business men (not politicians ap-
peared before that body asking it to
take off or remit the tax on lumber,
lime, roofing, iron columns, girders,
nails, glass, in short on building
materials. What was the high tax
party's answer, (for be it known that
protection controlled the law making
body and its President the executive)?
What was the answer Of this party,
that had dinned in our ears for years the
cry that the tariff was not tax and
did not raise the price of goods? Did
it say to those men whose fortunes were
in ashes, Gentlemen. the tariff tax
will enable you to rebuild more cheaply
it will be to you protection" Not a
bit of it, but with promptness the tax
was removed on building material
Except lumber) to be used in rebuild
ing the stricken city.
And do you think our people have
forgotten this object lesson, this test
of the pet proposition of protection!
1 think not. Respectfully,
f. NJ. DYER.