Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1892-11-04

bers the friends of religious liberty and the
rights OF conscience are SO numerous as to
constitute the balance of political power in
this state
The inconsistency of COL Spooner's utter
ances two years ago and today can be ex-
planned on no other hypothesis than that
both then and now he was simply seeking
votes and so trims his sails as to catch what
he believes to be the most favoring wind.
1t may be lawyer-like, but it is hardly
honest. If Col. Spooner believed what he
said two years ago, he cannot be candid
now If he speaks his real feelings now,
what position is he in with relation to the
utterances of 1902
Two years ago the Republican platform
said:
I'VE affirm the right and duty of state to
enact laws that will guarantee to all chill
dren sufficient instruction in the legal lam
guage of the state to enable them to read
and write the same.
We believe that the compulsory educa-
ton law passed by the last legislature is
wise and humane in all its essential pur-
poses, and we are opposed to its repeal"
Here is what it says this year:
1T (the Republican partly reaffirms and
unqualitiedly indorses the declaration Of
the Republican convention held in this city
III May last upon the educational question,
so-called, as correctly and duly defining the
position of the Republican party of this
state upon the subject, to-wit:
we regard the educational issue of 1890
as permanently settled in this state, not to
be revived in any of its phases by the Re-
publican party or under it's auspices. And,
this being true, we deprecate and denounce
upon considerations higher than party as
harmful in tendency any further agitation
OH the subject or any attempt by any one
or any party, for any purpose, to create or
foster division among our people by reason
of it upon lines of religion, education, or
nativity"
In the interval the Democratic party had
repealed the Bennett law, and its action
had been Enthusiastically indorsed by the
people. That party said on this subject
two years ago: 1.-The Bennett law is a local
manifestation Of the settled Republican
policy of paternalism-'th underlying
principles of the Bennett LAWS needless
interference with parental rights and liberty
of conscience. The provisions for it's ell
forcement place the accused 1t the mercy
of the school director and deny his right to
trial by jury and according &c the law of
the land
eve therefore denounce the law as I'M
necessary, unwise, unconstitutional, I'M
American and un-Democratic and demand
it's repeal"
The platform of the Democratic party
this year says of this and other vital issues:
1.-TWO years ago the Democratic conven-
ton charged the Republican party with ex-
travagance, corruption and unjustitiable
interference with individual and constitu-
tional rights and denounced that party for
permitting state treasurers to appropriate
the interest earned by state funds, declaring
that the interest on these funds is the
money of the people.
"We pledge the Democratic party to hon
esty and economy in administration TO
repeal of the Republican assault upon indi-
vitlual rights
'"To the payment into the treasury Of the
interest earned by state moneys, and
"To the prosecution of suits to recover to
the people the interest money already mis-
1--WE present to the people of Wisconsin
the record of the performance of party
pledges"
In his Milwaukee speech of September
IA, wherein Col Spooner deprecated any
further reference to the Bennett law. he
made merry with the tariff plank in the
Democratic national platform which de-
clares for tariff for revenue only. He
referred to it as a copy of the Confederate
Col. SpOoner may or NAV
not have been aware that the party of which
he is now leader in 1875 stood on identi-
caly the same platform as regards the
tariff as does the Democratic platform to-
law fnta
that year adopted the following tariff plank
in it's PLATFORM:
Resolved, That we are in favor of A
TARIFF FOR REVENUE ONLY, SO adj
justed as to be the least burdensome and
the most favorable to the interests of labor
and industry"
leading party organ, said Of this platform
in its issue the next day:
1.-THE platform is clear and explicit state
ment of Republican doctrine"
And on July 8 it said:
1.-The platform is one which we can conf
IDENTIFY submit to the candid judgment OF
the people of the state. Werepard
the platform rs sound Mt every point and
one that can be submitted to the people
without word of qualification or explana-
ton. And we cannot avoid the conviction
that the Republicans of Wisconsin and of
the whole Union are indebted to the con-
vention at Madison for the wisdom which
it exhibited in selecting SO excellent a ticket
and putting forth so able and explicit a
declaration of the principles of the party"
July Il, The Sentinel quoted William t.
Smith. afterwards governor, as saying in
speech at ratification meeting:
"The platform is sound in every plank
and is clear forcible presentation of Re
publican principles, declaring firm ad-
herence to it's established landmarks and
idealsn
The Chicago Tribune of July in speak
ing of the same platform said:
1T is brief but forcible presentation OF
sound Republican principles. y. There
is NO BETTER WAY OF PROTECTING LABOR
than by unloading it Of all that weighs it
down, LETTING THE LABORER BUY WHERE
HE CAN BUY THE CHEAPEST AND SELL
WHERE He CAN SELL to THE best ADvAN.
TAGE."
Will Col. Spooner assert that the Repub
can leaders of that time, including such
party leaders as jeremiah M. Rusk, Gen
Faircheld and his present patron and boss,
Senator Sawyer, were men who had fought
and labored under the Confederate consti-
tuition" so long that 'they forgot they
were no longer doing business under it,"
III tariff for revenue only was good
enough Republican doctrine then what 10
the matter nOWf