The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1892-09-22
CALIFORNIA FiG SYRUP co.
OWEN 4. WELLS.

wv EN- y. w EIIIfS.
There is no name that can be mention
ed in the Sixth Congressional cenven-
ton to-day which, will attract more at
tention than that which heads this article,
as much through the force of his own
personality as that his candidacy is the
memorable. That the convention was
| protracted beyond all reasonable bounds
was the fault of the delegates, largely, as
they should not have permitted the am
bition of candidates to endanger the sue
cess of the party or trespass upon their
own convenience. Devotion to candidates
may be carried to the limit of folly. A
majority of the delegates in the Oshkosh
convention not only reached that limit
| but made an incursion into the realm of
| folly and refused to retrace their steps
at the prompting of reason. The particl-
pants in a deadlock reap no glory
| through the obstinacy which made the
condition possible. Serious reflection
must make it appear like childs play to
| those engaged IN the Ineffective and
wholly abortive mechanical roll call, each
of which was certain to be repetition
of that preceding.
| Manitowoc and Calumet are in no sense
responsible for tie nomination made or
| the manner of making it. Nearly one
nalf the delegation from the two coun-
ties voted in favor of dissolution when
introduced in the early part of the second
week by Mr.. Barry of Marquette. The
two delegations voted solidly for the
motion on the last day they purposed
remaining in session. Mr.. Schmitz will
ingness to withdraw so as to relieve the
convention of the incubus of "lnstruc-
| tions" fully exonerates him of response
blIity for the final is3ue-a nomination
made by disrupted convention.
The question to consider now is, what
is the duty Of the democrats of this con-
gressional district, and of this county,
particularly, in the premises? Demo-
| cratic principles are involved and these
are of far more moment than the regular
| ity of any nomination. No one can sue
cessfully question Mr.. Wells democracy
or his devotion to the party with which
| he has acted since political ideas first
| found lodgment in his mind. His time,
his voice, his money have always been at
the service of his party and defeat but
stimulated him to increased exertion.
The success of democratic principles re-
quires that the peXt house of represen-
| tatives be democratic. Not democratic
in the palteIing sense Of Gp-loyalty to
principle, and recreant through expedi-
ency, but democratic to the extent OF
preferring honorable defeat to any sue
cess won by compromising principle.
There is need of such democrats in posi-
lions where their strength of conviction
and unbending purpose will be influential
in shaping the policy adopted by the
party. The vacillating course OF some
democrats in the house of representatives
and in the national convention lately
held, shows the need of party strength,
not SO much in majorities as in men who
will reject dishonorable compromise and
dare to be outspoken.
Manltowoc county has always been
foremost IN the cause of tariff reform and
never swerved from its support. Now
that national convention has fea rlessly
enunciated that for which we have SO
long contended, we would be recreant
should we falter in the purpose which
has SO long sustained us. Mr.. Wells is a
democrat. He is no carpet knight in
politics but man who bears the scars of
conflict in behalf of the party. To desert
him now would be cowardly and treach
cry to the party he represents. The Pilot
was never squeamish in refusing to sup
port an unworthy nominee because he
was nominee, if no democratic principle
was involved. But In the present instance
1t is the dominance of democratic or re-
publican ideas which is IN issue and it is |
In this light it should be viewed by all |
democrats. Manitowoc county has al |
ways been democratic and never waYer- |
ed even 6when defeat was certain. 1t |
should not now recede from its position |
OF aggressive warfare for a principle when |
victory is at hand
This county cannot afford TO sacrifice |
q man who has been an exponent of demo-
cratic principles and who is a candidate
for an Office whose functions are largely
political. The democracy of the county
would stultify itself by doing so. In
the words of MI. Schnitz in addressing
the convention, "a district created by a
democratic legislature and intended to
be democratic, should not'surrender to
the enemy in the first battle" Let these
stirring words be the watchword OF all
democrats. No surrender.
OUT HOUSES