Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1894-04-05

/ our lands and our investments. or we
must tax the products of other nations
seeking a market here. The latter
method is resorted to by all nations
and has been our chief means of rails
ing revenue since the government was
founded. The prevailing wide
spread distress emphasizes the neces-
sity for enlightened public policy and
wise craftsmanship. The indifference
which has been too prevalent for
many years has given place to a deep
and absorbing interest in public at
falrS. The masses of the people are
considering economic questions more
earnestly than ever before and are
| aroused to their Importance as affect
ing their own individual happiness
and prosperity. To wisely guide them
calls for the exercise of the highest
wisdom, coolest Judgment, and pureSt
patriotism. No party can be safely
trusted with these sacred interests of
the people or the control Of the govern
ment without it possess a fixed, hon
est and enlightened purpose. Single
ness of purpose is necessary to every
reform, Indispensable to wise admin
istratiOn and legislation The want of
this quality is the infirmity of the
present administration and the present
congress. Their victory was due to
discomfort of every kind. 1t was not
the result of unity of purpose, or of
lofty and united public sentiment 1t
was the outcome of misguided judg-
ment, pique, passion and prejudice.
The majority of those who voted for
Mr.. Cleveland and the present demo
cratic congress did not agree upon
any principle or policy. They had
their several different reasons for OPP
position to the republican party and
their temporary union was not in
Spired by devotion to democratic prin-
clples, purposes or policies. Free-silver
men voted the democratic ticket; op-
pOnentS to free silver, or to any silver
in our circulation medium, voted it;
the widest infiationiStS as we'll as
those infiexibly opposed to every form
Of imitation of our currency, voted it;
the protectionist voted it because he
did not believe the democratic leaders
would be reckless enough to disturb
the tariff; the free trader voted it in
the belief that the democratic leaders
would demolish all cllstom-houses and
inaugurate unrestricted commerce with
all the world; the Single-taX men, the
disciples of Henry George voted it,
While thousands who hate all such
vagaries voted it; the silver standard,
the gold standard, the double stand
ard, the paper money advocates and
the advocates of state bank money
voted it; pensioners voted it and those
who were certain that the democratic
leaders could be counted upon to wipe
out all pensions voted it. And when
it was all over and the victory was
won by these various antagonistic and
COntending elements, the realization of
their hopes and the enactment of any
legislation for the good of the coun-
try were of course found to be utterly
impossible. Failure and disappoint-
ment were bound to follow an admin
istratiOn and congress thus chosen,
and the whole country suffers as a
result. The administration and con-
greSS are without compass or rudder.
Before they have accomplished any
thing-while they are yet wrangling
about what they will do-the people
have become so dissatisfied as to burn
with Impotence for an opportunity to
repudiate them. A general election
was never before so much desired as
now, and never so much needed. The
altogether too common idea that there
is in fact little difference between the
two parties, and that the country will
prosper equally well whichever may
be in power, has been completely ex-
ploded by one years trial of the demo
cratic party. That difference has been
shown to be so vast as to fill the
country with establishment. 1t is a
greater question than who shall hold
the offices. In fact it has been demon
strated that the success of one party
or the other means all the difference
between national happiness and pros
perity and national discomfort and
distress"