Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1894-07-26
For Highway Improvement.

policy of internal improvement, as
shown below by the Whitewater
Register:
"The old. wing party was by far
the best party the country ever
knew prior to the year 1853. II
numbered among lis leaders such
patriots and statesmen as Daniel
Webster, Henry Clay, Henry Wilson,
VIM. fl. Harrison, Horace Greeley,
Thurlow Weed, Jacob Collamer,
Vim, Ii. Seward, Zachary Taylor,
Winfield Scott and Abraham Lin.
coin. Its fortunes III great national
contests were small. 1t elected but
two presidents; both died early in
their administrations and the vice.
presidents who succeeded them
proved false to the principles of the
organization through which they
had risen 70 power. The whig
party was an intensely patriotic
party. 1t believed in Americauism
III its truest and broadcast sense. 1t
favored the building on the Amer.
can continent of great, wise and
prosperous nation, and of preserving
its benefits primarily for those who
were born here Or should come here
In good faith to make their homes.
Its cardinal doctrines were protec-
ton 10 American industries aud the
promotion Of internal improvements.
1t was also in the broadest sense an
honest money party. The distinc.
tive features Of the whig party
have been in the main Incorporated
into the national republican party's
political creed. And it would be
well if the whig idea Of devoting
more attention and money to inter
nal improvements should be made a
more conspicuous tenent Of repub.
llcan doctrine. AT present all that
is done in that direction is III the
| way Of putting up public buildings
III large cities and in expanding q
few millions OH rivers and harbors.
The enormous development of rail
road enterprises has diverted popu.
/ lar thought from the great import
ance and value of a thorough sys.
tenn of good wagon roads. But this
importance il increased rather than
reduced by the building of railroads.
There is far more benefit realized
from cutting small lateral and radi-
iatng drains IN swamp after large
trunk or main canals have been
opened, than before; and for the
1
same reason the opportunity Of NOV
irg merchandise and produce easily
To their destinations, afforded by
lines Of railroad, is greatly increased
by lines Of perfectly constructed
wagon roads reaching out from their
stations through the tributary terri
Tory. 10 encourage such conditions
Is a legitimate function Of govern.
ment. At present no one would
probably ask more than the build
ing and maintaining Of trunk lines,
connecting state capitals and metrop-
olises of a certain commercial i'm.
portance. Cooperation with the
state authorities might be required
as prerequisite before such improve
ments should be undertaken in any
state But details are unimportant
now; the idea il to set III motion
a great national movement for in
suring good roads. The building of
. few trunk lines would compel the
building Of all side lines, III time, Of
equal quality. The great objects
gained would be primarily the pos.
session Of the roads themselves, and
seeondarily the furnishing Of steady,
we'll paid employment to large
number Of people"
Babcoek's denomination.
Expressing the manifest wish of
the republicans of the Third district,
the congressional convention at Bar
aboo, last Friday, did whot they were
commissioned TO DO unanimously
re.nomlnate Hon. } W. Babcoek, Of
II I....,, ...a4,, F. Il .n1..... u 1870,