Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1894-08-02


Experience should have taught them
better. They should have remembered
that under southern domination the
democratic party has always done as
it agreed, except when 1t has agreed
to do right; it has never failed to keep
its pledge 30 support wrong or up
hold a disrcputable cause. 1t promised
to support slavery. and still oringes ut
the crack OF southern whips; it pron-
Used TO support secession. and still re-
Nerges the lost cause by harassins our
disabled soldiers; 1t promised it's sup
port to fiat money and still throws its
party strength in aid OF every move
ment calculated to debaSe or degrade
our currency; 1t promised its support
to state sovereignty and when Tor the
first time in forty years it had control
Of all branches of the government, 1t
signaliZed its accession TO power by
abolishing every federal safeguard to
free ballot and fair count. Its
transcendant ability TO place itself on
the wrong side of every public ques-
tion should have left no room for
doubt that 1t would fulfill its threat to
reverse the financial policy that, under
republican administrations, had re-
suited in progress unparalleled in the
history of the world. The introduction
Of the Wilson bill with all its radical
changes was necessary and logical
sequence of democratic success, and
the history of that bill proves how
easy it is for embecility to hang upon
the coat tail of ignorance. Vested by
the people with absolute control Of
both the legislative and executive
branches of the government, the DEM
ocratic party has tried in vain for up
wards of year TO construct tariff
satisfactory to itself, bnt has found it.
self incapable of surmounting the diff
ficulties that grow out of the fact that
it is and always has been a sectional
party, having no settled principles,
that are alike acceptable TO all parts
Of the country. Avowing free trade,
It's representative dispute the republi-
can theory that everything that can be
successfully produced In this country
should receive tariff protection to the
extent of the difference in wages be-
tween Europe and America, yet, 1t Is
free trade for their neighbors, and not
for themselves, that they want. There
Is not a democrat in congress who Is
not an ardent advocate of free trade
as regards every interest except the
particular ones that he represents.
Thus, the honorable senator from
Louisiana cares nothing for coal-let 1t
so ON the free list; but he demands
tariff protection for sugar; the honor
able senator from Maryland is not
concerned about sugar-put 1t on the
free list; but he insists that coal must
be protected; the honorable, the junior
senator FROM New York, is consistent
ly democratic in his treatment OF coal
aud sugar; he believes in free trade
as to them, Tut ne is ultra republican
in his claims for high protective duties
upon collars and cuffs Only the hon
orable senators from Wisconsin fail 10
find occasion to exert themselves In be-
half of any home interest, pine land ex-
cepted
In this way, the democratic con-
greSs has been for months playing a
royal game of tennis with the tariff
tossing it from senator to senator,
from committee to committee, from
house 20 house, while commerce, manu-
features and trade have been forced
10 look idly on with the beggarly sal
isfaction OF knowing that after the
honorable gentlemen became tired OF
their game, American industries will
have to swallow the pall and that The
pill will be none the less bitter by real
son of its sugar coating.
Meanwhile the change, which dem
ocracy promised, has come; confidence
has been changed into doubt; security
into fear; prosperity into adversely,
and thrift into waste; two years ago
people organized for the promotion OF
commercial and manufacturing enter
prise; today they organize for the re
lief of the poor.
IF the administration of national af-
fairs has been characterized by wan
ton disregard of honorable precedents,
the administration OF our state affairs
win be remembered chiefly by its crea-
ton Of precedents. For the first time
In the history of the state, the chair
man of the dominant political party
is seen openly debating the acts OF
both branches Of the legislature. The
people of the state of Wisconsin con-
yened in senate and assembly were
there merely as matter Of form; for
standing In the halls of legislation like
a nickel-in-the-slot devise, no law was
allowed to be enacted that failed to
pass through the machine and receive
the stamp of it's approval.
Facts such as this constitute the
history Of Wisconsin democracy; they
are embodied In a roster that Is the
most interesting obituary of polit-
ical party that has ever been written.
THE management Of the delicate
questions arising between capital and
labor, can be entrusted only to the
grand old party that for almost forty
years has headed every great political
reform; that accords to every man
equal rights and protection under the
~ -. ond that forhfdg all attacks upon