Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1894-12-06
Two Ideas Contrasted .

Professor Wilson may be taken as
type of the party in power. Ex-
Speaker Reed is fairly representative
of the party which will be in power.
Their latest utterances exhibit the strIk-
ing contrast between the two men and
the two parties. Professor Wilson, re-
ferring to the defeat of his party, saws:
''The kick comes from the heels OF the
American people; there was very little
brains in it," Speaker Reed says: Vic
tories bring responsibilities.
II we have wisdom for two years we
shall be trusted for more" Noting the
magnitude of the change, which was as
II $50 members of the British House of
Commons had been knocked out at
single election, Mr. Reed said: Il
wonder if any British statesman. still in
the air, would have ventured to say.
even 500 miles from his district, that
there were 10 brains behind the heels
which set him in motion Then Mr..
Reed adds: This country is largely in
favor of the doctrine of protection.
Every thing shows this, and no man,
" hose brains are not suffering from re-
cent conclusion of the heels. can think
otherwise.
1t reflects no credit on the democratic
party or its leaders when they say that
the recent defeat meant nothing in re-
gard to the tariff, or was the kick of
heels without brains. That kind of
criticism could be made with infinitely
more reason respecting the sudden and
causeless change of popular temper in
1892 After adheriDg manfullY and in
diligently 10 the protective policy for
thirty years, after realizing from it the
grandest progress ever seen in any
country or any age. and in an hour Of
the highest prosperity ever attained by
the people OF this or any other country,
a plurality of voters suddenly voted the
bread out of their own mouths. Less
than one years experience was enough,
and in 1898 they began voting the other
way with both hands. The elections
this year have only made more en-
phauc their determination to return TO
the policy they sustained so long, and
under which they enjoyed such prosper
ito. But Professor Wilson consoles him
self with the notion that there were
little brains behind the kick.
Enough brains ware there, at all
even's. u distinguish between British
theories and American facts; enough to
distinguish between an average OF $500
year for wages and An average of $500
year. Like his party, Mr.. Wilson
worships theories so obstinately and
blindly that he cannot see when they
are completely dIsproved by the expert
ence of the nation. OF his excuses It is
not worth while to say anything. Ii is
enough for the plain people 10 know
that they enjoyed in October, 1892, the
largest business and general prosperity
they had ever known, and that their
prosperity began to vanish with the
exports of gold which began that very
month. The radical trouble with the
democr attic party il that il fancies sn
ounce OF British theory worth ton of
American experience. The people do
not, and they abolish rulers who do so.
Ex-Speaker Reed exhibits the true
spirit OF the republican party in saving
that IF it has wisdom it will be trusted
still more" There speaks unfaltering
trust in the intelligence of the people,
and that is the quality which has made
the republican party victorious. II has
not feared to do the right thing, even in
the face of popular antagonism. be-
cause it has trusted the sober second
thought of the millions 1t has no
hesitated to save their interests, even
against their prejudices aud passions.
because II has been sure that sooner or
later they would recognize and reward
faithful service 1t has fearlessly disre-
garded the gusts of popular feeling
which sweep over the land from time
to time. relying upon the fidelity of the
nation to the convictions which it has
held for thirty years. But it does not
fail to see that wisdom in the applicq-
ton of its principles will be demanded.
and ought to be. and the people have
intelligence enough 10 know when they
are wisely served.
When Professor Wilson considers the
people jack ass for kicking him out Of
place, he only shows that the people
knew quite we'll what they were doing.
N y. Tribune.