Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1894-03-29
UNWORTHY OF TRUST.
4 Democratic Editor Confesses the
Failure of His Party.

Plymouth (Wis.) Reporter (Dem.):
When, one year ago last fall, the people
voted to put therentire control of the
government into the hands of the
Democracy, the outlook for the party
could not have been brighter. The
victory was decisive one, and if any
election ever clearly indicated the
wishes of the people, that one did.
Only little over year ago the party
assumed control, but during that period
the men to whom the government was
entrusted have shown themselves
totally unfit to administer any govern
ment. They have not kept faith with
the people; they have shown no
capacity; to carry out the policy of any
party they have entirely misrepresented
the Democratic party and have done it
an irreparable injury.
We are not ready nor willing to say
that Mr.. Cleveland has taken a dis
honorable course, but he has done
little for which any one can consistently
commend him. There has been a verv
pronounced flavor, too, of selfshness
about many Of his acts, that seemed
very unlike the estimate we had formed
Of him during his first term. The use
of his appointing power to influence
representatives and senators to vote for
his pet measures, seems like q very
undignifed piece of business for the
president Of a great nation to indulge
in. Neither can one help but think
that he favored placing protective
duties on certain articles for other than
unselfish motives.
Congress has done wonders in the
way of blundering, to which it has
devoted a special and probably the
greater part of a general session. 1t
certainly has had ample time to do
several things towards fulfilling its
promises to the people, but it has done
but one thing. 1t has repealed the
Sherman law, and that was as much the
work of Republicans as Democrats.
1t has, however, undone any good ii
may have accom- plished by the repeal,
by passing a measure at least as bad as
the Sherman law. In the way of tariff
reform it will accomplish absolutely
nothing. The Wilson bill as passed bv
The mouse, though Il compromise, would
have been satisfactory to Democrats
who believe that reform must come
gradually. but the bill as changed by
the Democrats in the senate is only
another Mckinley bill.
Trusts have been a special mark for
Democratic stump peakers, but no one
has observed that they have been
especially interfered with by Mr..
Cleveland's Atty. Gen. Olney. Olney
has simply let them alone and they
have been doing business at the old
stand as if no Democrat sat in the
presidential chair.
Villas, who represents the great state
of Wisconsin in the United States
senate, did on every possible occasion
during the canvass praise the wisdom
of the people, told them of their rights
and how much he respected their
wishes. Does he love the dear people?
Has he high estimate of their wisdom?
Let his record speak for itself. He
entered into pine land deals, and could
clear himself of the charge of fraud
only by the plea of having been an
innocent purchaser. Did he show anv
regard for the wishes Of people when
he used his political pull with the
administration at Washington to defeat
the election of Gen. Bragg to the senate,
when he knew that very large ma
iority Of the Democrats of Wisconsin
favored the little generals election. If
the Democracy does not repudiate It's
present leaders it is doomed. The
party may in a few localities arouse
enough religious fanaticism to pull it
through once or twice more, but as a
national party it must cease to exist
uuless it be put into the hands of men.
It must shake off the vermin whose
only hope lies in arousing prejudice.