Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1894-09-13


What Il strange spectacle in politics,
what gratifying honor to WISCONSIN
, democrats, they manifested in their
late convention One may easily con-
ceive the anxious preparatory study
and reelection their Skillfull managers
must have given 10 find some weak
spot in the state administration, into
which to plunge the lance of criticism
by some keen resolution In their plat
form, And what a testimony Of praise
was the result in their determination
that even political cunning demanded
the appropriation OF silence rather
than the peril Of false clamor. Had
conscience pricked like prudence, they
would have adopted a resolution of
thanks and praise!
Fellow democrats Of Wisconsin.
whatever the confusion of tongues
which election campaigns bcSet, YOU
surely may appeal 10 the people OF
Wisconsin with satisfaction and pride
The political history of the entire
country will produce no record OF
greater honor. Not only has every
promise upon which the people trusted
you been fulfilled, but performance has
far overleaped promise If ever party
stood before 4 people commended to
the mould of the traitors who deserted
their confidence by fidelity and we'll
doing, there to-day your party stands
before the people of Wisconsin,
"BeUh!nk You of our affairs but foul
YEARS ago. Where could you have
found Il republican in all the state
who would have thought you less than
crazy had you told him then that in
four years time such change was to
come? Tat from the state treasurer
then in office and his two immediate
predecessors there would be recovered
at law and put into the treasury nearly
100000 i'll compenSai ton for money
illegally and secretly taken from the
people? That thenccforth the honest
deposit of public moneys would yield
by this time above 100000 to the poo
pie? That instead Of negligence in the
duty of investment or the worse fault
of dcpoSiting them for the trcaSurer'S
gain the education funds of the state
would be 50 much more faithfully and
honestly put to use, that, though the
rate Of interest has been less. the gains
to the income of the funds has been
thousands: That not only would all
educational interests be more gener-
| ollSly supplied than ever, and all al
fairs of state conducted with efficiency
and dignity, but that by
! honesty and good management 1t
should come to pass that the accumu-
| lated savings of the general fund in
| less than four years would not only
render a state tax unnecessary, but
would enable the governor and state
| board to pay this summer in advance
nearly threc-quartcrs of a million of
| the taxes which the permanent stat
uteS order to be raised every year, for
school, university and other special
! purposes, and thus discharge before
hand so much of the debt of every tax
payer to the tax gatherer next winter?
/ Yet all this is true, and more beside.
! And when you lay before the people
/ of Wisconsin such complete and graft
flying proofs of the excellent benefits
they have enjoyed by their action of
four years ago, can it be supposed they
will punish the party by defeat which
has deserved so well?
mo, no, not of such quality OF mind
! or heart are the people of Wisconsin.
| Many and many an upright republican
will say: Am l Il party slave that
| should deny my vote where good citi-
zenship requires it to be given|
And of still higher concern, as lib
erty is better and noblrr than all else,
must we esteem the change of the past
! four years in the laws and conditions
affecting families and religious rights.
When | recall the distress and anM-
cites into which republican paternalism
had plunged us then, with all the men
ace to peace and happiness their ac-
J ton and purpose presented; and re-
member how severe and eXa"ting We're
the laburS and trials of that struggle,
| cannot forbcar COEGratulatiOn on the
security and comfort since enjoyed III
family. church and school by reason of
the blessing vouchsafcd in democratic
F., victory tlen.
Nor do ! forget that the spirit of
meddlcSomc intolerance is not wholly
down but that by special attack on
one religion, the same old adversary
thinks to dclude those of other faith
from their clear perception Of princi-
! pie and fidelity in support Of it. But
the A. +. A concern is little likely TO
! deceive in Wisconsin, or ] mistake
greatly 1t Is but the same old enemy
with his republican coat off, skulking
/ in the bywayS Of darkness on his cr-
rand of policital thievery If any be
! deceived and caught by him, so much
the worse for the deluded. But as for
politics. it will he strange indeed If
there be not more who viii. refuse to
keep such company.
Gentlemen of the convention,
have detained you longer than usage
warrants, and l thank you heartily
/ for your courteous audience. 1t has
/ seemed to me the circumstances Of the
i time impose upon US all more than