The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1894-10-25
ST. wendell, Oct. ID, 1894.
Editor HdnitO1cOc Pilot,

Editor Hdnito1cOc Pilot,
Manltowoc Wis.
DEAR SlR.-This is a crucial period 10
the political history Of the United Slater.
Probably lie no previous political cam
paign have party lines been 50 loosely
dawn in proportion to the interest mani
Tested in the questions brought before the
people for their consideration. And this
Is az 1T should be. 1t is a most hopeful
sign for the future of our country that
tie masses are becoming more and more
inclined to hold before the eyes of their
servants IN office that basis of sound
Judgment embraced IN the words by
your actions you're judged" and not by
your avowed fidelity to certain party
measures.
Yet this basic principles at the present
time very liable to lead people into error
as TO political matters connected With
our state and national Administrations.
Every person who takes a sincere inter
est IN the we'll being of the state and
country at large must choose and decide
his position with care. The gravity OF
the political situation deserves this, and
the interests of our state and national
governments demand it. 1t is unneces-
sary to dwell upon the merits of our
present state administration. 1t has be-
come public property. Throughout the
entire length and breadth of Wisconsin,
from every nook and corner OF this state
comes the admission that so far as state
matters are concerned the democrats have
done we'll! Indeed they may be said to
have done remarkably we'll ''cOnslderlng
their youth and ineXperieEce." In fact
in the management of the state finances
we are impelled to say that these youths
have certainly put to shame the u. y. L.
Taking this acknowledgement as sufh-
cient guarantee upon which to build our
hopes for democratic success IN Wiscon-
eonsin let us turn for moment to ma
tlonal affairs. These present an aspect
at once unique and yet IN every respect
serious. More serious in fact than peo-
pie may Ee disposed to believe. We have
here the democratic party, temporarily
baked in its crusade against the lniqult-
Gus republican. Tariff policy by the sud-
den and startling change of front on the
part of men who bad been trusted ID the
councils of the party but who betrayed 1t
when they discovered that the execution OF
the democratic policy would work harm to
the interests of certain concerns which fer
years had been fattenlng on republican
legislation and in which these parties
were interested. In short, fulfillment OF
democratic pledges meant cessation OF
class legislation.
This was by no means unknown to
these men long before the Wilson bill
entered the senate, but when the money
ed barons of the east and south approach
ed them in their very peculiar and mater
lal way these "black sheep" speedily ar
rived at the not unnatural conclusion
that they had right along been laboring
under misconception Of the true needs
of their particular sections and that they
found themselves under the necessity"
of opposing certain features Of the bill.
Their hearts were as indifferent to
moral pressure as the gold which had
had such salutary effect on their powers
of conception. They retarded for time
the progress of democratic legislation
but no sane man will believe that the
cause of tariff reform has been perma-
nently crushed by the treason of this
small, and hereafter, insignificant cabal.
As far as sound public sentiment is con-
cerned, tariff reform is as mucn IN de-
mand now as 1t ever was. There is but
one power in this country to-day which
can successfully cope with the power OF
the people. 1t IS the same power which
has welded such an influence on the
course of legislation in the immediate
past. 1t then stood alone and single
handed fought democracy with a certain
measure of success which 1t could not
hope to repeat unless 1t secured the act
i've cooperation of one of the political
parties in bringing about the election Of
a congress that would be at least consi-
derate if not directly favorable toward
their int rests. Under these conditions
it was not unnatural for this class. to look
to the party upon whose legislative boun-
ty it had subsisted so long, as to the
party to assist them now. 1t should be
borne in mind ID this connection that the
republican leaders during the critical
stage of the tariff Struggle IN congress
were becoming significantly quiet and ro-
markably cautious IN the matter of their
tariff declarations. They saw, felt and
appreciated (as they do today the tre-
mendous pressure of an emphatic public
sentiment which seemed to be a verlatble
mascot TO the DEMOCRATS in congress.
They were preparing for change of
front! Ready at a moments notice to re-
adapt their principles to meet the pub
lie demand. If the Wilson bill unamend-
ed passed the congress, democratic
pledges would have been entirely fulfill
ed and prospects of their success at the
next election bright. The passage of that
blllwould have placed the republcanparty
IN the embarrassing position of modifying
its stand on the tariff question. But the
fears of the G.. O. p. leaders were not
realized In this entirely, though the pas
sage of the senate bill somewhat raised
democracy in the public estimation. it
still left an opening wherein the republic
cans we're enabled to draw a connecting
link between hard times" democratic
'indeclsion" and tariff tinkerlng" though
at that time their advocacy of protect.
ton" was far less emphatic than it be-
came soon after. In fact their "protec-
ton" platform would undoubtedly have
been permitting to dwindle away entirely
for they were then as aware of the feel
ing of the American people at large in re-
gard to their hobby as they are to this
day. But the EXTRAORDINARY INDUCE
MENTs offered by the protected inter-
ests" seemed to furnish them substantial
reasons for remaining true TO the '.in-
fants" of their creation. The republican
managers and leaders have apparently
been deeply impressed by that display of
strength on the part of their infants"
which they had an opportunity of wit
Messing during the recent proceedings in
congress. They decided that wisdom is
the better part of valor," and have chosen
the apparently stronger side as their ally
10 the approaching presidential campaign |
They hare formed an alliance lrith the |
protected interests for 'protectiOm" and |
they are 'conttdeRt Of success We can
by no meaps deny their claim. And it is |
this very fact that should Inn press every |
American citizen with the gravity of the |
situation. Here We are confronted by a |
great political party; party which has |
been again and again accused and found |
guilty of misconduct, and been twice in |
succession removed from power only to |
come back to the altar of public judgment |
pleading for forgiveness and begging to |
be again received into the good graces of |
n m ol