The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1899-10-12
MIR. USHER.

The La Crosse Chronicle has been sold
to a syndicate, the capital stock being
$a5, 900 The change of ownership will
b, made Nov I, after which time The
Chronicle will be a republican paper.
Mr.. Usher holds stock in the company
and will BE- editor Of the new paper.
Mr.. Usher has for some time been dis
satisfied with the course of the democrat
ic party. Until 1896 he was one of the
strongest advocates the party had III the
state He lost all hope of the party $
abandoning the new issues with which 1t
became identified, and thinking that tar
if is no longer an issue, feels that he Is
more in sympathy with the republican
party in its present attitude toward pub
lie questions than ne is with the demo
cratic party.
Mr. Usher has been guided solely in
this matter by his convictions and unless
obedience is given to them, man be-
comes a time server Mr. Usher evident
ly believes that the abandonment OF pro-
lection by She republican party viii lead
ultimately to an abandonment OF that
false idea of the function of government
flom which grew the tariff policy and
which gave rs the silver issue. But The
Pilot fears he will find his environments
uncongenial when the spasm of virtue
which has seized the republican party
will have passed That party is built on
the rock of Imperialism. The term i'm
perialism is not used in this connection
in the narrow sense of application to
present conditions That form of imperi-
alism is meant which makes the govern
ment superior to the people, a form of be-
lief which invariably leads to favoritism
toward the few and inevitably toward
class distinction
a party emanating from this idea,
acting in conformity with it for several
generations, has inherited tendencies
which it cannot escape and IA forced de- |
parture from it on one matter is not suf |
ficient evidence of change to warrant |
confidence in its future.
1t may be urged with truth, that the |
democratic party in giving support to
the false principle that value is a matter
of legislation, and by abandoning the
idea that the functions of government
are few and simple, designed to protect
the individual in his personal and prop
erty rights and not to give fictitious val
ne to his products, has descended from
its high estate and is not democratic in
its faith. But if it is wrong to assume
that the abandonment of one error is
sign of permanent attachment to virtue
1t Is equally wrong to assume that an
error persisted in for some time with
passionate devotion, is II promise of con-
tinued depravity The history of IA par
ty, and not its attitude on public ques-
tiors for brief period, should determine
its fixed character The democratic
party cannot escape from the essence of
the elements which are the source of its
being. 1t may stray from them temper
srily; it cannot sacrifice them. {
1t is no impulse of resentment which
governs Mr.. Usher in this matter. He is
governed by the same convictions which {
made him democrat: but in seeking to
'elieve his belief from being merely pas
i've in the sense of being non-effect- |
We, he allies himself with Il party ]
18th whose past he has had no sympathy, '
xeel,t in isolated cases, and of whose fu- c
ure he mas We have doubts A mans t
trength is not lost when used in conflict t
With former friends who have strayed t
rom the paths of political reetitude. e
The Wild orgies of temporary political q
xciteflient 20 not kill and are safety i
alive for those who mistake enthusiasm Q
or steady application of force i'll the Y
light direction The democratic party
las embraced error with ardor before, v
nd it will in the future, but on the e
Whole its general course will be in the G
light direction. until it will have fulfill I
a its mission of creating Il government :
yhich grants no privileges offers the
protection of its arm To all who rely upon !
heir own industry in legitimate lines {
or their support, exercises no paternal- |
SIN, relieves no man of the necessity of
being self-supporting and shrinks from
interfering with laws which emanate
from power within the race which it
is reactionary to oppose.
BRYAN'S throat and lungs have be-
come affected from persistent talking
and his physician has counseled long
8 /