The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1899-08-10
TWO DEMOCRATS.

visibility of continuing silver rs an
issue These men are not politicians,
nor are they DESTROYS Of leadership or
anxious for the notoriety which outlin-
ing party policy would give. They are
LAWYERS whose names are mentloned
with respect in every section of the state
where the high character of their profess
sion has not been furnished by the prac-
tee of little men They are selt-polsed
because they appreciate the dignity OF
their profession and eschew pettiness and
hastv Judgment as they avoid sacrifice OF
conviction to win the favor of the mui-
titude The have no personal interest
in politics: what they have is i'll the ma
ture of public spirit. What prominence
they have in this line is due to THEN pro-
fessional standing and not TO selt-seek-
ing
The counsel of such men is honest be
cause disinterested and wise and because
it is the product of calm reason and I'M
preiudiced observation. These men are
T. NJ. Kearaey of Racine and p, H. Mar
tin of Green Bay.
1t is largely due to the efforts Of these
two men that the spirit of popnlism was
exercised from the last state convention.
1t was argued in opposition to the con
tention of these men that the loss of the
populist vote would mean humiliation
of democracy The allies were greater
than the principals But the convention
needed Kearney and Martin. Let us see
with what results
In 1896 the republican plurality in Wis
cousin, the democratic and populist forces
in joint opposition was 1926 In 1898
the republican plurality was only 1874
with the populists going it alone, per
force The action of the convention III
rejecting populism was accepted as "A
guaranty that the heresy of free silver
would suffer like reputation, and demo
Gratis believed the party had returned to
It's traditions and acted upon this belief.
1t may be said this was an off year.
Notice the relative reduction of the vote
of each party: The democratic vote was
reduced by 80 100: the republican by o.
99S. In 1896 the democrats carried only
three counties in the state, with Il total
majority of $50. In 1898 they carried II
counties with a total majority of $3.50
And see what the comparison of per
cent. shows. The democratic vote cast |
in 1898 was 81 per cent. of that OF 1886
when the brilliant and matchless lead
or" lent the charm of his personality tn |
augment the enthusiasm of party. The |
republican vote cast in 1898 was only a
little over "a per cent of that vote 1896.
The republican plurality il 1896 was Il
little less than "a per cent. of the aggre-
gate vote cast for the two leading candi |
dates The republican plurality in 1893
was little over IL per cent of the total
vote cast for the two leading candidates.
The populist vote is included in the dem
ocratic vote of 1896 and not in that of
1898 which adds significance to the
change.
Silver was eliminated from the cam
paign in 1898 Figures never mean
anything" is the comment made when
they are in opposition to ruin or bust
policy. That assertion is tantomount to
saying that victories and defeat mean
nothing as figures are merely an expires
sion of results.
The spirit that Martin and Keaney
injected into the state convention of 1898
was the spirit in which the campaign was
conducted The powerful speeches which
J. l.. O'Connor delivered in that cam
paign were noticeable because of their
studied ibstention from all reference to
silver In Manitowoc county which went
republican in 1896 and democratic in
1898. a large majority of the local speak
ers announced openly that the silver is
sue was dead and that democracy and |
populism We're irrevocably divorced 1t
was not done to deceive but under the
mistaken belief that reason had asserted |
itself and that the progress made would |
not be cast TO the four winds of heaven
in exchange for the winsome smile of |
the able and matchless leader.
The impetus given by Martin and
Kearney would gather force with time.
No better test of the abandonment of sill |
yer could be made than was made i'll this |
county, and no result could be more as
surfing. These two men advise now prac
tically the policy that was pursued here. |
II is true they have not made pilgrim |
ages to Chicago or Madison, nor are they
turning their faces 70 every favored spot
where the voice OF Bryan resounds, as
the Mecca of democrats. They are not
swinging the censor or burning incense
o. dealing in the language of adulation.
They are not raising a mortal to the
skies They are democrats whose sense
of duty impelled them in 1898 to offer