Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1901-02-28

| himself refrained from so loudly pro
claiming his responsibility. Since he
has adverted to the subject, however
however, I feel disposed to compliment
the gentleman upon his wonderful in
tuition. In view Of the unanimity OF
sentiment in the convention which de
clared for this measure, and the
marvellous majority with which that
platform was ratified at the November
election, together with the fact that a
similar resolution was unanimously
approved by the county convention OF
La Fayette county where Mr.. Monahan
resides and edits a newspaper, il
seems strange that he should have re
NAMED entirely unaffected by this
popular expression of the popular will,
That he is entirely Indifferent to such
influences, and is on the contrary in
such perfect sympathy and accord
with the eminent and honorable gen
tlemen who are responsible for his
appointment as collector of internal
revenue, must be considered as add
tional evidence Of the truth of that
old adage, that great minds run in
the same channels" 1t is sometimes
very convenient to have such mind
In presenting his views upon this
subject, my distinguished friend has
arranged his alleged argument, cate
gorically, and in replying thereto, I
shall follow the order as stated by
him.
Perhaps the most astounding asser-
tion contained in his address is the
first sentence thereof, which reads as
follows:
1.-THE bill under consideration is not
demanded by the people, and no rea-
son has thus far been advanced to
warrant it's enactment into law" This
is equivalent to saying thai a party
platform is farce gotten up to de
ceive the people, and may be utterly
ignored and disregarded by the Of
| fcials elected thereon.
! There are only two forms of govern
ment known to society Government
by force, and government by consent
We of America believe in government
| by consent. The republic was es
tablished by the fathers upon the prin.
Ciple that government derives its
| just powers from the consent of the
! governed" and that the source of al
power in governmental affairs is in the
| people. It is a part Of the American
/ theory, that the people may delegate
| this power to representative chosen
| by themselves, and that the laws form
ulated and enacted by those to whom
! the power is thus delegated, are OF
force and effect, and binding upon al
the people, when ratified by the ma
| jority. 1t is upon this theory Of dele
! eating the power reposed in the PEG
| pie, that the caucus and convention
| system was established For more
than sixty years it has been the Gus
tom of the American people to select
their delegates, to meet in convention
and there to declare the will Of the
people, and their desire for the enact
ment of certain principles into law
An honest difference of opinion as tc
the need or desirability Of certain pro
posed measures as a means of "pro
noting the general welfare has giver
rise to political parties. The declara
ton of principles as made by the
representatives Of the people in con
vention assembled is called the plat
form of the party making the same
The candidates nominated by thai
party are pledged to stand upon thai
platform, and to secure if possible, the
enactment of its principles into law
No man accepting a nomination OF
election upon the platform of a politi
cal party can be heard to say, that he
is not bound thereby. He is estopped
by every consideration of honor OF
decency, from asserting the contrary
If he does so, he becomes a traitor tc
his party, and betrays the trust i'm.
posed upon him by the people who
voted for his election. The whole
theory of representative government i:
founded upon this principle, and i
the contrary could obtain, it would put
an end to representative government.