Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1902-07-24
Villas
SPEAKS
Powerful Letter From Ex-
Senator Dealing With
CufrSnt Issues
Terrible Rapacity OF Tar
iff-Protected Trusts
Is Depicted
Stroke Must Be Aimed at
Root of the Poison
Gus Tree

Ex-senator William F. Villas meets a
solicitation from Chairman Warden of
the democratic state central com
mittee for an expression of his views
on current political matters with an
unanswerable arraignment of the party
of trusts and protection. His sledge-
hammer logic and convincing conc!u-
sions are sure to create a profound
stir in political circles and among
thinking citizens. Following is the
text of his letter together with Mr..
Wardens request:
My Dear Sir: | am very sensible
of the distinction of your request. AS
a Democrat, | cannot hesitate to re-
spond, for could you so have the least
aid to Democratic unity, | should be
recreant to withhold it; and the more,
| because the countrys need of a return
to Democratic principles could hardly
be greater than at the present time.
| Whether anything now stands in
the way of harmonious and enthusi-
astic Democracy in Wisconsin, de-
ponds upon the sentiments Of many
Others which | cannot presume to
! know. But earnestly believe nothing
ought to stand in the way, and hope
that nothing will. 1t appears to me
as simply a question Of patriotic devo-
ton to the public welfare, and good
men cannot but see their duty to
strive for unity in such a cause. That
our party division has been deplorable
in resulting public injury, | think all
true Democrats agree. But no concord
will follow any inquiry into its causes,
reasons or history, and especially in
to the fault for it. Wisdom, not less
than Justice, dictates honest acknowl-
edgment of the real truth that former
differences stood upon sincere convic-
tions, however diverse or unhappy.
There can be no further profitable po-
litiCal discussion of them.
Forget the Past.
Yet upright men can put by such diff
ferences, with no loss of mutual re-
spect, in patriotic submission to pres
ent duty and Loyalty cooperate upon
common ground of principles all know
to be right and necessary to their
country's good. Nothing can be more
evident to one who takes a broad view
of the nature of public affairs, or of our
political history, than that achieve
ment of good is only to be won by
leaving to the past the burial of its
own dead, and pushing on undisturbed
to the great ends open in the future.
The political movement of a great peo-
pie is like the flow of a mighty river;
onward, irresistihly onward. The
wise man will no more permit disap-
pointment of opinion to thwart or
warp his contribution to future OBJ
jects, than, by driving a stake in it,
he would think to check the rivers
| flood. 1t needs but a thought upon
the immensely of the concerns of SO
numcrous a people, upon the happiness
that .elongs of right to the millions
of home circles which are the treas
ures and rewards of the freemen of
America, both to show the futility and
sin of trying to block progress with
the half-burned faggots of extinguished
controversy, and to impress on every
high-minded man the sense of duty to
/ so discharge his part toward the hopes
of the future that he need never cringe
: before his self-respect An equal
partner in his country's policy, self
| branded when he stoops to mar it, the
| brain and heart of every true man tell
him the common good of his country
I men ought to override every conflict
! ing interest or feeling.
And thus he comes to the fundamen-
| tai doctrine of Democracy. First of
all. with liberty and justice, equal
rights for all men and special privi-
! leges to none, are its essential and
eternal demand for the government Of
Americans; yea, also of all mankind.
! Our national independence sprang
from these cardinal principles of the
rights of man; and our future de-
mands, with increasing need. their
faithful observance. From its begin
ming. they have been the base and
bond of union of the Democratic,
Party, their perfect accomplishment
it's mission. Cannot we, therefore. on
all hands. recur to them now as fun
damental principles we all alike ac-
cept, and establish our lines in unison
under their leadership, sure that their
eternal truth will guide Alright?
Whatever the alignments on past is
sues, the Democratic party remains
today the hope of the people of this
land. On no other can be placed any
just expectation Of a rescue from the
menacing conditions that beset US
Any one can see. who will see the