Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1903-05-13
AN IMPENDING CONFLICT.
PROMINENT MINISTER TALKS PLAINLY ON
MATTERS OF STATE.
The History Of Political Corruption Is the History
Of Commerciallsm Seeking Special Legislation
Beginning Of an Irrepressible Conflict in Which
Every Man Must Take Sides.

Of Commereialism Seeking Special Legislation
Beginning Of an IrrepresSible Conflict In Which
Every Man Must Take Sides
From his Congregational pulpit in
the city of Madison, Sunday morning
last Rev e Ct. Upkide, one of the lead
ing ministers of the northwest preached
a sermon which is attracting universal
attention. DIR. Urdike is an everyday
attendant upon the sessions Of our legis-
lature and ii il after witnessing the
| stalwart antics Of blocking just legisla-
| tion that he was inspired to give ser
mon government commercialized.
| We o. Ce from the sermon: In time
| of war we call man traitor who be-
trays his country, but to betray the pub
lie interests in time of peace is the same
! in principle. We allow the public
rights to be trampled upon and totally
! dlsregalded. Our patience is often born
| of laziness OF spirit or rather seltishn 1s
| We sit by and see the contest for of q
| go on when the game of politics is bsii :
| played when the whole thing is lackin
in patriotism, and can result only in
betrayal of public interest, There il
little resentment when special privileges
are asked for special classes.
After the war of the rebellion, the
best ability of the country was called to
| the service of industrial expansion.
| Great railway lines were constructed.
Government aid in some cases was q
necessity, but il did not stop with the
necessity Infant industries were pro.
tected, some Of which still bear the same
name while they are giants with power
that Is menace TO the UIother th,st gave
it birth. The concentration Of capital
stands in sueh relation to government
that you can scarcely define what you
mean by government except in terms of
commerce
IT Is THE SANE DEVIL.
The power at the heart of every des.
Potism Of the past was the desire for
special privileges for spe, !al classes. It
was this shat our fathers resented in
the Revolutionary war. / was at the
heart of the slaveholding aristocracy in
the south And today in new form it
! comes again ana demands special legis-
| lation for its vested interests
There is no condemnation for wealth
| honestly won and honestly used but
when it comes to corrupt legislation and
to trample upon the rights Of the many
( in the interest of the few. Ii is the
same devil that was at the heart of Nero
and Judas
The history Of political corruption in
| this country is the history of CONNER
cialism seeking to secure special legisla.
! tion for itself 1t makes po 'sible every
political boss. Croker and Platt aud
! Quay could not stand an hour if you
were 10 remove the commercialism
| which sustains them The puppet in
| the chair of the Illinois legislature Is
not the source or corruption neither Ii
| the boss behind him, tits the corporate
interests that want special fayors, anC
viii do anything to secure them.
This man at the end of the wire, whG
moves in respectable society and sup
ports church and gives to philanthropy
but who uses the boss to do his dirty
work, is the real traitor against whom
condemnation should fall.
The source Of the corruption in St.
Louis is not in the boodling aldermen,
who have been sent to the penitentiary
but the commercial interests that want
special favors, that have attempted Il
use these men.
! CONDEMNATION WHERE ~ BEL ONGs
Let us go to the root OF the matter
Let us pronounce condemnation wher'
it belongs. There is no more vital prin
ciple then this, that government Is for
all the people and not favored few.
The members of our own legislature
who heard in last weeks discussion the
protest OF the shippers and not the in
diguation Of mighty people, are short
sighted. The people Of this country
when they come TO their senses, viii
never consent to have the railroads
which are common carriers, run in th'
interests OF a special class.
THE power to build up one man ant
destroy another, to build up one commu
nity at the expense of another. is as vic
ious at heart ae taxation without repre-
eeutation which so stirred the souls o
our fathers 1t has made possible TIA
Standard Oil company, with its iniqui
tons millions. Il has made possible al
the abuse in the coal fields, where
whole nation is plundered in the inter
ests Of an oligarchy.
GREAT ISSUE THAT MUST BE FACED
I'VE are entering rs people upon
, great struggle, which will be an ire
pressible conflict as surely az was tn
war which gave the slave his freedom
Already the magnates are seeking t
prevent the nomination of Presiden
, Roosevelt For a time, perhaps bot
parties will refuse 10 face th' great i:
] sue. We still have a repetition Of Tn
attitude of tine whig and the denOcrati
parties before the civil war. But th
time will come when the issue viii b
clearly defined One party will stan
as did the old democratic party in th
slavery days, for the notion tGat yeste
! | rights property contracts, obligations
, even legal fechnicalities are more sacre
= than human life The other party Wi
! stand for the principle that propert
] and other legal rights were created 70
man, and that be Inust not be the slaY
Of his own institutions.
= "One party will have great power
, the power Of corporate wealth. 1t wi
! be an oIigarchy The other party wi
! be Of the people The oligarchy wi
/ proclaim that civilization and all II
| glories viii perish if the reckless nasse
are permitted to gain control of all th
means Of wealth.
"The party Of the people will 90 foi
ward 10 meet the issue, and it will do
3 in the name Of patriotism.
Z 1t will establish government of ia
people and by the people aud for ID
"A commercialized government for
favored few viii then be an impossibi
ity
y COURAGE AsD WISDOM NEEDED.
Every man must take sides in th
D conflict There is required a. grea
- statesmen today az in any past cause !