Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1904-12-01
THURSDAY. DECEMBER /, 1904.
Some Aher-EiecfiOn Thoughts.


To the Editor: And now what? Is
it to be repetition Of the betrayal
by the state senate at the last meet
ing Of the legislature?
Having fought the good fight"
and shown the world that the voters |
of Wisconsin, when given chance,
will invariably condemn wrong and
encourage rightdoing, we must not
now sit supinely down and allow the
evil influences that have so long cor
rupted and debauched our legislat-
ure to again rob US of the fruits OF
this bard fought battle. Treason
must be made odious, and unfaithful
public servants-men who betray
their constituents - must be CIV en-
plainly to understand that such "A
betrayal at this time will bring its
sure and swift punishment. The very
foundation Of government like ours
is endangered by such unfaithfnl
representatives, and they must be
made to understand that there is no
room for them among decent men in
any community.
At the time when the very life of
our government was hanging In the
balance, men Of the north who gave
aid and encouragement to those who
were trying to destroy it were made
so odious in many Of the communit-
les of the north that they dare not
show their face, and so with us now.
Any man who will betray the trust
of the voters of any community
should be branded for life as dan
gerous character and a copperhead
of the most venomous sort.
Let us see to it that any man who
uses his position as a representative
of the people to further his own in
, terests in any way, is made more |
odious, IL possible, than he who ac- |
cepts n direct bribe, for 1t will be |
found that such man invariably |
subordinates public to private in
terest.
We must also remember that old
and well worn saying, Internal vigil
lance is ihe price of liberty for it
applies today with more than usual
force. The watchfires on the heights
must not be allowed to shoulder.
The agents OF the corrupters aud de-
bauchers of men in public life never
slumber, and they are always "abroad
In the land seeking ways and 1Neaus
to defeat the will of the people as re
Gently expressed at the polls. The
ball must be kept rolling. We now
have them con the rum and they
must be kept going until corruption
il thoroughly weeded out before
there will be safety for government
by the people.
Professional lobbying must also
go. That too--the source OF most of
the corruption of our legislature
must be made so odious that no man
of that vast army OF corruptionists
will dare show his face at the capt.
toll of our state or nation. Mild
measures will not be found of any
use for the cure Of this most glaring
evil Their unbounded gall and inn
pudenco is proof against ordinary
protest. A coat of tar and feathers
well applied with a stern command
TO get will be found much more eff
ficatious.
Commercialism in the political af-
fairs of our country is the bane of
public life today. That must also be
eradicated, not only in state and ma
tional matters, but also in municipal |
affairs. The commercial affairs of
our broad land are abundantly able
to stand OH their own footing with
out the aid Of exemption from taxa
ton or by legislation favoring the
few rs against the many.
Let us keep up the cry, Equal
chance for all, no tavors for any, eX
act and equal justice for every man."
1t has been said that the mills of
the gods grind slowly, but they grind
exceedingly fine" The grst turned
out at the recent election is surely
we'll ground, and it is presumed that
John c. Spooner, J. V. Quarles, j. w.
Bahcock and Others of their ilk have
found that they have been taking
their grst to the wrong mill.