Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1912-08-08

necessary if you will but undo some
of the things that have been done.
Without Il great mere hant marine we
cannot take our riShtful place in the
commerce of the world. Merchants
who must depend upon the carriers Of
rival mercantile nations to carry their
goods to market are at Il disadvantage
in international trade too manifest TO
need to be pointed out. and our mer-
chants will not long suffer themselves
ought not TO suffer themselves-to
be placed at such Il disadvantage. Our
industries have expanded to such
point that they will burst their jackets
If they cannot find a free outlet to the
markets of the world. and they cannot
find such an outlet unless they be
given ships of their own to carry their
goods-ships that will go the routes
they want them to go--and prefer the
interests of America in their sailing
orders and their equipment. Our do
nestle markets no longer suffice. We
need foreign markets That is an
other force that is going to break the
tariff down. The tariff was once a
bulwark; now 1t is dam For trade
Is reciprocal: we cannot sell unless we
also buy.
The very fact that we have at last
taken the Panama canal seriously in
hand and are vigorously pushing it to-
ward completion is eloquent of our re-
awakened interest in international
trade We are not building the canal
and pouring out million upon million of
money upon its construction merely to
establish n water connection between
the two coasts of the continent, i'm
portant and desirable as that may be,
particularly from the point of view
of naval defense. 1t is meant to be
great international highway. 1t would
be little ridiculous if we should build
1t and then have no ships to send
through it. There have been years
when not a single ton of freight pass
ed through the great Suez canal in an
American bottom, SO empty are the
seas of our ships and Seamen.
lnouSIFill 6QuCdtlOn.
There is another duty which the
Democratic party has shown itself
great enough and close enough to the
people to perceive, the duty of govern
ment to share in promoting agricul
tural, industrial, vocational education
In every way possible within its CON
stitutional powers. No other platform
has given this intimate vision of par
tvs duty. Education Is part of the
great task of conservation. part of
the task of renewal and of perfected
power.
We have set ourselves great pro-
gram, and it will be great party that
carries it out 1t must be n party with
out entangling alliances with any spe
cial interest whatever. 1t must have
the spirit and the point of view Of the
new age. Men are turning away from
the Republican party as organized I'M
der its old leaders because they found
that 1t was not free, that il was entan-
gled, and they are turning to us be-
cause they deem us free to serve them.
We should go into this campaign
COllllbtil WI tIIil tllV tllii~ 'llIlNNlll
of what we want to do if mtrusted
with the government. It is not Il parti
san fight we are entering upon. We
are happily excused from personal at
tackS upon opponents and from all gen
erfl indictments against the men OPP
posed to us. The facts are patent to
everybody; we do not have to prove
fh0T,1. no n
nents admit them. Our thinking must
be constructive from start to finish
We must show that we understand the
problems that confront us and that we
are soberly minded to deal with them,
applying to them not noStrumS and no.
lions. but hard sense and good courage
A Government For Public Good.
A presidential campaign may easily
degenerate into Il mere personal CON
test and so lose its real dignity and
significance There is no indiSpenSa-
BILE man. The government will not
collapse and go to pieces II any one
of the gentlemen who are seeking to
be intrusted with its guidance should
be left at home. But men are instru-
ments. We are as important as the
cause we represent, and in order to
be important must really represent
cause. What is our causet The pco-
pies cause? That is easy to say, but
what does 1t mean? The common rs
against any particular interest what
ever? Yes, but that, too, needs trans
lation into acts and policies. We rep
resent the desire to set up an unen-
tagled government. a government that
cannot be used for priJ ate purposes.
either In the field Of business or in
the field Of politics; a government that
will not tolerate the use of the organ
ization of a great party to serve the
personal aims and ambitions Of any
Individual and thar viii not permit
legislation to be employed to further
any private interest. 1t is great con
cepfiOu hUf | am free II serve H. rs