830 



WISCONSIN". 



been advanced. I also learn that the Chicago and 

 Northwestern Company have made a corresponding 

 reduction for their lines. These reductions in local 

 freights are a liberal concession to the public at this 

 time, and disclose a willingness on the part of the 

 companies to divide with the producers the burdens 

 incident to a failure of crops and low prices. 



The number of miles of railroad operated 

 within the State by the several companies, to- 

 gether with the entire length of line, at the 

 close of 1877 and 1878, was as follows : 



Under the provisions of chapter 260 of the 

 laws of 1878 an attempt has been made to col- 

 lect the statistics of agriculture. The returns 

 appear to have been defective in many cases, 

 but a good beginning has been made, and it is 

 hoped that reasonable accuracy will be soon 

 attained. The tabulated reports show the fol- 

 lowing aggregates : 



In 1878 there were 389,380 cows. 



"These statistics," says the Governor, "in- 

 complete as they are, fully justify all that has 

 been said or claimed for our agricultural inter- 

 ests, as being the leading and by far most impor- 

 tant industry of the State, and indicate that the 

 money appropriated to the State and county 

 agricultural societies, which have done so much 

 to foster and develop our agricultural resources, 

 has served a beneficial purpose. I see no good 

 reason why the usual appropriation to the State 

 Society should not be made permanent." 



The political campaign had in view the elec- 

 tion of Congressmen and members of the Legis- 

 lature. On August 1st the Republican State 

 Central Committee issued the following decla- 

 ration of principles : 



1. Adherence to the principles of the Republican 

 national platform of 1876 and the sentiments ex- 

 pressed in Mr. Hayes's letter of acceptance, recogniz- 

 ing the honest difference of opinion among Republi- 

 cans respecting certain features of the policy of the 

 national Administration, but cordially approving the 

 aims of the President in seeking to restore fraternal 

 relations between different sections of the country, 

 and to purify and improve the civil service. 



2. We earnestly desire the establishment of fra- 

 ternal relations between different sections of the 

 Union, but demand that the Jaws be impartially 

 executed, and that all citizens, without distinction, 

 shall enjoy equal rights before the law and equal 

 rights under it. 



3. We rejoice in the prospect of the resumption of 



stable, non-fluctuating currency, possessing intrinsic 

 value, convertible into gold or silver at the pleasure 

 of the holder, is the only secure foundation of per- 

 manent business prosperity. Such a currency will 

 impart that steadiness to prices which is an essen- 

 tial condition for the successful prosecution of legiti- 

 mate industry and enterprise, and is equally demand- 

 ed by the true interests of the laborer and the busi- 

 ness man and capitalist. 



4. The value of all paper currency, whether issued 

 by the Government or by banks, consists in the 

 promise it bears of payment and in the degree of 

 credit attached to that promise. If it can not be con- 

 verted at pleasure into currency of intrinsic value, it 

 can not remain at par, and its depreciation will be 

 in proportion to the prospects of its being converti- 

 ble within a longer or a shorter period. The print- 

 ed bits of paper which some wild theorists propose 

 to employ as currency, and which they term " abso- 

 lute money," containing no promise of payment, and 

 no intrinsic value, would soon become absolute in 

 one respect only they would be absolutely worth- 

 less. These and all the other chimerical projects by 

 which it is proposed to find a cheap and worthless 

 substitute for the measure of value accepted and em- 

 ployed by the civilized world, are based upon delu- 

 sion, if not dishonesty, and, if adopted, would result 

 in disaster and shame. We hold it to be the duty 

 of Republicans and all good citizens to oppose with 

 uncompromising firmness all these mischievous the- 

 ories, as well as the cognate doctrines of communism 

 and internationalism, which menace society, individ- 

 ual liberty, and the accumulated savings of industry. 



5. Condemns the Democratic party for attempting 

 to disarm the national Government, for seeking to 

 debase the currency and arrest all progress toward 

 resumption, for the vote to reduce largely the tax on 

 articles like whisky and tobacco, thereby rendering 

 necessary increased taxation on other industries, etc. 



6. Declares that the investigation respecting the 

 last Presidentiiil election has wholly failed to dis- 

 close an improper action by President Hayes. 



