The anti-monopolist. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1874-1878, 1875-07-12
OUR PosIfioN.

OUR POSITION.
We have been personally placed, of
late, in peculiar and embarrassing po-
sition. We are an Anti-Monopolist and
nothing else. In 1878 the Anti-Monopoly
party was organized at Owatonna, and
appointed State Central Committee.
In 1874 that committee united in call
lor an Opposition State Convention, to
be held at St. Paul; and that Convention
appointed a committee which called the
Opposition Convention, which met on
Wednesday last The State Anti
Monopoly organization was thus merged
in the Opposition organization, and has
practically ceased to exist. The call
for the Convention of July 7th was a
broad one. and they have nominated a
very strong ticket, headed by farmer,
and Granger, and Anti-Monopolist. And
in selecting that ticket they were most so
licstous to satisfy The Granger element.
In the meantime, Il very respectable
body of men in Olmstead county, en-
bracing many of the leading Anti
Monopolsts OF that county, in conjunc-
ton with one of the ablest and most in
Auential public men of the State, Hon.
Ebenezer Ayres, Lecturer of the State
Grange, have issued a call for an Anti
Monopoly convention to meet July 20, at
Owatonna. In Difference to them, and
as matter of Importance to the public,
we publish their call in to-day's issue.
Now, while it is true that this is a call
de mouo, it nevertheless represents, we
have reason to believe, the earnest feel
ing of large population, especially in
the great agricultural counties of South
ern Minnesota. As an expression OF
desire for separate organization, it
meets our hearty approval. The Anti
Monopoly party and Opposition party. So
called, are not identical IN principles.
While they agree upon the main ques-
tons at issue, there arc shades Of differ
ence which divide them; the Anti
Monopoly party is more radical, more
advanced, more pronouncedin in its views.
than the Opposition party. 1t is well
that those differences Of principle should
have IL separate political organization.
There are thousands who are not salts
fed with the Opposition party. who will,
if there is no other resting-place for the
soles of their feet, move back to the Re-
publican ranks. Moreover, such organ
ization will have salutary influence on
the politics OF the State, and make all the
other parties more careful in the selec-
ton of candidates, and the construction
OF platforms. s
But at present, even the most sanguine
Ant:-Monopolists do not clam that they
can poll, rs separate party, more than
10000 votes; and this would fall 10000
below the number required for success.
If, therefore, the Anti-Monopolists nom
mate a separate ticket. and give it all
those 10000 votes, they have, tor all
practical purposes. thrown those votes
away; thy effect no reform, they make
no reduction OF taxation. and they ac-
complish no retrenchment; in short. one
or other of the larger parties will win
by their exerlions, and then laugh at
them! They will simply pull somebody
else>s chestnuts out Of the fire. We
seek practical results, not mere exhi-
bition Of strength. Take the example
furnished by the Temperance party; the
Temperance element of this State rep
resents probably about 10 900 votes; but
it goes into battle alone; its followers
are disheartened by the very hopeless
ness of their cause, and the result is that
the temperance party polls, in the whole
State, but one or two thousand votes. and
it arouses only ridicule.
Our Recommendation then is, that the
Owatonna convention endorse the whole
ticket nominated the other day by the
Opposition party; but if there is any
man on that ticket who. TOR political
reasons. thay cannot and will not sup
port, strike him off and make new
nomination. But let all the friends OF
Reform work together for the principal