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

OUR POSITION.
We have been personally placed, OF
late, in peculiar and embarrassing po-
sition. We are an Anti Monopolist and
nothing else. In 1873 the Autobiography
party was organized at Owatonna, and
appointed State Central Committee.
In 1874 that committee united in call
Tor an Opposition State Convention, to
be held at ST. Paul; and that Convention
appointed 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 eth was Il
broad one. and they have nominated a
very strong ticket, headed by farmer,
and Granger, and Anti-Sionopolist. And
in selecting that ticket they acere most So
hcitouS 10 sattstyth The Granger element.
In the meantime, Il very respectable
body of men in Olmstead county, en-
bracing many of the leading Anti
Monopolists of that county, in conjunc-
ton with one of the ablest and most in
huential 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 ncro, 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, 1t
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 are shades of differ
ence which divide them; the Anti
Monopoly party is more radical, more
advanced, more pronounced in its views.
than the Opposition party. 1t is well
that those differences of principle should
have separate political organization.
There ar, thousands who are not salts
fled with the Opposition party, who will.
if there is no other restng-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.
But at present, even the most sanguine
Ant Monopolists do not clam that they
can poll. rs Il separate party. more than
10000 votes; and this would fall 10000
below the number required for success.
If, therefore, the Anti-Monopolists nom.
mate separate ticket. and give it all
those 10000 votes, they have, tor all
practical purposes, thrown those votes
away; tn v 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 exer,ions, and then laugh at
hcn'' 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 10 200 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
Owatouna 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. thav cannot and will not sup
port, strike him off and make a new
nomination. But let all the friends OF
Reform work together for the principal