The anti-monopolist. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1874-1878, 1878-10-31
did that of Mr.. DOnnelly.


members that none of the honors hereto
fore conferred upon him was more highly ap-
preciated than the present one OF introducing
to the assemblage the Hon. lgnatlus Donnelly,
the next member of Congress from the Third
innesota district.
Mr.. Donnelly was received with loud ap-
plause He began by expressing thanks for
the large attendance present, and the hearty
greeting he had received. He had passed over
the largest part of the district during the past
six weeks, and if the signs do not wofully de-
ceiye u.s. he was convinced that victory would
perch upon our banner in November next.
(Applause.) There is revolution in progress
"a great revolution. The people are
thorouoy aroused against the great rings that
are now infesting the State. He had never be-
fore, in all his political experience, witnessed
such enthusiasm. At no meeting which he had
addressed for the past month were there not
a large number of men who had Travelled ten or
fifteen miles to hear him speak, and that they
were convinced in what he had to say was evil
denced by the profound interest they mani
tested in his remarks.
He had tried to conduct this canvass in a
manly, honorable way. He had spoken no un-
kind word about his opponent, Mr.. Washburn,
in all the many speeches he had mace. bis
public acts-his acts as public man-had
been criticised, but the newspapers that had
predicted that his nomination would be the
signal for che opening of the sluice-gates OF
personal abuse against the Washburn family
! had been disappointed. Had he done SO they
would have had some warrant for conducting
L -s~Io
But nowhere had he said aught that could be
construed iuto personal attack upon Mr.
Washburn or any of those who had supported
him. Failing in finding an excuse in his acts
for personal abuse the newspapers of this city
had turned upon him with the
most fendIike ferocity, and were
waging an unrelenting, unjust personal warfare
against him. In this yesterday mornings
Pioneer Press he had found column and a
half or two columns of abuse of hlm-mali.
cious, false and despicable. He proposed te
devote little attention to these charges.
He was charged with constantly changing his
political views-that before he came to this
State he had been a Democrats Buchanan
Democrat-and had changed to the Republican
party Just for the sake of getting office. The
fact was that he had never cast vote previous
to coming to this State. Shortly after he had
arrived in Dakota county-a county that was
hopelessly Democratic-he had without solici.
tation on his part, and because the people
beard he was an anti-slavery man, been nomi.
mated for the State Senate by the Republican
party. He made the canvass knowing
that he would be beaten, and
he aras handsomely, two to one
But he had made a canvass of the county, q
thing never befu done, and that some.
| bod rxrc affaruar1c be
was again nominated for the same Office, again
made a thorough canvass, and was again beaten
by twelve votes. This close run attracted some
attention to him. Republican party managers
began to talk of him. and the newspapers be-
gan to think there something in a mar
who could sensibly reduce large Democratic
majority. The next year. the Republicans still
being in minority in the State, he was nomin
ated for lieutenant governor and was elected
and was reelected n 1861. In 1862 he was
elected to Congress from this district, wal
again reelected in 1864, and again in 1866. HI
WAS beaten for a denomination in 1868 by the
corrupt of the money of the Washburr
family. because he had. in debate in the House
resented an indecent assault made upon him
in debate by one of the brothers-Elihu. BY
the most shameless of money the Wash
burns went into convention, two-thirds d
whose members were pledged to vote for him
and defeated him. nominating in his stead C
reside in st. Paul. But it cost 500 00t
of the money of the ring to do it. He had sa
down undur this abuse. and did not leave thu
Republican party. Finally, the next year
when the party was distracted by dissensions
the Press. which had opposed him heretofore
publicly advocated, in order to harmonic tn,
party that he should he the Republican nomi
nee for Governor of the State. The Winon,
Republican took it up, ard other newspaper
took it up. and ere long he appeared to be tn,
unanimous choice of the party of the State
The Press officially asked him if he would be
come candidate. He made q written repl,
which that paper published. in which he Sale
that while he did not seek the Office. he woule
accept it If nom mated. Then one of Window
friends came to him and asked if he was elect
ed would he use his influence in favor of MIR
WINDOWS Senatorial aspirations. He replied
that if nominated and elected he would dis
charge the duties of the Office faithfully. bu
would make contracts or bargains. ZAP
piause.) TEEN the Washburns and Window
put their heads together and ut the eleventh
hour went into convention of delegates al
most unanimously in his favor. and by tn,
most nefarious and corrupt bargains succeeded
in defeating him and nominating Hon. Hor
ace Austin. His Democratic competitor
George l.. Otis, came within 1.30O votes o.
beating him ~ the polls. Still he remained in
the party, An accomplishing member.
HIS CANDIDACY II 1870.
He was charged with having changed upol
the tariff question. In the platform adoptet
by the Republican party in 1869 there was
free trade plank. He believed in and indorses
it. But the next year the Republican conven
ton adopted y protective plank. and nominal
ed . man for Congress engaged in the manu-
facture of protected article. Against this b,
protested. After the nomination was made il
1870 he was applied to to allow the use of hi
name ~ An independent candidate. The pc
: tition bors the names of several thousand goo<
citizens who thought be did on the tarif
question. He replied that he would run If tn,
. Democrats made mo- nomination.. The Demo
Gratis met in convention and decided that the,
would make no nomination. and furthe
adopted resolutions declaring that the,
preferred Donnelly to AverilL He made tn
canvass and waa defeated by about l. 400 ma
} jority.
RxPUHIIcAxs ADOPT HIS PLATFORM.
, In 1871. the party Va still distracted. ant
DE-. Thomas Foster wanted to ha4munixe il
He visited him 1t his farm in Nininger ans
: asked him to come into the coovention and {,
write his own platform. giving him IN aasur
! ance that If be wuuld come - co1ld write hi
oun platform and The coavsatioa would adop
! Is without - much - doe1ing N or cru.ain,
, At He went into IL cuuvon1ina. wruee hi
. Il wn platform, ard Il ~ oAeQ1ed entire, ius
| . q ~ wti1esn. tfuo un1e ana II. ThS ~
~ 01I - ennn 49, 49, - Rnn~hls~>.