The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1882-06-23

Wakefield was intsOduced by NJ
Freeman in a few welrchosen .koruo,
whereupon our next Congressman
addressed the convention with
much feeling, as follows:
Mr.. Chairman and Gentlemen of the Con-
vention:-TO say thank YOU Is tn say but
little. ANY formal phrase or speech in
acknowledgment of the great honor you have
done me to-day, would reflect my emotion
very feebly and imperfectly.
To be selected under any circumstances AZ
the leader of 80 large II fraction of that great
Republican host that has dominated the state
and country for more than twenty years, is
an honor that might well satisfy the political
aspirations OF one more ambitious than am;
but to be chosen under the peculiarly graft.
flying circumstances that have characterized
the proceedings of this convention; IL he pre-
ferred by so large and intelligent body of
representative Republicans to the able and
well equipped gentlemen whose names have
been mentioned and had prominence in con-
| nection with this nominations; To he assured.
| as am assured by your action here, that the
people OF this great, new Second District OF
Minnesota desire me TO bear to Washington
| the first expression OF their wants ana claims
while IL fills mo with what hope Is u pardon
able pride, yet embarrasses me not little
| foreshadows. realize that the position for
which you have named me will, in some re-
| spects, be an anomalous and tying one
II, AS have no reason to doubt, 1t shall ap-
| pear that you have to-day reelected correctly
| the views of the people whose delegates You
| are, ! shall represent portions of two dis
| trcts with large and intelligent constituent
| cy, one portion having been for many years
accustomed to the able exposition of Repub-
| lican principles for which the present menu
| Der Is noted, while the ether has been eXcep-
tionally favored with representative and
| leader whose words have been deeds, and
whose earnest, jealous practical efforts I'm
| behalf of his constituency have received
emphatic endorsement and approval by re
peated reelection at the hands of the people
| he has served. l shall need, therefore, gen
| tlemcn, at the outset, and shall confidently
expect ut your hands the exercise of your
fOrDearance and charity, in their broadest
and fullest sense, and generous waiting for
the development OF my opportunities for eff
hcent service.
Representing as shall district of such
great extent of territory, including In its
boundaries twenty of the finest agricultural
counties of the State, and embracing among
| its population representatives of nearly all
! the energetic natiOnalities of the globe, 1t
| can hardly be expected that shall harmon
| iZc and give form to all the theories that will
| lind lodgment in the minds of men SO diverse
in their natural instincts, their associations
and their education; shall endeavor, how
ever, tn keep fully abreast of the Republican
sentiment of my constituents and the coun-
| try. The resolutions you have been pleased
| to adopt are in accord with my judgment so
4
form platform broad enough and liberal
enough for any American citizen to stand
upon. They enunciate, ] think, the true
! theories and beliefs of Il large majority of
| our people. aud l shall gladly labor to give
them force and effect in legislation. j shall
hold myself in readiness both as a private
citizen and public servant, to do all IN my
power to ennOble and dignity labor, and to
| realize to every man, whether farme arti-
| san or professional man, the truth OF that all-
thoritative announcement that the laborer Is
worthy of his hire.
| shall aim to protect the hlIsbandman in
| the enjoyment of the full fruits of his indus
! try, and to protect him from the rapacity of
those who would earn their bread bv the
| sweat of his brow, whether they are en-
| trenched behind charters or fortified by
grants. will advocate and sustain such leg
islation as will enable the laboring masses OF
the country to procure the needs OF life free
| from oppressive tariffs and discriminating
duties. l will especially favor the elimina-
ton from our national statutes of those bur-
dfnsome restrictions upon intellectual pro-
gress which an unwarrantablc duty upon
paper has imposed. Believing as do that
| the transportation question Is one of para
mount Importance to this district, l Will
heartily cooperate with those who seek such
Il solution of this difficult problem as will be
for the best interests of purely agricultural
constituency. While will not knowingly
lend myself to any action that will tend to
cripple Enthusiastically the resources or Impair
the efficiency of those great corporations to
whom we are I'm large measure compelled
to look FOR the transportation OF our products
to market, yet would give them to under
from the breath of II generous people, so
should they forget their obligations to their
benefactors that breath will DC withdrawn to
their utter discontinue. Your nomination
has come to me, gentlemen, with such ap-
parent unanimity of feeling and with such
hearty indications of your trust and conf
dence that should be either more or less than
human il did not greatly distrust my ability
to justify your Judgment. Or one thing,
however, | can assure you; If your action to-
day shall be supplemented by the endorse
ment of the people at the polls shall come
to the office you have so generously rendered
me unhampered by personal pledges and free
from the embarrassments of multiplied anu
conflicting promises.
Ishall enter upon the discharge of my duties |
as the exponent of no clique or ring or fac |
ton. shall be the representative of no indi- |
vidual or combination of individuals, under |
whatever guise they may assume To dictate |
or with whatever name they may be clothed. |
] shall be, To the extent of my power, the rep |
resentative Of the whole Second district, and |
purpose and such ability us God has given me |
withal to labor for the true interests OF my
entire constituency without regard to local
differences or personal antagonisms' Again,
Mr.. Chairman and gentlemen, thank you
for this great honor.
The candidate nominated by such
an overwhelming vote of the Repub.
leans of the Second District was
applauded at the close
Of his address, and the convention
adjourned after having been in ses-
sion for little more than one and "a
half hours-quick work and most
gratifying "walkaway for Wake |
ield."