The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1884-10-03
BLAINEs TOUR.

As stated in the last FREE Press, Mr..
Blaine has made tour through the
Middle Atlantic states, on into the west,
and his presence has generated more
ecldt along the route than even his most
sanguine adherents protested to claim
for him. This expression has not come
from class of political cranks and pan
derers, but is common TO all classes.
The poor discard the distinction made
by circumstances between them and
their more affiuent neighbors, and join
the shout and clamor with as much
vim a. do the more prominent; and,
we dare say, their sincerity is born OF
Il richer source, since the heart subject
to Il life of industry and deprivation
knows none of the wiles and shoddi-
ness of flattery, but expresses itself i'll
all the richness of humble honesty.
The rich and popular classes lend their
animation in common with the labor
ing and agricultural ones, in the most
admirable spirit of common fellowship.
Thousands throng every station on the
railways over which he travels, to
show their attachment for the man.
The laboring men leave their shops,
sweating and besmeared from toll, to
grasp his hand; as was done on Satur-
day ut place in Ohio, where hundreds
of workmen swarmed from an iron
foundery as the train stopped, and had
the pleasure of hand shake with the
Plumed Knight. There is something
in this clamor of tho common classes,
more convincing of the mans standing
than any other evidence yet brought
to light. The demonstration instituted
by the power of wealth, and embellish-
ed with it's splendor, dazzles and awes;
the eloquence of an orator carries the
mind into state of unexplainable Sc
robustness; the much read editorials of
newspapers, both pro, and con, leave
the mind pretty well balanced and
somehat disgusted; but when the coun-
try's "stair and pride" (the common
industrial classes) espouse any cause,
there is an argument in the act so di-
rcctly significant, that the public mind
lays down all appearance of doubt and
uncertainty, and says, "it is WELL"
1t is fact, demonstrated time and
again in our country's history, that the
masses never arouse ut tritlcs, and I'M
less there be some general end to be
served, the manipulation of public af-
fair is left to tho few, the many being
mere lockers on, ready TO arise and
act when matters indicate such neces,
sitv. If Mr.. Blaine were u common
place man, or headed party unworthy
the allegiance of intelligent people, il
may be set down as civil axiom, thai
he would not be rendered any more
than u common place reception wheI
he goes among the masses.
lie is not making "stumping' toul
ut all, although he is constrained to say
word at every point where he en-
counters crowd, but is merely pass
ing from place to place, meeting will
ovation after ovation. This being thu
case, 1t is self-evident that he is tn,
man the. people need, the man the.
want, and the man they will support.
1t is slightly amusing to read TIN
spurts of sarcasm thrown out by Dem
ocratic sheets, and their little boy al
tempts ut comparison with Barnum'
circus and other like nonsense. Thes
are simply employed to fill up the III
mense vacuum caused by II dearthnes
of something tangible and of weight t
write up. The truth is, that Democrat
ic ammunition is about exhausted, an
in these silly attempts to ridicule MI
Blaine and the reception he is receiN
ing they all but throw out the flag {
truce. This trip made by the Republ
can nominee is the most unklndes
cut of alp according to Democrat
philosophy, because it has dispelled tn
clouds from over what they hope
was mighty pitfall for the Re
publican ticket in November. 1t show
to the country that the sentiment rive
ed on the public mind in Maine an
Vermont in September, is more wide
spread than was believed by eitho
party, and which promises fair to b
sealed in Ohio and West Virginia o
the 18th inst. by Republican victor!
This is occasion for the Democrat
squealing. They see too plainly fo
comfort that the simple presence {
Mr.. Blaine has electrified the people
far and wide, wherever he has gone
and that their last lingering hope
about TO vanish.
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