The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1886-10-22
FIX gov. DAVIS SPEAKS.

Ex-Gov. G.. X. Davis addressed large
audience at the Opera House Tuesday
evening upon political questions, and
those who heard him were thoroughly
impressed with his remarks.
The speaker was introduced by Hon.
Ira p. Shissler, President of the McGill
club, in a brief but elegant manner and
his remarks were Justify cheered.
Mr.. Davis began by saying that the
last time he had the pleasure of appear
ing before the people of Mankato was
several years ago, when he addressed
the graduating class of the State Normal
school. At that time he endeavOred TO
impari some advice to the young peo-
Pile who were about to launch out into
the business world, and his mission here
at this time was to endeavor to discuss
i'm plain and convincing manner the
duty of the people i'm the pending cam
paign. He said that the opposition were
trying to delude Republican voters from
their party fealty by preaching that
there is now no difference i'm parties, in
asmuch as the old war issues do not
figure SO conspiciously rs formerly. But
i'm most comprehensive and effective
way Mr.. Davis showed his auditors that
there is quite as much difference be-
tween the two great parties of to-day as
ever. He illustrated the deplOrable
condition Irn MI 80 IL
upon her people by the English govern
ment i'm refusing self-gOvernment, and
self government cannot be attained and
maintained except through political par
ties. In the battle we are now fighting
the Governor exhOrted Republicans To
stand true and unwavering, because it is
the prelude to the great struggle To
come i'm 'SS. BY the most accidental
accident the Democracy had gained
ascendency, and through this mlshap
we have no standing aboad. Had Mr.
Blaine been elected the American peo-
pie would not to-day be standing as
apOlogsts for the miserably weak foreign
policy practiced by this accidental adj
minlstratiOn. ..
The labor question, said Mr. Davis, is
the great practical problem of the hour.
The only means of protection and cle-
walton of this class is through political
parties. Aflilliation with one or the
other political parties must be accepted
by the laboring men. The speaker here
went on To show what grand emancipa-
ton the Republican party had wrought
for free labor, and showed what n
impetus it had gwen To the
growth and development of the country.
He cOntrasted the wide difference be-
tween the Republican and Democratic
platforms as adopted by the respective |
parties i'm their State conventions. The
Republicans present to the voters of the
State the most complete platform ever
penned, and especially does it commend
itself to the farmers and labOring men.
He spoke briefly OH the tariffquestion
and showed the farmer how beneficial is
The tariff of 20 per cent on Manitoba
wheat to his interests. lie also showed
That in 1871 when England had the mon
DpOly on steel rails, we were obliged to
pay 800 per ton, while in 1885, by pro-
,ecting this industry i'm America, this
'ame rail had been reduced i'm price To
S29 per ton.
No farmer wants the tariff on wheat or
barley repealed, neither does he want
he import tax on Oleomargarine abOl-
shed. Our dairy products have grown
o such an amasing extent as to be al
most dumfounding. Our annual pro-
lucts from this industry amounted last
ear to $l4 600 600, or fully two-thrds of
he value of our wheat export. An in u