St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1890-09-10
Judge Wilson's Response for His
Nomination..

Judge Wilson's Response for His
Nomination.
The sight of Judge Wilson, walking
toward the platform arm in arm with DR..
Ames, was the signal for another enthusiasts
tic demonstration. The cheering was con-
tinued until the two gentlemen had as
cended the platform, and DR.. Ames faced the
delegates ready to speak. He said:
II have great pleasure. on behalf of the
Hennepin NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. delegates
representing the biggest Democratic vote of
any county-to present to you Hon. Thomas
wilson,
Another outburst of applause, and Judge
Wilson stood before the delegates who had
done him the proud honor of selecting him
as the standard bearer of the Democratic
hosts. He responded as follows:
l have just been informed that have been
nominated as your candidate for governor.
l most heartily thank you for this high
honor. No greater honor, in my Judgment,
could be conferred npon any citizen than to
be esteemed py such convention worthy OF
being governor OF this state.
Judge Wilson was interrupted with ap-
plause, and he then tackled the issues upon
which he proposes to fight the campaign:
I'VE are met today under circumstances
that show somewhat widespread unrest
and political dissatisfaction. especially on
the paIt of the wage-earners and agricultural
classes of our people. These classes and
other classes feel that there are wrongs
which should be righted, and they have set
about righting them; and am glad this feel
ing is abroad. There is nothing that repuD-
lie has so much to fear as apathy and indif-
ference. One of the most philosophical
students of our institutions, and one of
the most acute critics of those institutions,
once said that we had nothing to fear from
anarchy or depotism; but from Indifference
and apathy, that might lead to either anarchy
or depotiSm, we had much to fear. And
still later than De Tocqueyille we find Her
bert Spencer speaking OF our institutions.
saying that the great danger to the cause OF
liberty was that the individual citizen, edu-
cate him as you may, would think it was not
profitable or it was not popular or would not
pay for him to protest against any wrong or
oppression or incipient corruption. and for
tina: rsaSon above all others he feared for the
cause of free institutions"
Judge Wilson regretted this general apathy
on the part of citizens. and in referring to
the indications now forthcoming OF an up
rising among the people, he said:
Il am glad to see these protests They are
healthy, and if political campaign calls the
attention of the people to unequal laws to
immoral and deteriorating, practices, that,
TOO, will be wholesome and healthy. L hope
that the campaign OH which we are about to
enter will be just such an one"
The Judge said even if their candidates
were not elected, good work would be done
in this way. The people would have had
their attention drawn where their ground of
complaint lay, and by what constitutional
means those complaints could be redressed.
This was the first duty OF the citizen. The
speaker continued:
What are the issues of this campaign? The
federal government, for the purpose OF en-
uching certain manufacturers has kept up
taxes levied solely because they were neces-
/ sary for the purpose of the hour, especiallyat
the expense of the Western people,
until even the most unobservant and
most obtuse have begun to cry out against
the injustice irrespective of party. These
tayac-thpca pYpaSSiVl taXpS-iaVipd for q
few favored classes, have built up fortunes
that are neither becoming nor healthy in a
republic. Permit me to quole from speech
made IN 1882 by the editor and owner OF the
Chicago Tribune, Mr. Medill, one of the
ablest Republican papers in the United
States, before the National Agricultural so,
cety. He there stated that he understated
the truth when he said that the farmers
of the West and the planters of the South
paid $500, OOu, 900 per annum TO the pro-
tected manufacturers of the East more than
was fair or necessary on the principle OF live
and let live''
Judge Wilson touched on the Mckinley
bill. The manufacturers of the East had
fast grip and perfect control OF the national
Republican party. Their members might pc
permitted to protect, but when they came to
pinch the manufacturers the money power
| of the East had firm grip, and they said
! that the laws which guarantee their pc
| cuniary interests should not be changed.
| Proceeding:
This is one of the issues of this campaign,
| and the people, If they have the spirit of
manhood, will never sit down until they see
| it corrected"
The speaker referred to- as another issue of
the campaign, the princely fortunes which
were being built up by people by taxing the
| people. These fortunes were going ahead OF
those in European and mOnarchlal countries.
| He added:
There are certain classes in our state and
| other states of the Union, who have con-
| tinued so that large proportion of the taxes
! fol hp aJ1d middle classes do
| not hesitate to say, after most thorough III
| vestigation, that millions of dollars would
| not make up the amount that the people of
| this state have thus been defrauded OF by the
| wealth of the state, and wealthy men owing
| property in the state. This is one of the
wrongs that must be righted., do not know
| what platform you have made, but L know
| one Of the missions of the Democratic party
| is to see that the wealth of this country pays
| at least its full proportion of the taxes"
| Another issue mentioned by Mr. Wilson
! was the corruption of electors and officers
| The people were being robbed of their rights
as rreemen because the money-bagss were
being permitted to rule. He continued
ST some man or party does not rise up,
| what will be the endot free government ana
| what will be the rights of the citizens that
| have not banking account? l am not say
| ing anything against wealth or wealthy men.
| For my part / admire the man that honestly.
wealth. He is a public benetactor. He is a
man to be applauded, if he does not use his
wealth as miser, but as an honorable, good,
| liberal citizen
| Mr.. Wilson next had Sometnlng 10 say
| about railroads:
| II am not here to say a word against rail-
| roads or corporations. Now, that may seem
strange in nominating convention: but
look upon corporations whose powers are not
| exercised to the detriment of the people, as a
| necessary part of our modern, civilization.
Without them our railroads and other great
| public improvements would not be possible
Iln ICr nf IN
| efactor, who builds a railroad and honestly
| operates 1t in such manner as to give him
| reasonable and just return for the money in
| vested and so as 10 advance the interest and
prosperity of the state These corporations,
| and all corporations created by the state.
should therefore be treated with absolute
| jusuce. But have long believed that we
! have too frequently and for unnecessary pur-
| poses created corporations, and that we have
| entirely failed to impose proper limitations
| on their powers and functions. And, mas
| much as by their great wealth and power the
| private citizen could not single handed cope
| with them. it would be a disgrace to us and
to our age to fail to surround them with such
| checks, and to subject them to such penalties
for misfeasance or malfeasance as would
| certainly bring them into subordinat1on to
the public and make it impossible for them
| with impunity to trespass on the rights of the
most obscure citizen. While we concede
| Justice 10 them, we should demand from
them absolute justice and fair dealing with
| every one. They are the great civlizeing
agency, and, worked as have said, they are
| benefactors and not malfactors, and it is
mere demagogism to denounce them.p I
Judge Wilson concluded his address by
urging that incipient corruption should be
made odious from the start, and enlarged
upon the grand Democratic idea of passing
laws and conducting the affairs of the gov
eminent so as to protect the weak against
the strong and the poor against the rich.
A recess was at once taken until O'Clock,
it being then o'clock.
COMPLETING THE TICKET.