The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1890-10-24
KNurE NELSON ALL RIGHT.

|
Hon. Knute Nelson, the "Little Nor
wegian," as he is Familiarity known, has
knocked the last prop out from under
the Alliance Democratic combination by
announcing in a speech at Glenwood,
Thurday evening, that he was still Re-
publican, and should stand by the old
party. The opposition to the Republic
cans in this campaign has made boastful
claims That the Scandinavians were
tumbling over each other to get out OF
the party to which they have always
been loyal. While few Of this nation
ality may lie slightly dissatisfied, they
are not, as the Democrats claim, "going
over like sheep" They are not "sheep,"
neither are they "cattle." They are as
intelligent and thrifty as any class of
Americans, and as capable of judging
which party has stood as the defender
of liberty and the friend of the poor.
Mr.. Nelson, we believe, echoes the
sentiment of his countrymen when he
says-"I am as good Republican as
ever and loyal to the Republican party"
To the farmers he says:
81 know howyou feel, but 1 am convinced that
the best place in which to accomplish these re-
! forms is in the ranks of the Republican party
| While there are reforms still to be made, the
channel through which to make them is the Re-
| publican party. Isympathize with the Farm
ers' Alliance am a farmer myself as well as a
| lawyer-but in my opinion the reforms demand
| ed in your platform have been anticipated and
met by the Republican party in legislation, and
while there remains room forimprovement am
convinced that we can accomplish more in the
direction of these needed reforms by remaining
with that party than by acting as independ-
ent party or uniting with the Democratic party,
from which we can expect no aid"
These words, coming from a man
whom the Democrats have time and
again held up as the personifcation of
political purity and integrity, will, as
they should, carry great weight. Mr..
Nelson knoacs what the Republican party
is and what it has done. He judges from
it's past what it will do in the future.
And he is right.
Speaking of Governor Merriam, Mr..
Nelson pays him the following high
compliment. which is truly an express
sion of confidence we'll merited by the
recipient. He says:
| Gin regard to Gov. Merriam l wish to say that
l believe him to be honest and fearless in the dis
charge of his duty. know this to be the case
| in the matter of his appointments, which are not
| the least important of the multifarious duties
| which the executive officer is required to make
I am convinced that he has intended always to
appoint the best men for the office, taking into
consideration their qualifications and general
fitness for the Office regardless of political inf1u
ence. What he has just said in regard to the
legislation in this state is all true In relation
to House File 1877, about which so much has
| been said of late, Gov. Merriam, as speaker of
the House. was compelled to sign it after it had
passed both branches of the legislature. 1t was
a bad bill and ought to have been vetoed, as it
relieved from taxation certain lands of a rail
road corporation that were not entitled to ex-
emption, but l believe that if he had been gov
ernor at that time instead of speaker of the
| House he would have had the nerve to veto the
bill as ought to have been done. do now say,
so far as the administration of Mr. Merriam is
concerned, that it has been thoroughly honest,
fearless and just, having due regard for the in
terests of all classes and 1, as citizen in the
ranks, propose to support Gov. Merriam for
reelection freely and heartily, believe that he
is entitled to my support and the support of all
| Republicans and the common sense masses of
the people, and call upon you, my old and
trusted friends and neighbors, you Republican
friends, to come with me to his support
Mr.. Nelson has most effectually put a
uuietus on the democratic claim that he
was practical free trader by his manly
defense and championship of Congress-
man Comstock. On this candidate the
Little Norwegian" rises to remark:
"And now wish to say word in behalf OF
nv old friend, Mr. Comstock Upon retiring
from congress, the highest pleasure 1 ever ex-
perienced in my life was that afforded me in in
Producing there to my associates my friend and
successor, Hon. S. G. Comstock. He has ever
been a friend to me. Wewere pioneers together
he coming with shovel on his shoulder to
Moorhead, and l locating III a claim shanty at
Alexandria the same year. During the famous
Nelson Kindred campaign he was loyal and
true to me- and at the memorable Detroit con
vention he withstood slungshot, billies and re
volvers in defense of the Little Norwegian
He has served you faithfully and we'll He is g
man, to use a Southern phrase, who always
"totes fair" and my friends in Pope county can
not pay me higher compliment than by giving
him their hearty support
A FEW FACTS FOR FARMERS.
IL 4