St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1890-09-13
"The Tall Pine Enuneiates
Cleveland Principles in an
Alliance Meeting.
Opening Of the Campaign of
S. M. Owen in the City of
Minneapolis.
A Meeting Which Needed an
Advance Agent to Prop
erly Advertise 1t.
O. c. Merriman Appoints the
City Committee--Cloutier
Is Chairman.

The local campaign Of the Alliance party
was begun in Minneapolis last night in Har-
mona hall. The opening was chilly. 1t was
chilly night. The meeting had never been
advertised extensively, even for Bridge
square, where it was intended to be held, and
at the last moment it was decided to use
Harmonic hall, SO there were not over $50
persons to witness the birth of the campaign.
A. FL. Nelson was Just in the midst of
some predatory remarks. when comedian in
guise of a janitor subpenaed Mr. Nelson as a
stage hand. The latter worked for one con-
Secutlve minute, then went on a strike, true
to the principles of the professional working
man, and the comedian nearly set the build
ing on fire. Finally Hon. ". W. Erwin was
introduced as the greatest criminal lawyer
i'll the Northwest" and proceeded to make q
rousing Democratic speech, although at an
Alliance meeting. Mr.. Erwin denounced the
high tariff principles which have always
been fought by Democracy, and advocated
the straight Democratic platform of Grover
Cleveland, while his long. gaunt form swayed
IN the breeze of his fervid oratory.
Ladies and gentlemee." began the Tall
Pine Tree of the North, - in his high-keyed
voice, there are in This country two parties
-partlsans and freemen. All parties, in
their infancy, are honest. Look at the Re-
publican party. Once it was the party of
free soil and liberty. Now it is bound to the
political car of Jay Gould and the Wander
Oilts. where are LIle lIlDcOlnS. the summers,
the Stewards: They are represented to-day by
the Matt Quays the Dudleys and the Nc
klnleys-the ready instruments of rapidly
increasing piutocracy."
The speaker then devoted some minutes to
an exposition OF the meaning of liberty. fol-
lowing with a plea for the liberty of labor
for the throwing of safeguards around labor
and labering men. Next came the tracing
out of the DEVELOPMENT of the country since
the day of the stage coach and pack horse
comparative ANALYSIS of the industries of
this &C untry followed, by which the agri-
cultural interest was shown to be far and
away the most important in the nation the
speaker declaring that the high tariff policy
pursued by the government was conclusive
proof that the government has not been
conducted on the idea of The greatest good to
the greatest number. Heaps of statistics were
also adduced to prove that the farmer has
been for years the most overburdeued Great
ure in existence, his farm paying him but 5
per cent on capital invested, out of which 5
per cent all his expenses must be paid, the
result ever being the sale of his home under
the sheriff S hammer.
Mr. Erwin next dealt with the UBIQUITOUS
tariff y Stem, designed for protection to man
ufactures. This is the way, in fact, indus
tries were protected between 1860 and
capital invested as the manufacturers, real
lied but total profit of . per cent. The
manufacturer realized per cent on his cap
lteI. and in addition to that about $500 for
every. person in his employ stolen from
the farmer by the protective tariff and
consigned to the manufacturers pocket. Be-
tween 1870 and 1880 the manufacturing in
terests did not grow one iota, while the pop
ulation increased fully 20 per cent. The
speaker thought that Sh ould have proved to
congress that the protective system was not
fostering system, but a Tobbing system.
Mr. Erwin also had figures to prove that
from 1860 to 1880 three-fifths of the in
crease in the wealth of the country was alb
q r. at
pense of the bulk of the people.
Under this SYSTEM" said the speaker
there is 20 hope for agriculture: there is no
hope for the professional and trade classes
One would think that under this condition of
affairs. manufacturers would become more
numerous, and compete for the business of
the country. But no. The manufacturers
combine in gigantic trusts and stifie comment
tion.''
The speaker claimed 10 have discovered
that neither of the parties had ever tried to
abate these evils. He found that on every
hand the people had been thwarted by the
time Mr. Erwin had reached state issues, and
the Manitoba railroad came in for round
roast, that company having. he declared
watered its stock $50. 900. 600 worth.
This is shrewd tinancieriug on the part of
the men who own the Manitoba. said he,
but the political party in power in this state
must be held responsible for this financial
outrage. | have not time to say much of the
elevator foDDerS we can only learn from
this brief review that we cannot trust the old
parties. 1t c. X. Davis, the ablest, the most
courageous, the most kindly hearted North
western representative in congress, can
wiring from his party, with all his power, but
one little benefit. the exemption from duty of
the grasses from which binding twine is
made, what can you think of the party which
begrudges this one little boon?''
With a few laundering words in denuncia-
ton of such robbery. and i'll appeal for a
great economic party the siTall Pine Trpn';
sat down. A. H. Nelson then introduced
Candidate Owen, of the Alliance party, who
made few commonplace remarks while a
collection. to Pay for the rent of the hall
was being taken up. Erwins speech which
atOunds in statistics on economic ques lions,
will be printed for distribution