The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1890-11-14
NUMBER p
A FIGHT ON PRINCIPLE.

The Republicans of the Second Con-
gressional district are TO be congratulate
ed upon the magnificent victory won
upon the principles of Republicanism
1t was thesfrEt district IN Minnesota TO
hold convention, name its candidate
for congress and promulgate the party
platform upon which to make the can
vass. 1t was the only district IN the
state to come squRrely out and stand IN
waveringiy for the principles of protec-
ton as pledged by the Republican Ma
tional convention IN 1888. There was
no middle ground considered. There
were no apologies offered or evaslons
permitted to creep into the platform for
the purpose of catching votes or to con-
ceal the true merits of the Republican
policy. Upon this platform Congress
Lind was nominated TO stand OF tall &C
cording to the decision Of the voters OF.
the district. The policy of the bold and
outspoken position taken by the con-
vention was criticised by few so-called
Republican papers, and dire disaster to
the party was predicted. The Repubh-
can state convention, less consistent ano
with q cowardire unworthy Republican
leaders, framed an evasive platform
quite IN contrast with that which the
1 National convention had issued, entire
| ly at variance with the acts of Repub-
iican congress, apologize IN tone and
meaningless III substance, went before
the people of the state to beg for votes
under false pretenses, and nothing
less. The writer hereof was g member
of the State Convention committee del
egated to prepare q platform upon
which to 90 before the people in the
campaign, and he insisted and labored
hard to convince the majority of the
committee that the campaign must and
would be waged on National issues and
for this, if for no other reason, the par
ty should take positive and unequivoeal
grounds upon the issues at stake. Mr..
! Tawney of Winona, r. q. Dunn of
Princeton and one or two others of the
committee took the same view and urg
ed the matter with all the vigor at their
command. But to no avail The result
is apparent. Mr.. Tawney is elected
State Senator in an overwhelming Dem
ocratic county, and Bob Dunn pulled
through in his district as a member %
the legislature. Both these gentlemen
are made of the manly stuff which the
American people admire, force of con-
viction, and they won upon 1t. Cast
about and see how the field looks to-
day. 1t is strewn with the carcasses of
defeated Republican candidates, and
no single cause for the disastrous re-
suits is more at fault than the hating,
uncertain and unwise departure of Re-
publican conventions from true Repub-
licanism The First, Third, Fourth and
Fifth districts were too cowardly TO
stand up before the people and defend
their principles. They truekled TO the
prejudices of the uninformed and apol-
ogized for the acts OF their members.
/ Instead of facing the issues Dravely and
honestly, they whined and begged for
giveness for having done their duty to-
ward American interests and IN behalf
of American citizenship. Their punish
ment is severe, and to q great degree
administered by the rod of inconsIste1-
cy and cowardice In not speaking their
convictions and standing by their prin-
ciples In contrast to the deplorable
results in the districts named, and as
evidence of what true campaign meth
DDS will do, look al the Second district.
Here, where the fight was made direct
and decisive, glorious victory is as
sured. Mr.. Lind is the only member
from Minnesota who will be returned to
Congress He represents the only dis
trict ID Minnesota, be 1t said to the
shame Of the others, that had the sand
to face the issue and defy the storm Of
opposition He lives ID the only dis
trict IN Minnesota that gives Repubh
can plurality, and he can truly say that
his home is In the district that saved the
Republican State ticket from an inglori
GUS defeat.
The Second district viii show plural
ity for Governor Merriam of over J, 800.
Here, then, is conclusive evidence
that it is always better TO face your enc
nv with clean ammunition than Ii is to
try and drive him back by throwing
chaf in his eyes. Perhaps the Repub-
licans of Minnesota can draw valuable
lesson for future rehearsal by reading
the Second district returns. The ele-
ments were as strongly against us as
they were against others In the State, but
the fight for principle won where a
wavering policy lost.