The representative., 1894-08-22
PEEL.S THE HIDE OFF.
Gov. Nelson's Speech at Argyle Re-
v

Gov. Nelson's Speech at Argyle Re-
viewed.
To the Editor:
Republicans seem to be in great glee
over the speech of Gov Nelson at Argyle
July 2S, ultimo. They act as though the
governors effort something brilliant
bristling with argument unanswerab BILE,
etc, etc. We are sorry to see that our
Republican fellow citizens are so unin-
formed on the questions that the governor
discusses as to be unable to detect the
various fallacies and glaring effects of his
reasoning.
Gov. Nelson is eminent lawyer. His
ability to make case was never more
brilliantly shown than at Argyle. He skill
fully selects facts and circumstances that
may be construed favorably for his side
and adroitly avoids all reference to other
prominent facts that would be against it,
He states facts and figures in themselves
questionable, and then he proceeds to draw
conclusions that stems the ordinary mind
by the bold disregard of all rules of logic
indeed, this defect proves Gov. Nelson to
be very remarkable man. At times you
feel as though he honest in his con-
victions; then all at once he proceeds to
reason in such way, or make such extra
ordinary statements. or give vent to such
scornful contumely of his opponents, that
you begin to surmse that man of his
requirements must be putting on some of
these tactics for effect.
In his speech at Argyle Gov Nelson
starts out, lawyer-like. to poison the minds
of his hearers against his opponents He
begins by referring to the I-told-you-so
reformers, who have an easy, fppant
and demagogic way of accounting for our
troubles, ETC. Now who are these flip
pant and demagogic reformers? The Pop
ulists, of course Did the governor prove
or attempt to prove, that the Populists re-
formers fippant and demagogic? Oh
no; that wasn't his plan. He knew he
couldn't do that. But he could refer to
them in scornful and disdainfu way as
sumo that he was very wise and knowing
and that those who happened to differ with
his honor were very ignorant. selfish and
foolish. And that was what he did. Now,
who are the Popuists of Minnesota? Look
at the nine hundred representatives of
Popuism at their state convention last
July. What set of men were they? 1t
must be confessed that the millionaire
nate or lumber baron was not
there, also that the silk-stocking gentry
of Twin-City snobdom We're absent. Like
wise were the gambler the saloonkeeper
and the ward heeler conspicuous by his
absence. None of these classes are Popu-
lists. No, no, none of these are among
1.-The flppant and demagagic reformers"
Nor were the bankers there. Oh, yes 1
believe there was one who tried to get an
office, and got left. The above classes are,
rule, satisfied like the governor with
conditions as they are. These classes do
not disturb the serenity of the mind of
the governor Hunger and starvation are
unknown to these classes. What other
classes of people have we in Minnesota?
let us see. We have some that till the
soil, raise wheat, horses, cattle and hogs
farmers, l believe, they are called. Hay
Seeds, ''clod-hoppers,'' the governor
would probably call them. 1t must be
confessed that there were a good number
of them at the Populist state convention.
There was delegation of seventeen from
this county-Kandiyo and fourteen out
of the seventeen were farmers. And these
fourteen farmers-I speak now of what 1
know-were not follicle farmers nor dis
gruntled Of1ce-seekers, but actual farmers
of the most prosperous and progressive
in the county; men VINO farm with their
brain as well their muscles. And, from
what 1 could judge, the bulk of the con-
vention was made up of this very class
Then there were at the convention small
sprinkling of professional men.
doctors and lawyers, men whom crcun--
stances had brought in intimate relation to
the farmers and laborers, and whose SYM
pathy had been enlisted for the cause of
their clients, if for no other reason. There
were also a few business men of the small
Ter class. But the other great class repre-
sented were then laborers of our Cities the
men who operate our railroads and work
in our factories, mill and mines. Last
but not least in power and influence, if
few comparatively in number, were the ed
itors of the reform press. Now what have
we here represented? The great middle
class of society. The producers Of the
state. The brain and Drawn of the state
if you please. The very class that has al
ways been considered the great buwark
of every government that ever existed
The class that furnish the armies in case
of The class from which is recruited
the great men of every age or country
The class that owns their own homes or
at least make it their highest ambition to
do so. Now this is the class that Gov.
Nelson calls "fippant and demagogic re-
formers" l submit to any fairminded
man whether the governor has not gone
somewhat out of his way in thus referring
to the producers of the state. Grant that
the farmers and laborers of Minnesota diff
fer with the governor economic ques-
tions. Is that good ground that their
governor should heap abuse upon them and
treat their opinions with scurrilous disre-
spect? Grant that the Populists are wrong
and the governor is right What then?
Let him convince them by argument that