The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1894-10-17
GRAND PEOPLES RALLY
owen and Meishen at LanesbOro an
Spring Valley.


Last Thursday was a day of great OPP
portunities for those residing in and around
Lanesboro and Spring Valley. Escorted by
our next congressman, Thos. ]. Meghen,
Hon. Sydney NJ. Owen favored each of
these communities with a magnificent DO
ltical lecture. The Lanesboro meeting
was by necessity held at 2 p. M, making it
quite inconvenient for many business men
10 attend Despite all hindrance CALI
gan's Hall was we'll filled with earnest
Intelligent people eager to hear the man
whom the laboring men of Minneapolis
style lone of Gods nobemen,' and whom
the constituencies corporation newspapers
Vlllianously aSsail.
HON. ). L. Sprague, of Prosper was made
chairman. He said the circumstances re-
minded him of the early days of the Re-
publican party. He then announced Mr.
Meighen as the first speaker, who respond-
ed as follows:
Ladies and Gentlemen-I naturally feel
somewhat out of place in my present posi-
tlon Public speaking, as some of you are
aware, is not my practice. 1t is quite
foreign to my accustomed life. l have al
ways been a very busy person and have
had no time to make long speeches, still
l have given public questions considerable
attention, particularly in a business way
and have assisted this reform movement
from its inception. l was rocked in Re-
puoncan cradle. and cast my first vote for
the republican party though confess not
wholly satisfied at the time. | had read
political history to some extent and it
seemed to me that the party was drifting
away from its moorings; that it even then
mad forsaken the principles advocated by
Lincoln, Sumner, Chase and other illus
trlous founders of the party. This caused
stlll further investigation and research for
something more satisfactory. Turning my
attention to the Democratic party l could
see not hope there, and yet the founders
OF the two old parties believed very much
alike. THOMAS jefferson, the greatest DEM
ocrat this country ever knew, advocated
nearly the same political doctrine as did
Abraham Lincoln I think most people be-
Heved in the politics of both these men
ana, IN looking for party which cham
plons our faith. l think that in the Peoples
party we have found the solution Some
times people complain that the Populsts
nave changed, but l think this is an error
The members of our party stand about
where the Republican party stood in the
days of Lincoln. We believe that the
managers of the old parties have left the
good old ways and are travelling on new
routes and that, by force of party ties
they have carried the people with them re-
gardless Of the final result. This has been
done very nicely of course and the people
U
that has been played upon them They
have been too busy making living to
give the subject proper investigation. 1t is
too bad that it requires so much time to
make living, such one as every pro-
gressive American citizen is entitled to-
In the struggle for bread they have been
side tracked politically, and are hurra ming
for a few shrewd men rather than for
the patriotic principles which gave the par
ties birth.
AT the present time there is really no
difference in the interests of the people
1t does not matter whether they are farm
ing, selling merchandise, loaning money or
working for wages. Experience has taught
me that their interests are Identical. l
think any person, by studying these ques-
tinos carefully, must arrive at the same
conclusion. Politics present a great many
phases but am forced to believe that the
one great overtOwering question of TODAY
of the past and l may say of all the flu
ture, is the question of money. The coun-
try has always been divided more or less
on the subject OF the tariff and l admit
it is somewhat of question, but 1 be-
lieve its Importance has been greatly over
estimated Speakers and the press have
given too much attention to this one theme
to the neglect of Others 1 submit that
while the tariff of the absense of it may af-
feet slightly the price of an article yet,
if a hasn't the dollar in his pocket
requisite for the purchase, it doesn't con-
Germ him very much. 1 used to believe in
protection, and do yet where there is hon.
est home competition. But what is the sit
uation today? There is scarcely a line of
manufactured goods that isn't controlled
by trusts? Then where is the competition ?
You see there Is none, and of course the
tariff COS into the pockets of the combines
1t has been argued in the past that tariffs
were intended to benefit the laborers, but
in practice the laborers know that, while
tariffs as rule have been going higher
their wages have been going lower. That s
why have lost faith in them.
Now I know you are all anxious to hear
the next governor of Minnesota. 1 hope
you will hear him fairly and candidly; will
lay aside all prejudice that may exist by
reason of the filings thrown at us by the
daily papers Remember that principles
cannot be brushed aside by filings and hard
names; and when you have heard him, if
you feel that there is reason for this
party; that your interests will be best sub
served by it, then implore you to vote for
your interests. That is what the monied
classes have always done, and it has been
a great puzzle to me how the farmers and
legitimate business could vote with
them We have no fight against men. 1t is
not individuals but vicious systems we at
tack, and, in my opinion, If those whose
interests are identical with mine will stand
together the whole Populist ticket, from
top to bottom, will be elected on the 9Th of
November.
This unique and forceful address COM
manded rapt attention and ELECTED frequent
spontaneous out-bursts Of applause.
POPULIST,
LanesbarO, Oct. 5.