The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1894-09-27
WORDS FROM ALLISON
OPENING CAMPAIGN SPEECH OF
THE IOWA SENATOR.

NAc SHOWS III NNc NlOAl CDMCAUSlVe
Manner How Republican, Princi-
pies Lead to Phenomenal Growth
and Democratic Asccndency Re-
suited In Disasters.
Following is the full text OF Senator
Allison's speech at Ottumwa, Iowa, satur-
day night, after he had been introduced
to the large audience as ''the next presi-
dent:'
The Republican party came into power in
1861, and from that time until March 4.
1893, practically controlled the legislation
Of our country and has been, with the
exception of the brief period Of President
Johnson and the four-year term of Presi-
dent Cleveland responsible for the admins
tr1tion of the government. For consider
able portion of this time-namely: from
1875 to 1881 and from 1888 to 1885, and
again from 1891 to 1893, the Democratic
party had a majority in the house of repre-
sentatives. During all this time the senate
was Republican, except from 1879 to 1881,
when 1t was a tie and no vice president.
During these periods it was impossible for
the Democratic house to change existing
laws without the consent Of the Republi-
can senate.
These thirty-two years of. our history have
been years Of unexampled growth and
progress The first four, under President
Lincoln, were years of trial, of peril, and
of sacrifice. The greatest rebellion civilza-
ton had ever seen was Overthrown. The
blighting and desoating curse Of slavery
was destroyed Our country was reunited
on the principles Of liberty.
10 re-estabish the Union required great
waste of treasure and sacrifice of the best
young blood Of our land, bringing suffering
TO every household and desolation to many
homes, but triumph came through it all.
With all this sacrifice our country de-
veloped like q giant. The census Of 1860
disclosed an aggregate wealth, including
slaves, of $4,000, O0O,O 900; that of 1870, with
the wars dcsolation Of four years, and
excluding slaves as property, disclosed an
aggregate wealth of $4,000, 100000; that
of 1880 nearly $44, 600, OOO, 900, and that of
1890 $50, 600, 100000 The development from
1880 to 1890 was marvellous, the increase
in ten years being one-third more than all
the wealth Of the United States thirty
years before. The wealth per capita more
than doubled In thirty years. and the in
crease from 1880 to 1890 was $3.50 per
capita, or about 40 per cent, whilst the popu-
lation in the same period increased 25 per
cent
Increase of Wealth From Agricul-
ture.
The greatest increase of wealth in the
aggregate and in percentage is found in
the states where agriculture is the largest
$3.50, 900, OF from $1.059 per capita to
1,195 per capita, or $3.50 per cent, and
the population increased 17.6S per cent
The wealth Of Massachusetts in these ten
years increased $1sO,000000, 7 per cent,
while its population increased 1851 per
cent. and its per capita wealth was reduced
from 81 Al in 1880 to 81 ,252 in 1890, whilst
the total wealth in New England was in
creased only 500 per capita. and though
much complaint is male Of the unequal
distribution of wealth, that charge cannot
be brought against Iowa; here neither
riches nor poverty prevail; we have no
very rich and relatively but few very poor.
The average wealth per capita in New
England for 1890 is $1,232 per capita, in
Iowa 1196, or $3.50 less than New England,
and doubtless more equally distributed and
our Increase in ten years is relatively much
greater. These facts, drawn from the cen
sus, show that the manufacturing states
are not robbing Iowa Of her just increase
nor are they increasing in prosperity and
wealth as rapidly as we are relatively in
Iowa. This is true except that the two
great states of New York and Pennsylvania
New York having the two greatest cities,
New York and Brooklyn, and Pennsylvania
the two great cities Of Philadelphia and
Pitlsburg), have increased more rapidly than
the rest having in their great cities the
Accommodations of century of growth. Nor
has this progress and development been
confined to any one section Of our country,
as shown in the last census, but has diffused
itself throughout every part of our country,
stretching into the new South, desolated
and Impoverished by the war and retarded
for many years by the discomfort of it's
people, and by the natural proccssr! in
volved in the sudden change from slave
labor to- free. Agriculture has shared this
prosperity. During these last ten years
there has been an increase in the value
OF farm lands to the extent of 1923 per
cent and still larger increase in the value
of farm lands in Iowa. showing our pros
perity in that regard to be greater than
the states around us. The value Of farm
supplements has Increased nearly % per
cent and when we take into account that
the price of farm implements has decreased
one-half, it shows the enormous increase
of the number of implements and utility
of farm machinery as compared with 1880.
Growth Due to the Tariff Policy.
growth is due to the tariff and other poll
cies of the Republican party, but be-
lieve it is largely due to them.
Our commerce. our manufactures and our
agriculture have grown side by side. OF
these latter products 90 per cent have found
from y
1880 to- So, OOO, 100000 in 1880. Our internal
commerce has grown almost beyond compu-
age, carrying by rail eight times as many
ing 64O.OOO,OOO tons OF freight In 1890. Our
external commerce has increased year by
year. reaching It's maximum Of 50 900, OOO,-
GOO in 1892, under the Mckinley law.
Our labOrers have received better wages
by 'one- half than have any laborers on the
face of the globe, and twice as much as
most OF them in Europe. These wages
stea4.-y advanced, whether measured In
money or purchasing power Of the comfort
OF life, until and during 1891 ana 1892 all
were employed at these wages who desired
employment Farmers received between
1880 and 1882 fair prices for their crops,
with the exception Of 1888 and 1880, when
Il corn and wheat were low.
A careful estimate of the total value of
the wheat, corn, oats and barley crop of
1891 was 81, Col 900 900; meat products APP
ately 5000 a 09o 90 9oo cotton, 500,
100000. and so on. All this was natural
prosperity growing out Of our public policy
aud from the fact that this 62,OOO,OOO Of
people. or that portion Of them capable
Of doing work, estimated at $4,000, O0O
producing things that found a ready and
remunerative market. as in proportion to
work and wages, is the consuming power of
the people. Thus the farmer in his field,
the mechanic in his shop, the toilers. in the
factory, the merchant in his store, the men
engaged in transportation the domestic.