The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1895-03-06
kNUTE NELSON.
His Character and Career Discussed
by One Who Takes No Stock in
Him-A Red Hot EpistIe.

To the Editor.
Our opportunity for rejoicing has come,
and as an individual I mean to enjoy 1t.
During the last campaign Knute Nelson
was a mighty man with the Republicans,
now none SO poor as to do him reverence
They were the most vociferous when he
was most successful in his abuse of the
Peoples party, and if you will eliminate
from his speeches all allusion to the Peo-
pies party, the remainder cuts an insig-
nif1cant figure.
Knute Nelson is traitor. He is incapa-
BILE of being anything else He cares not a
straw for this country or any party unless
he sees personal benefit, self-aggrandize-
sent him to congress, because he thought
he rapid change in public sentiment
politically. He thought the Democrats
were speedily coming into power, and he
meant to be the winning side Hence
his traitorous treatment of the party that
honored him with seat in congress by
working and voting for the Mills bill. Had
he been an honorable man. had he cared
for anybody or anything but simply Knute
Nelson, if he could not serve the party that
had thus placed confidence in him, he would
have resigned and come home; but no, he
held the seat he had dishonored; but find
ing to his dsmay that the Democrats were
not likely to get there, he remained quiet
for a long time, taking no active part
either way till he was sure which way the
cat was going to jump, then he crawled
back and the Republicans received him
xr,s<1
calf in honor of the occasion. They made
him governor and again this fall by the
biggest majority ever given in this state
with the positive and uneuuiyocal under
standing that, if elected, he would serve
out ms term as governor. Thus Endorsed
by the people in the most emphatic man
ner he looked upon himself as the biggest.
most popular man in America, and thus in
Hated, he goes back on his solemn pledges
and announces himself as a candidate for
the United States senate, and is elected.
l deplore it in one sense as much as any
man can, and in another sense, as above
stated, | rejoice. The Republicans boosted
MN all through the campaign because his
abuse of our party surpassed that of any
other man; in fact, he did but little else
and his sophistry, base and unblushng
falSehOOdS and mendacious career during
that ever memorable campaign should have
taught the Republican party that Knute
Nelson was working solely for himself;
that nothing was dishonorable but de-
feat
l am not a Washburn man in particular.
but OF the two men give me Washburn by
a big majority. Mr.. Washburn is a true
American, devoted to the interests of this
state, and a successful business man, and
has played a conspicuous part in the rapid
development of the leading city of the
Northwest. What has Knute Nelson done?
Echo answers what?
Now, mark my prediction Knute Nelson
is safe for six years, and this will give him
ample time to look about and determine
where he will affiliate. Mark you, he cares
nothing for a party only as it will benefit
him. His entire political career proves this
beyond question. l am pleased that this
insignificant trickster has shown himself in
his true light to the party that coaxed him
back after he had basely betrayed them. |
have no use for this vile, corrupt party.
and l have infinitely less for the Demo-