The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1896-07-22
ENTHUSIASTIC
State Convention OF Minnesota Free
Silyerites 1t Harmonic Han.
ELOQUENT SPEECH BY +. N. NYE

the state was represented. Men were there
from all the walks Of life. The merchant
and the farmer, the mechanic and the conn.,
mon laborer were there side by side.
It was truly convention "for the peo-
pie. Of the people and by the
people" An uprising Of the
people who love their country better than
the money power and who will place the
flag Of America above the golden fort
resses Of Wall and Lombard streets They
were Of all political parties and beliefs but
united In common cause. Democrats
and Republicans, Populists and Prohibi-
tionists regardless Of past affiliations were
fearlessly declare their connection before
the world
The delegates were slow in arriving but
oy II O'CLOCK there was not q vacant chair
on the spacious floor Of the hall, and the
galleries were filled with interested specta-
light shed upon the question that Is sway
ing the great mass of the American peo-
pie and on which many are still In doubt
but will join the people against the mo-
nopolies and gold trust when the trumpet
sounds for. the charge in this campaign
Prominent among the early arrivals at
the convention were Congressman Towne
Of Duluth. Lieutenant Governor Frank
Day, of Paramount, and his brother Bert
Day. editor Of the Hutchinson Leader, A.
7. Hoard of Montevideo. Hoc. John Day
Smith, Hon. F. Morgan. s. B. Howard, E.
g. Corser Of Minneapolis, w. H. Mitchell
Roger 8. Munger, Of Duluth, ]. M. Haw-
thorn, John DAILY, Robert Johns, John L.
Tounley. Judge Carey, Of st. Paul; ex-
Governor Barto, Of st. Cloud, Senator
Reishus of Cottonwood and many other
prominent Republicans who have been
leaders in their party in the state for
many years.
While the convention was waiting for
the preliminary matters of the convention
to be arranged the delegates called for
Frank M. Nye, who was finally compelled
to take the platform and received an en-
thusiastic ovation. Mr.. Nye gave one of
the most eloquent addresses Of his bril-
deep feeling with which he dwelt upon
his separation from the party Of his youth
made his speech all the more effect,
Mr.. Nye took the convention by storm
with his eloquence and several times
was interrupted by tremendous cheering
which his remarks occasioned.
Mr.. Nye's speech was substantially as
follows:
"Mr. President and Gentlemen HUI
man society has its dangerous extremes
There Is an element that would destroy
and tear down-that would confiscate the
fruits Of patient industry and thrift and
reduce all wealth to the possession OF the
idle as we'll as the thrifty, the vicious as
we'll as the honest, the criminal as well
as the law-abiding.
There - another element powerful, un-
yielding, exacting and despotic. 1t sits
upon the throne OF the world and AFRO
gates to itself the right to rule by the
power. Of wealth. 1t is unfeeling and in
considerate Of the natural rights Of man
kind. It worships at the shrine OF gold
and it seeks to crush all beneath 1t, who
refuse to bow to its heartless, soul-less
and selfish God.
II see before me body Of conservative,
loyal men, who have ever helped to re-
strain lawlessness, to uphold law and or
der and to preserve the strength, the hon
or and dignity of the government and Of
all our cherished institutions. You belong
to that great body of men who are build
ers and not destroyers; you have stood
as barriers against every violent and VIC
ious element in our country, in political
and social life the defenders of that which
is best and noblest in our national char
acter.
To-day under the same proud banner
Of good and patriotic citizenship you
march face to face in determined battle
against that other extreme, that power of
combined, organized and legalized selfish
ness whose insolence and greed are as
great a menace to a free people as anarchy
itself. The same honest, fearless lava bid
ing citizens, you have chosen today that
path which leads midway between these
two extremes, the only path of safety, of
high and lasting national honor and pat
riotism. It is the path Of equity and
right Your lamp is conscience, your star
is faith and your goal Is absolute and
perfect justice to all men: justice which
not forget the poor and oppressed; justice
which pays every honest debt with hon
est money; but with money that shall be
as honest for the poor man as for the rich
man, for the debtor as for the creditor,
for the borrower as for the lender money
which shall with stability. fairness and
honesty measure labor and the products
Of labor with as perfect justice to the pro-
Queer as to the mere hoarder Of wealth.
II would stir no storm of passion or
hate would rather counsel moderation
and prudence, but I believe in that faith
which is born of conscience and conviction
and when conscience Is once satisfied, man
should be firm, determined, uncompromis-
ing and unyielding until he is shown that
he is in error.
'"They tell us all the country needs is to
restore confidence. I believe myself that
confidence is one of the chief corner-stones
of national prosperity. But confidence in
what? In gold alone? No In silver
alone? No. In reciprocity alone? No.
In tariff either for protection or revenue
alone? No. In reciprocity alone No.
Not in all of these combined half SO much
as confidence in the people, Confidence
in the hearts and consciences and souls Of
the great common, plain producing people
of this country. l am frank to admit
that the great lack OF confidence today is
not wholly due to bad legislation. It is
no doubt In part due to habits Of feverish
speculation, extravaganza and lack Of
business integrity too common in the day
and age in which we live What seems to
be a lack of confidence Is in fact an over
confidence Of mankind In the mere virtue
of money itself. We have gone to the
extreme of materialism and have esteem
ed wealth greater than the source Of
wealth. We have forgotten that the ele-
ment Of our true greatness is in the heart
the honest people Of America. We have
forgotten the Creator in our worship of
the creature.
''One drop Of Lincoln's blood is more
potent to the nations life than all Of Wall
Street. One breath Of his immortal spirit
is mightier than the whole Rothschilds
family. The wealth producers are greater
than the wealth accumulators. Wealth
producers as a rule are honest. Wealth ac-
cumulators may be honest and may not.
II mere gatherers Of wealth and not pro-
ducers they are more likely to be dishonest
than honest. The humblest newer OF wood
and drawer of water Is more sacred to
the nations life than millions of gold
and silver directed to the ends Of legal
lied plumber and wrong.
The sources OF wealth are more sacred
than wealth itself. Men are greater than
money. This is struggle between men
and money.
The confidence would see restored is