The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1896-11-11
LIMBS LOST CHANCE
A GREAT OPPORTUNITY THROWN
AWAY.
John Lind Has Made a Mistake That
Will End In Comparative Obscuri-
ty q Life of Great PrOmise-He
! Deserts the Principles of Which
He was Once the Ardent Champi-
ON and Becomes the Ally of Mis-
guided Fanatics.

MI Lima was recognized as the
most prominent Swedsh-American
politician in Minnesota. A man Of
much ability and of personal integrity,
he had more hCnors bestowed upon
him than any other of his nationality
in the Northwest. His people were
proud of him, and the Republican par
ty, always glad to show it's apprecia-
ton of the Steadfast loyalty of the
Swedish-Americans to Republican
principles, was ready at all times to
recognize Mr.. Lind as their chosen
leader Three times he was sent to
congress, being one Of the two or
three Swedes of the entire United
States to hold that position. He then
absolutely refused to serve another
term In his retirement he was al
ways included in the counsels of the
party, and it stood willing to further
honor him at the wish of himself and
his people. At the close of Mr..
Cloughs next term of Office, the Re-
publicans must look for another STAN
dard-bearer, and it is very probable
that Mr. Lind would have been so
chosen. Certain it is that the time is
not very far distant when the Repub-
leans will place a Swedish-AmerIean
in the governors chair in Minnesota.
Mr.. Lind has thrown this oppOrtuni-
ty away. The key to mans probable
success in life is his ability to make or
grasp opportunities Mr.. Lind inistoOk
his, and he has chosen to desert his
party that so constantly honored him,
and his people through him; he has
deserted the principles he all his life
most strenuously advocated, and has
accepted leadership from the enemy,
an enemy whom he despised, and of
whom he so emphatically expressed
his personal estimate when he said
that mot all Democrats are thieves
and murderers, but nearly all thieves
and murderers are Democrats" At
the head OF party so characterized
by his own lips, he has placed himself, 4
with two other deserterS, G. A. Towne
and +. A. Day, as his lieutenants, and
with his army so differed wholly by
deserters, he hopes to shatter the hosts
of his old friends and associates who,
time after time, gave him their votes
and cheered him on to victory. In do
ing this, moreover. he has placed him
self squarely under the banner of De-
mOcracy. He has endorsed the entire
Democratic platform, and he is work
ing for the entire Democratic ticket,
national and state. He deserts the
principles of protection and reciprocity
which he SO ardently advocated year
after year, as cardinal principles Of
Republicanism He deserts McKin-
ley, the lifelong friend of American
labor and the American producer, for
Bryan and eXtra ne free trs de. He de
clares fer mob law and against the
right of the president of the United
&ta n nrntoct tho TInitnd Statn
mails and other property of its citi-
zeEs Again, he deserts Mckinley, the
soldier and statesman, for Bryan who.
in 1861 was baby in the cradle, and
is to-day 4 baby in craftsmanship and
experience. He declares for recon-
struction of the supreme court OF the
United States, and seeks to array
class against class and section against
section in this country, which so many
thousands of his cOuntrymen fought to
make a union of states, one and in
separable. Can Mr.. LiLd AID his fell
lOw-deserters win? Can an army led
by deSerters win? Never. And be it
said to the great credit of the Swedish
Republicans, they will not follow the
man and forget principle. They will
remain true to what they believe and
know to be for the best interests of all
the American people, rather than fol
low the ambitions of false leader
Mr.. Lind is gone from the Republi-
can party. He has deserted lis peo-
pie, but they are not without other
leaders as brilliant, as able, as honest,
as eloquent, as ambitious as he. There
are hundreds of Swedish Republicans,
who are local leaders to-day, some Of
whom will be among the state leaders
next year. There will not be wanting
the man among the strong, loyal sons
of Sweden, to take Mr.. Linds place,
and we wish to go on record now as
predicting that, before many years
have passed a Swedish-American will
be governor Of Minnesota; but he will
not be Mr.. Lind and he will be Re-
MISUNDERSTANDING Post-News.