Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1896-03-24
On The Political Situation.

LAKE ELIZABETH, MARCH 8, go
Editor Willmar Tribune:
1t is with q great deal of pleasure
that We have perused the columns OF
the Tribune now for year, and We
hope it may continue to flourish and
prosper. and strike death dealing blows
to the enemies of true reform. We
ind in reading it's columns that it is
not bound up by either party ties, or
political bosses. 1t breathes the spir-
it 1T independence as fearless, as the
utterance and declarations Of the
patriotic old forefathers did.
Wien secession was broached
down in the southern states, and the
agitation for the the liberating OF
four million slaves was the vital
question of the day, it brought forth
some of the grandest talents of the
world has ever known. Beecher in
the pulpit, Wendell Phillips on the
platform, Harriet Beecher Stowe,
welding her pen, with a great many
others: standing face to face,
against the power.that meent to rule or
ruin. But we find when the inspiring
speeches, ofPhillips, the grand and
eloquent sermons of Beecher. the
touching pen pictures as drawn by
Mrs. Stowe, had been heard and read,
it caused the heart of the more human
and sympathetic to throb with right
eous Indignation, and they like one
great throng, sent forth the cry,
''slaves shall be free! And the Union
shall be restored::'' Truth, right and
justice conquered again and here we
have the same question arising again
after a laspe of thrifty years. We
are now enshrouded in the same dark
ness, only great deal blacker. HUI
man beings again under thraldom Of
slavery and white slaves at that.
America the grandest, the most SUI
blime in natural scenery, the most
productive not only in minerals Of
every description, but in every kind Of
agricultural produce, has by the corr
rupt influence Of the money power,
created laws that has brought down
the laborer of this wealth producing
America. to the verge of starv alton.
Where are our Lincolns, our Jetfer-
sons, our Clays and our anti-slavery
agitators? We look about us and we
search among the crying multitudes,
we find them not. We search the leg
islative halls. no Webster there. The
puIpits, but Parson Brownlow and
Beecher are gone. And no one fires
the enthusiasm Of freedom and liberty
in thrilling accents down the aisles of
those churches and halls they once
electrified. We wend our way to the
national capital. We look for the
kindly sympathetic Lincoln. Gone!
gone. No iberator there. No states
men, no patriots, no towering intel
lects to solve the problems of the i'm
pending dangers threatening the COM
mon people of this country! AS OLD
Glory floats in the breeze over the ma
tional capitol, the so called statesmen
assemble in the halls of congress,
to grabble with what they seem to
think are the vital questions of the
day, each one with some pet theme.
Speeches are made, discussions follow,
ballots are taken, bills are passed or
defeated amid the hurrahs or Kisses OF
the assembled throng. Still the roo,
Of all evil is neither removed Or ban.
ished. Gold is at premium. Silver is
| no more legal tender then paper,
revenues decreasing, National Treas
ury empty. Produce almost worthless,
Bonds issued by the hundred million
Factories running half time. An6
while the farmer and laborer. dofT
his cap and pays tribute to the mono
polistic power that holds the reins
Europe shouts across the sea. more
gold. And while the toiling million:
groan under the burdens Of oppres
sion, European syndicates send theil
gold across the seas again, to h
loaned to the tiller of tn,
soil, to the merchant and the laborer
mortgages heaped upon mortgages
taxes, interest and a bonded govern
ment stares us in the face and while
the political machinery, is fixed up ant
repaired by some political expert. W.
gracefully submit to their dicta
tions. Sold again, and unmercifull!
sold, time and time again. Where il
our freedom, our liberties and ou
rights? The echo comes back like the
vail of departed ghost. We have
none. Where are Our statesmen? Ant
the echo comes back the same. W,
have none. Where are our patriots
Again, they are gone like the leave
that have withered and died in autuma
winds. What have We in their place
First last and all the time comes tn,
vital question. What are your politi
cal creeds, that is the one essentia
doctrine of the age, no stepping aside
and hence we give the answer as j
appear to us in their places thos
noble factors of the past. We hav
the Democrats, the Republicans, tn
Populists, the Prohibitionists and al
the other lists each one for himsel