The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1896-10-15
THE COMING ELECTION.


the year that of election day is looked
forward to as anXiously as any of them
The monotony of everyday life re-
quires something of this nature to
make the people aware of the true con-
dition of affairs in state and nation.
In presidential years this country of
ours is awakened to the Importance of
the occasion as no other country is
within the realms of civilization. The
responsibility attached to the position
of president is such that it involves the
stability of our government, the main
tenance of our free institutions and to
perpetuate that feeling of courtesy and
respect that is accorded the stars and
stripes, either upon the high seas or
in foreign countries. To fill this posi-
tion with dignity, and yet avoid inter
national entanglements, requires man
of unusual sound judgment, man of
unquestioned integrity, man whose
patriotic sentiments and devotion to
our American institutions stands forth
as beacon light to protect the masses
from the f-aggrandizement and
avaricious greed of ambitious adven-
turerS.
Since Washington occupied the presi
Dental chair, the people have always
been nearly equally divided as to their
political views, and this year is no ex
ception to the general rule. OF all the
complex problems that have been
brought before the people by presi-
Dental aspirants, the present is the
most difficult of solution. In both
parties we find some of the brainest
men that ever trod our national legis-
lative halls zeaously arrayed against
each other, which, in their Judgment,
they believe it to be the paramount
duty of every American voter to avoid
the impending crisis, and vote for one
or the other as the case might be.
Men who are experienced in finance,
schooled in the political questions of
the day, who abhor class legislation
and the methods of the demagogue in
pursuading the voters by OratOrical
mesmerism, believe that this country
is rapidly approaching a wave of
social troubles that will engulf
this nation into vortex that will
cause the French revolution to pale in
comparison to it. The unintiated are
not aware of the future results of the
various laws when they are called
upon to exercise their rights as Ameri-
can citizens. If they did there would
not be general decentralization of
business every four years on account
of a presidential election, thereby
stopping the wheels of commerce and
manufacturing enterprises, resulting
in the loss of millions of dollars and
great suffering to the laboring man
who, as general thing, are compelled
to act as back-stop in these reactions.
What this country needs is fewer
amendments to the constitution. less
vitality to those that have proven a
boomerang, more energy in initiating
an amendment that will wipe out class
legislation, and, if protection or free
trade will heal the ulcer that afflicts
the interior workings of this envious
country of ours, let us have one or the
other by all means.
Henry Clay, the father of the protec-
ton theory, belived that all due cour-
tesy should be shown towards our
infant industries by placing them in a
position to meet foreign competition
and in case of an emergency, as in 1872
we would find this country self-sus.
tanning and independent of foreign
countries. Four years ago the free
traders conducted campaign of ed
ucation wherein these "infant indus
tries" were found to be gigantic
coalition of the monied power; Gin
fants" that had grown to tremendous
proportions in wealth and influence
that few dared to oppose them. Thi.
exposure sounded the death knell Of
this hydra headed protection theory a
the hands of the indignant masses. II