The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1896-11-04

SENTATIVE, at his OMCc, -40 HdSo
Eighth street.
Before this issue of 1.-THE Representa-
tive" reaches our friends the result of
the election will be known. And on this
result will depend the veal or woe of
our beloved country for the next four
years; perhaps for eternity.
The campaign just closed Is the most
marvellous, stupendous, and significant
campaign ever waged in the history Of
the world. It was great campaign and
remarkable for the earnest and 1ntelli-
gent consideration given to the question
before the people. Heretofore the peo-
pie took their politics from their pOliti-
cal leaders and their party newspapers.
This campaign was an exact reverse OF
all the traditions of the past. The party
leaders of the past have been ruthlessly
thrown aside, and new men have been
forced into the places of the "Old politi-
cal boss" in whom they have conf
dence, and without the lavish supply of
money, and in fact without means of
any kind except the forlorn hope and
patriotism of the people. Those new but
popular leaders have been followed with
determination to win, never before
known in the history Of the country.
The ideals of the past were hurled from
their pedestals, the prejudices and big
otry of party partisanship disappeared
before the intelligence of common peo-
pie, who, in spite of the avenues of intel
ligence being closed against them,
sought their information from the small
and inconvenient sources left open to
them, viz, the speakers at the local meet
ings, and such literature as was secured
by the local committees, with the limited
means at their disposal. This Is hap
py, and a hopeful sign, and gives renew
ed hope to the almost despairing conf
dence in the people for the past few
years.
The great vote cast at this time, even
if it does not bring victory in it's wake
is tremendous step in the right direc-
ton, and shows with no uncertain
sounu that the men who voted on the side
of the people this time were the pioneers
of the intelligent thought, which will
be followed in the future when victory
will finally be assured.
Among the results accomplished, If
nothing else, by this campaign, are the
breaking down of senseiess political
prejudices, which accompanied political
of reason and intelligence instead
AAe amalgamation of all the reform
forces under one banner, and a common
and generous respect given by the advo-
Gates of the reform forces, no matter
from what party they hail. The total
and absolute harmony of all forces on
the side of the people. The disappear
ance of all suspicion towards each other.
the close and intimate knowledge and
acquaintance of bran new set of polit-
ical bed fellows. The effective organiza-
ton of two great political parties framed
in practically the same platform of re-
forms. The conscious assurance of the
members Of each party that they cannot
win without the assistance of the other,
will compel each to bend their set pre-
JUDGES to meet the other. The fact that
each party is in the field with its set Of
reformers will be check on the other to
depart from the set policies of both par
ties for the future. The feeling of good
will for each other at the thought that
we have joined together in this great
movement without the thought of those
concessions to each other being won by
the surrender Of the one or the victory
of the other. Tremendous advantage will
result in the future with the experience
and wisdom of the past We hope for
a continued association of those giant
twins of reform.
The writer Of this column in the past
has been inclined to be little Sc
severe on that great and eloquent man,
Hon. w. w. Erwin. Mr.. Erwin has
been Republican in the past, but to
those who might have a lingering notion
that he had not forsworn the party of
his youth, would have set his doubts to
rest if they could have heard his vigorous
arrangement of the Republican party in
his magnificent speech delivered at Mar
ket Hall on Thursday evening Of last
week. Amidst the evening rain outside
which teemed down the whole day and
night, he was greeted by an audience
which completely filled the hail. and
and remained until after midnight, pa
tiently and enthusiastically receiving the
home thrusts and sledge hammer blows
which the tall pine" delivered to the
monopolies and trusts, and combines
which are arraigned against the people,
Mr.. Erwin paid a just and deserving
compliment to our old friend, Ignatius
Donnelly, when he said that "Mr Don
nelly was the martyr and victim of COM
mon people, as it was he who alone stood
out bold and defiant, and who fought sim
gle handed and alone the great fight
against mOnopolfstic greed, and was
branded, slandered, bulldozed, defeated,
harassed in every conceivable manner;
every avenue to prosperity closed against
him. He has stood out as the great mod
ern Ajax, defying the plutocratic pow
ers and resisting their encroachments
upon the liberties of the people, inch by
inch for the past quarter of a century,"
"He is today" said the Tall Pine" the
one noble, heroic figure of this genera