The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1896-09-18

SllNCI lcll 81 Genus an ounce.
Everybody who had anything
to do with that law demanded it's re-
peal, with remarkable unanimity. The
government is out S35, 100000 on the
certificates issued on silver, and we
have got to stand the loss.
Within the last twelve days, S18,-
100000 of gold has arrived in this
country, and why? Because the
world believes that the time has
now passed when there is any danger
that the people of this country will
repudiate the system which in every
country of the land has caused unex-
ampled prosperity. Day by day it
becomes more certain that Mckinley
will be elected.
After the war, inventive faculties
did more than ever before, ands set
1,0O0,0O0 steel fingers at work where
1000 human fingers were before busy.
Production was greatly increased,
and the reduction of prices followed,
as was pointed out would follow from
these inventions. l believe that the
fall of prices has on the whole been a
blessing, though bringing great dis
| treSs occasionally. l want to see the
reduction placed where it belongs
and not on the monetary system.
There never were such prosperous
times as from 1880 to 1890. People
were too prosperous. An era of specu-
lation swept over the world and
brought disaster in Argentine, in
Australia, andiin this country, sweep
ing stately fortunes away. The COL
lapse was FASTENED by the cry of tree
silver in this country.
have never trembled so much for
the welfare OF my country since l
closed my office to go out to the war
of the rebellion, as have this year.
l feel strongly on the question. 1t
would be better for me aunder the
other system, but l hope no one &C
cuses me of any double tongue work,
as my position on this question is well
| known.
The agitation that caused the great
panic in 1893 was laid in repose in
1894, only to raise it's head again clad
in steel, but we hope to lay it in re-
pose this fall for all time.
Labor is the great commodity which
man sells to man, and it measures all
values. The American laboring man
is the best paid lin the world, so
there is one price which has not fall
len. The American farmer is inter-
ested in having the laborers employ
ed, that they may furnish him
a good market. He would
rather pay good wages to his hired
help and receive good pay for his
crops.
In Northern Minnesota there for
merly lay waste land. The hand of
science came along, stirred the soil and
started a new iron industry, which
employed 10000 men, furnishing a
market to the farmers. Close those
mines, and that market is lost. Lib
eral wages make liberal purchasers.
What would become of those men if
thrown out of employment? They
would have to live and would return
to the soil and become a competitor
to the American farmer IN an indus
try already overcrowded, whereas
they were valuable customer.
Free silver, if it doubles values as
claimed, must double the property of
the Astors, the Goulds, the silver kings,
and the property of railways, and it
must double rates of freight.
The panic of 1893 has cost the
American farmer the market of a
great number of American earners,
many of whom have become COMPETE
tors.
take great interest in the re-
suit of the coming election. l want
to see my constituency decide rightly,
for have the most intelligent con-
stituency of any man who ever held
office. The experience of the past
should guide the steps Of the future.
1 believe the American people are
the chosen people of God. 1 believe
He raised them up to some wise and
ultimate purpose. l have seen mar
shalled against this government an
arc of conquest extending from the
Potomac to the Rio Grande, such as
no power of earth, not even that of
ancient Rome, ever before had
strength to meet, yet we met it
successfully. I hope you will take
home with you what 1 have said and
weigh it carefully.
The speaker was rewarded with
great applause as he sat down. He
spoke for an hour and a half and held
the closest attention of his vast au-
dience throughout.
| The Glee club sang another of it's
inimitable songs, 1.-THE Democrats -
was encored. and sang ''That Tired