The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1897-02-24
THE HOUSE.,

uucc CillS res ulC.
One Of the chief is, that events,
since the election last fall, have
crushed out the arrogance and selfas-
scrtion OF the local mOney-power.
The bankers have all they can do to
keep their heads above water; many
OF their institutions have gone to the
wall, and others are trem bling on the
verge Of bankruptcy. They have no
money to spend to control legislation.
The railroad corporations are in the
same fix. They too are lighting for
existence against adverse conditions.
They have no more millions to give
away to members and senators or any
army OF lobbyists
At the same time the dominant par
ty has been grieyously disappointed
in tue failure Of prosperity to follow
Mr.. Mckinley's election,-as most Of
them sincerely believed it would do.
Three-fourthS Of the mem bers of the
House are to-day, in our Judgment,
fopulistS at heart; although they
would be ashamed to acknowledge it.
and they are not disposed to follow
further the old leaders who have led
them into the ditch. We believe
that if a Republican state convention
was to meet tomorrow there would
be revolution; ajority Of the ut
terances would be such as to lead to
the belief that it was Peoples Party
convention.
The Republican party never was. at
heart, gold-bug party. 1t is but a
few years since it unanimously de-
nounced the Democracy, Chen led by
the Cleveland gang,) in national con-
vcntion, for seeking to dcmonetize sHrer.
But the bankers, took possession of it
last summer and the members would
not desert the Old party in its desper-
ate extremity. They clung to it as a
faithful son clings to his ia ther, even
while he knows the old man has m ade
a fool Of himself.
And so it comes to pass that the
House is doing nobly. We know not
how 1T may change front before the
termination Of the session. but I'D to
tuis time we can give it only words Of
unstinted praise.
In the contested election case of
Coates (Rep.), against Hall. fusion)
the committee on elections unani-
mously reported, ION technical
grJunds,) to unseat Mr. Hall, and seat
Mr.. Coates; but when it came to a
vote, although the opposition had but
twenty-five embers, the Republican
majority, under the leadership Of
jacobson, Feig and Staples, kept the
PopulIst in his seat by the over
whelming vote of 80 to H. 1t was a
noble act, and deserves to be forever
rene m bered, and-if the opposition
gets control of the House hereafter
initiated. 1t is such acts that lift
legislative acJion above the low vel
of partisanship. and make more GER
tain the perpetuity of free institu-
lions.
The absolute unanimity with which
both HnuSes voted TO repeal the vii
famous struck jury" law deserves al
SO to be remem bered to their lasting
credit.
Their course Oh the Cleveland Sails
bury arbitration treaty is now en-
dorsed by the good sense of the whole
American people-except the Anglo
maniacS.
There are indications also that the
two Houses are at last reused up to
realize the necessity for some conSd-
erabie reduction in railroad freights,
especially On wheat and coal. The
Populists have always stood for those
measures, but now the Republicans
are taking hold vigorously; under the
leadership of Mr.. Douglas, of Clay
county, and the Democrats and Peo-
pies Party members will heartily sec
Ond them.
In short, an era Of political good
feeling seems to have arrived, like
that Of the old Romans,
when none was for party
And all were for the state"
We undertake to say that the bank
ers will never again dominate a Re-
publican state convention in Mime
sofa; and that even in the national
conventions of that party the Repub-
llcans of the North Star state will ap-
pear as leaders;-not as the servile
followers of blind and greedy Plutoc.
racy.
1t may be thought by some that it
| is not wise for us to say all this; but
we feel now, as we did at the opening
Of the session:-"that he serves his
| party best who serves his state best"
| We are not Of those who make a fetish
Of party. The end of government
is the happiness Of the people, and
| parties are but instruments to that
end. If the principles Of the Peoples
Party can win we care little who gets
the glory or the offices.
| We believe that this country is on
the eve of great events; and that a
general breaking up OF old party lines
is near at hand; and that out of the
turmoil and confusion will be born an
organization OF which the spirits of
Washington and Jefferson and Jack
son and Lincoln will be memerS in
the spiritual world; and which all the
good and true men of America will
sustain on earth, by voice and act and
vote. In the meantime let the PEG.
PIES Party hold its ranks intact. so
that it may strike with the compact
ness Of a giants arm, when the hour
| for action is marked on the dial of
time.
! THE HORRORS or TWO CON-