The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-01-09
LAwLER,s RINGING REPORT
Presented Despite the Illness or the
Minnesota Leader.


Daniel w. Lawyer, of Minnesota, was
unable. owing to illness, to be present,
but his address was read, In full as
follows:
The report of the Minnesota Democracy to
this gathering is made in one sentence; II
stands by Democratic principles as prac1iceo
by Jackson and as enumerated at inoian-
apolis. 1t has not receded single 1nch since
amidst the saturnalia Of the Coliseum It's
representatives when asked to name their
candidates proudly demanded that they oe
recorded present and not voting. lt
stands where it stood, when amidst the neat
of July it's delegates to the conference held
at Chicago to consider the ACCESSIBILITY OF
calling a convention to wipe out the disgrace
inflicted upon the national organization, in
formed that conference that on the day before
and on the soil Of the commonwealth OF
Minnesota the real Democracy OF tnat state
in the delegate convention, impressive in the
intensity of it's convictions and splendid by
it's number and representative CHARACTER Iiad
elected a full complement Of delegates to
national convention not yet called. but de-
manded by the Democracy Of Minnesota
And even as it stood amidst the summer heat,
so it stood on election day amidst the rail-
ing snow and with the ballot of an indignant
and patriotic electorate it recorded ltseH
as present and voting, and by a majority
Of more than $4,000 scourged Organism and
Popuism from the boundaries OF state that
had been classed in the doubtful column. 50
stood we then, shall we stand in two, in
four, and in forty years, and in all the
fought shall be righteously and eternally de-
cided.
1t was fortunate for Minnesota and the
nation that the history OF the Democratic
party of our state had for more than forty
years been a struggle for the establishment
of great principles of government, CT self
sacrifice for the right, Of contempt for
vulgar victory when tainted by the barter of
personal and political honor. Forty years
ago were laid the foundations of the party
in the pioneer state. Through all those years
it commanded the respect, and often ELECTED
the fear of it's opponents. 1t marched stead
lily along the path Of a strict political moral
ity Year after year. in its state conventions,
it nominaed it's candidates and waged relent.
less war against the shams and sophiStries of
the Republican party. 1t kept its honor
clean. 1t avoided as plague the seduction
Of coalition and fatism, reputation and
Populism. 1t taught that an honorable de-
feat was glorious, that dshonorable defeat
was base. 1t believed that the spoils of public
office were the lowest tests OF party success.
as CALAMITY and bravely as ever forlorn hope
marched to battle. 1nsensibly and against
appalling odds it commenced to gain the
confidence Of the rank and file of all the
parties. Within the last decade 1t twice failed
only by few beggarly thousands of elect
ing it's chief magistrate. It's increase of
members was steady and continuous, and,
through all the years, it was faithful to the
high ideals of the fathers and the hottest
tenets of our political faith. No Christian
knight of the days OF chivalry ever marched
to the redemption of the sepulchre with purer
motives, with more chastened spirit than
did that organization to the overthrow of its
political opponent. Such was the party,
such the men in whose startled ears rang
out the silver trumpet of party dishonor in
1896.
It was not strange that a host of the honest
rank and file responded to the call. Led
astray by economic conditions which had
obtained through many years, anxious for the
return of business prosperity, and believing
that legislation could bring 1t back, capt.
waited by the high personal character and ro-
mantle bearing of the candidate of the silver
party, for the first time in the history of our
state, coalation was formed between the
Peoples party and the party miscalled Demo-
cratic. No political heresy was too extreme
for the coalition. No sacrifice too
great on the part Of the former Democrats
for the purpose of conciliatipg former Repub-
licans and Popuists. Out of seven congress
sional candidates only two had been Demo-
Gratis. Two of the most virulent Republicans
that that party had boosted were given sup
port candidates of congress of the regu-
lar Democratic party. Their candidates for
governor, lifelong Republican had in all his
political career failed to observe even the
most ordinary amenities of political life in
addressing his opponents. Mad for the
POSSESSION OF POWER
at any sacrifice Of profession or principle. the
leaders of the coalition under the grand old
name of Democracy kissed the hand that
smote them, and blessed the lips that cursed
them.
The alliance seemed perfect and it's creators
fondly believed that it would be successful.
But the TichbOrne claimant be he private in
dividual or political candidate, or be it DO
litical party, has never yet been successful.
Multitudes may go astray, honest and well
disposed men may be staggered in their poll
teal allegiance but the trick has never yet
succeeded in politics or in law. The militant
training Of the Democracy of Minnesota had
not been in vain. The sacrifices of the ell
ders the devotion of the younger generations
had welded out compact army of Jacksontan
Democrats whom the lust of power could not
seduce and whom neither multitude nor mob
could terrify. Forth from honorable retire
ment came the grizzled patriarchs of the
party. One of the delegates to Indianapolis
had voted only Democratic tickets since the
election Of Van Buren,, and voted one when
he voted for Palmer and Buckner The
flower OF the party took the field. The men
who in previous campaigns had fought most
diligently and unselfshly made the contest of
1896 the contest of their lives. They fought
for the ancient faith the maintenance of their
ideals, as an inspiration to their children and
for the honor of the nation. Such men can
never be defeated.
When the contest was in its height we
were honored by the presence and by the
words of the leader of the silver party His
appeals were new and strange to the DEM
ocracy of Minnesota. We had for more than
forty years been struggling for the right
For the first time In the history of our state
urged "a A haR rha