The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1897-05-05


masses to grieve that they failed to ap-
preciate this great leader while with us.
If there are any who think this an un-
merited tribute, let them remove the
film of prejudice from their eyes and
carefully look up the record of this great
man for the past 30 years in legislative
bodies and out and see if one act or
word can be found written or spoken
not In direct line of lettering the con-
dition of the toiling masses. While sell
fish motives have been attributed yet
where can any word be pointed out to
show that he was actuated by such mo-
tives. His present work and efforts dis
prove any such claims. Were his mo-
tives selfish is it likely he would at this
time be battling for the poor laborers
in the legislature and Representative?
Could any sane man claim his present
efforts are prompted by selfish ambition
for notoriety? If SO, then the tribute he
has received from his enemies of being
possessed of a great mind is disproved,
because without great and noble i'm
pulses and a great heart he would not
at this time of life be battling for hu-
manity.
| speak to you thus earnestly because
l am positive this man Is the greatest
of all reform leaders in this or any other
state and if the people at this time fail
to realize this and allow their paper the
Representative to fail for want of sup
port and in that way fail to give as
great circulation of his master
thoughts as possible it will be an ire
parable loss. If they give ear and sup
port to the "wishy washy' conservative
"twaddle' of reorganizing under a new
name, and to a great extent lose sight
of the great principles now at stake
and worship a man and name, they will
have nothing but regrets to show for
their efforts. Their failure to carry the
last election by the political combina-
tions formed that created such conf
dence on the part of the schemers who
accomplished the combination. has not
been productive of one-half the regrets
and disappointments that would have
followed had the ticket been successful
and the people failed to secure the relief
laws their condition forces them to de-
mand
No man who views this situation as a.
careful, unbiased observer can reason
out how any possible beneficial legisla-
tlon could have been secured. even free
coinage. The class of men receiving
nominations under single issue are
not in all cases the class who can be
relied upon under the temptations that
surround legislative bodies, especially in
critical times, when every means known
to man will be used to defeat the peo-,
pie Cleveland is the only president
having the audacity to state in an in
augural address that it is a great re-
spOns1bility to be called upon to rule
7O,O0O,000 people. Do not think he
meant sit upon throne and rule with
the open audacity of king Better for
this people if he had and had acted ac-
cordingly. But rule he did through the
machinery of patronage bond issue and
trust methods.
Other presidents were modest enough
to use language that would lead the
people to believe a president is the SER
want of a free people.
Mckinley was saved the bold individ-
uality of such an expression, being
mortgaged property under the control
of plutocratic Hanna The purchased
press were left at this time to print that
Mckinley would soon be placed in posi-
tion to rule the people for the next four
years. This boldness of expression and
the apathy Of the people to rebuke such
expressions, and the tendency toward
imperialism on the part of their SER
wants are true indications of the near
ness of the pending crisis.
l wondered how man could be inn
pressed SO radically by observation and
yet not be prompted to take an active
part and help on the fight long ago.
and so expressed myself In ansewer he
said he had been possessed with a con-
viction that the people would awaken
to their danger in time to meet the
pending dangers; that they would profit
by mistakes made up to this time. and
gain success upon true lines of reform.
But upon observing the quiet sanction
being given by the masses of reformers
to the suggestions of the conservative
element to rally the reform element un-
der new name, caused him to tremble.
At this time he could plainly see more
terrible and grave dangers if these sug-
gestions are followed than at any time
in the history of the reform movement.
With such convictions he could not re-
sist at least to make an effort to call at
tention to the dangers by giving his
views to one whom he has every reason
to believe would act If these dangers
were pointed out to him.
If presenting his views to the public
in my feeble way through the columns
of the Representative would in any way
help arouse the people to the grave dan
gers l assured him l would make an
effort to do SO, my greatest regret is
that l have been unable to present the
views of this man in more forcible
manner, so it will arouse the people to