The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1898-10-28
From The News Tribune of Oct. 1, 1885,

From The News Tribune of Oct. l, 1898.
CONGRESSMAN Page Morris of Duluth,
representative from the great Sixth dis
trict Of Minnesota, was accorded a well
come at the armory last evening Which
for warmth and enthusiasm was all that
his most enthusiastic friends and sup
porters could have wished for. He ar
rived from tour of the district at 7:45
o'clock last evening and went direct from
the train to the armory, where the great
err part of the large audience was already
seated.
AT the close of the speaking hundreds
of people, many that had never before
met Congressman Morris, crowded for
ward to shake him by the hand. Con-
gresham Morris speech was as follows:
Mr.. Chairman, Ladies and Gentlemen:
1 thank you very sincerely tor tn!s cor1
dial reception. Nearly II years ago l
came to live amongst the people or TINS
district. During those years 1t mas peeu
my highest ambition, my most aroehl
hope, to gain and deserve the connoence,
respect and esteem OF this people, anu
whether 1 have deserved it or not, they
have given me in more than abundant
measure that confidence and esteem and
have placed me in positions Wnlcn lnul-
things desire to express my most SIN,
cere and heartfelt appreclatlon shaAl
never cease to be grateful for the past,
whatever may be in the future ana l
shall strive hereafter, as 1 nave str1ven
heretofore, with every energy OF my ma
ture and every impulse of my heart 10
serve you faithfully and to the full ex-
tent of my abilities in whatever place 1
may be called. to I'LL.
I can never forget, and think that
few of you will ever forget the circum-
stances under which I was called upon
two years ago. to undertake. the contest
which led to my being placed IN the posi-
ton which I now occupy, that OF repre-
sentative in congress for this great dis
trict, for it is a great district. There Is
none greater in all the union, few greater
In extent of territory, dn variety OF SOL,
resources and enterprises, and none with
a more intelligent and patriotic people,
none with greater and more varied inter
ests to be watched and guarded with un-
ceasing vigilance. I shall not dwell upon
the circumstances peculiar TO tnls ols-
trict which led to my being chosen TO
Lead in that memorable contest. You an
know them too we'll. Occupying as l did
then a position entirely congenlal to
my tastes and habits of thought, OF
to judge I was discharging the duties
satisfactorily and in which had every
reasonable prospect OF being retained l
can only say that in giving it up was
inspired entirely by sense OF Loyalty 10
my friends and the people amongst whom
I lived, and of patriotic devotion to my
country, which a vast number of our rel
low citizens most of them absolutely
honest and sincere, were then seeking
to commit to policy which, in my judg-
ment, would for many years have par
alyzed it's energies, palsied it's industries,
destroyed in large part it's commercial
greatness at home and abroad, and COW
cred it with ineffaceable dishonor.
Tn tho shirt which 9ctudteQ
in accepting the place, l have endeavored
to perform its high duties. and 1 come
now, after two sessions OF a. congress
which will be memorable in the history OF
this country, to give an account of my
stewardship and to review the record
of the Republican party, the party which
elected william Mckinley president of
the United States.
Record of Fifty-afth Congress.
The record Of the Fifty-fifth congress
so far and there is no reason to fear that
it will yet do something to spoil 1t, is one
of which every member of the responsible
majority, however humble may have been
the part played by him, has right to
be proud. But I do not intend to boast
nor will I be led into any harsh criticism
O. unseemly disputes. I wish to review
with you calmly and frankly the cond1-
tons and .eventss>qf the past two years,
and in the light Chose events and con
ditions. seek correANy to determine. In
Ship the duties of theifuture. When this
is done do not believe there will be
any question as to. the result at the APP
preaching election, and. I believe that
hundreds of men will frankly acknowl7
edge that they were wrong the last time
in not allying themselves with the Re-
publican party, and will be determined
to be right this time.
shall be able, fortunately, this time to
appeal only to the memory of every
person here present for a verifca ton OF
almost every statement which snail
make.
In the summer of 1896, the great parties
met to put forth their platforms and to
nominate their candidates for president
At that time the condition of the country
was gloomy indeed. Public credit had run;
down below any precedent since the good
old days of James Buchanan. ALI enter
prise seemd to be palsled. A general par
alysis seemed to have settled over the
great industries Of the country. Thou
their great distress, willing to work at
almost any wage rate. were idle. Business
in every line was dull and unprofita BILE.
Collections were impossible. Everywhere,
on every hand, there was dependency,
doubt, dismay.
In this hour of doubt and uncertainty,
the Democratic party, or to speak more
its national convention at Chicago, ap-
=, palled by it's own incompetency and de-
separately discarding the teachings of its
@" great leaders in the past, recklessly
threw itself
Into the Arms of Populism.
Although 1t adopted many resolutions,
as usual, pointing with pride" and
"via'ving with ALARM 1t really planted