The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1898-10-20

-
Congressman Page Morris of Duluth,
representative from the great Sl4tn as
trict of Minnesota, was ACCORDED WEI
come at the armory last evening Whlch
for warmth and enthusiasm was all that
his most enthusiastic friends ana 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
or mart 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-
eressman Morris speech was as follows:
Mr.. Chairman, Ladies and Gentlemen:
thank you very sineere IL I Ioa sn AGO
came to live amongst the people Oh ms
district. During those years 1t mas peen
my highest ambition, my most aruei'
hope, to gain and deserve the conloence,
respect and esteem of this people, anu
whether 1 have deserved 1t or not, they
have given me in more than abundant
measure that confidence and esteem ana
have placed me in positions Whlcn nol-
Gated their highest respect. For an 'n s;ne
cere and heartfelt appreciation: shaIi
never cease to be grateful for the pass,
whatever may be in the future anu
shall strive hereafter, as 1 nave strNeh
ture and every impulse of my heart' 10
serve you faithfully and to the tull ex-
tent of my abilities in whatever place
may be called to fill.
can never forget, ana thlhh lid
few of YOU will ever forget the clrcum-
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 now occupy, Cnat OF repre-
sentative in congress TOT tnis sr Tsare oiH %
trict, for it is great district. Inere Is
none greater in all the union, few greater
in extent of territory, in variety OF SOIL
resources and enterprises, and none win
a more Intelligent and patrlotlc people'
none with greater and more varied inter
ests to be watched and guarded with url-
easing vigilance. I shall not dwell upon
the circumstances pecullar 10 thls us
trict which led to my being CHOSEN 10
lead in that memorable contest. You al,
know them too we'll. Occupying as ! dlo
then a position entirely congenlal 10
NV tastes and habits of thought, OF
which 1 was assured by those pest aole
to Judge 1 was discharging the duties
satisfactorily and in which I had every
reasonable prospect OF being retained,
can only say that in giving 1t up was
inspired entirely by sense OF loyalty 10
my friends and the people amongst Whom
1 lived, and of patriotic devotion 10 my
country which a vast number OF our rel
low citizens, most of them absolutely
honest and sincere, were then seeking
to commit to a policy which, in my Judg-
ment would for many years have par
alyzed its energies, palsied its lndustrles
destroyed in large part it's commercial
greatness at home and abroad, and COW
cred it with ineffaceable dishonor.
In the same spirit which actuated me
in accepting the place, I have endeavored
to perform its high duties. and I. 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 whicn
elected William Mckinley president OF
the United States
Record of Fifty-fifth Congress.
The record of the Fifty-fifth congress
so far and there is no reason to fear thar
it will yet do something to spoil 1T, is one
of which every member of the responsible
majority, however humble may have Deen
the part played by him, has right 10
be proud. But I do not intend to boast
nor will be led into any harsh criticism
o. unseemly disputes. I wish to review
with you calmly and frankly the condl-
tions and events of the past TWO years,
and in the light Of those events and con
ditions, seek correctly to determine, IN
a spirit of true patriotism and citizen
shin. the duties of the future. When this
is done 1 do not believe there will be
any question as to the result at the APP
p1 GA ching election, and l believe that
hundreds Of men will frankly acknoWl-
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 or every
person here present for verlhcatlon 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. AID enter
prise seemd to be palsied. A general par
great industries Of the country. Thou
sands of men willing to work and, in
their great distress, willing to work at
almost any wage rate, were idle. Business
in every line was dull and improbable.
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
correctly, that part of 1t which controlled
its national convention at Chicago, APP
palled by its own incompetency and de-
sperately 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
viewing with ALARM" 1t really planted