The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1898-10-20

j. 7. MC6learu Speaks on
Political ISSUES OF
the Ddu.
The Future OF the United
STATES BRILLIANTLY
Portrayed.

The Hon. j. T. McCleary, represen-
tative in Congress from the second
district of Minnesota, spoke for three
hours at the opera house on the poll
tical issues of the day, and the effects
of the so-called McCleary currency
reform bill, last Tuesdsy,svening.
The inclement weather had its effect
of keeping away many farmers, but
the hall was comfortably filled during
the entire evening, only q very few
chairs being vacant. The ushers for
the occasion were Chas. w. Everett,
Jr., and Clarence March, both soldiers
in the recent war. and both wearing
their fatigue uniforms.
The crowd was enthusiastic only
when Mr.. McClesry talked politics,
and the broader policy of American
expansion. When the representative
assumed the role of teacher and mi
nutely explained and illustrated Ger
tain propositions, the crowd was all
ears and listened attentively to some
new theory which the gentleman had
studied out. Mr.. McClesry COM
menced his speech by admonishing
the people to believe in the theory
that the question of government sue
cess was their own, the government
being q unit, of which the people
formed part. He was quite elabor-
ate in his illustration Of this principle,
and during his discourse he remarked
that corporations, properly curbed,
we're good things, and that people
should not antagonize them, but rath-
er encourage them. He said that
people could expect too much of a
political party, and then said that they
must not think that party could not
help them. Urging voters to appear
at the polls and cast their ballots, the
speaker remarked that the merchant
who would not vote for fear of losing
the sale of yard of ribbon, was not q
good American citizen.
Touching up the protection policy
of the Republican party, Mr.. McCleary
said that prior to and during the cam.
paign of 1892, the people had been
made to believe that everything was
taxed too high, and they voted for a
change. They got it. The policy Of
Grover Cleveland took it's place, and
at the next Presidential election the
people voted against the tariff for rev.
enue only. The change came in the
Dingley bill and the people will not
want another for long time.
Realizing that the tariff could not
be made a successful issue again, the
Democratic party in 1896 overthrow
Grover Cleveland, called him worse
names than the Republicans ever did,
stole the Populist doctrine of free sill
YER, and made that the issue, believ-
ing that the southern and western
States, where the currency per capita
was small, would roll up the victorious
electoral vote. But they didn't, and
now, in 1893, silver is not an issue.
To-day" Mr.. McCleary said, in
speaking of the new policy, "an Amer
ican can stand up straighter than ever
before. The world thinks more of an
American than before. Uncle Sam
has tested his muscle with the foreign
foe. and he finds that he is great big,
strong fellow. He says, 'Don't step
on my coat tails, or you will get
tripped up"
He believed that the United States
was destined to become the greatest
Nation Of the globe-to extend from
pole to pole, from sunrise to sunset
and that it was to be the great educa'
tor and liberty bearer to oppressed
people of other lands. It was the pat.
tern of what would some day be the
United States of Europe, when all ol
those countries would be banded to