The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1898-10-15

involves the establishment aud mainte-
nance of large standing army and alli-
ance with other powers. large stand
ing army is Il burden upon the common
people and destructive of liberty. 1t has
proven so in every country. For a ma
ton to seek or accept alliance with an
ohe' is a confession of weakness. We
want In our Intercourse with the nations
of the world to so conduct ourselves that
we may merit ana enjoy their respect. We
want the good will of all. We need the
help of none. We want to exchange our
productions for theirs in Il liberal spirit
of commercial intercourse. but we do not
want to share the burden OF their politi-
cal sin Our country has reached maturity
alone and unaided. 1t has demonstrated to
the world that it Is possible for II people
under popular form of government to
subdue d continent to develop an eff
ticency in the arts in science. in the in
dustr es-yes, all along all lines of human
en,leavor second to none in the world;
and that that people has the courage of its
convictions the pluck to assert them. and
the power to enforce them. With such
IL country and such people II is not only
unnecessary hut 1t would be demoralizing
tn the national spirit to enter into alliances
with any foreign power.
THE ISSUE AS SEEN HY MIR. LIND
But. my friends. pardon this depression.
Let us return to The question: What is the
real issue in this campaign? The war is
is a fcgncd issue. 1t does not touch
the great questions that are uppermost in
mems minds. | sought to give express
sion to this issue III my letter Of accept
ancc two years ago. then said COM
ment,nE on the union of the reform forces:
Nothing but questions of vital impor-
tance-a sense Of common danger and an
aroused patrotism-wonld make this great
body of our people forget all past diff
fcrenccs ignore considerations of creed.
nationality. party prejudice and party
nFi ida, md itn In llr
hnih nationally and in this state The
underlying cause of This great movement it
may he difficult to express in apt words;
but, in my own mind | am clear that. how
ever it may he formulated by different In
dividlIals or in different platforms. the con-
viction has forced itself upon the great
mass of our people that in appropria ton
of the natural wealth of our country and
the distribution of the increased products
Of human industry. caused by the employ
| mrnt of modern inventions and labor say
inE machinery, the few and the owners of
capital. have obtained more than their fair
share
This Is as true now as II was then. We
! contended in that campaign, and believe
now. that the adoption of the gold stand
ard has been one of the most potent fac
tors In producing the present inequality in
the distribution of wealth. But the poltti-
cal Judgment of the people as expressed in
the last campaign was that the gold standy
ara Si'uih nc touliHuc'l II is now on tPial,
If it produces good results. If under It.
prices cease to fall. production is en-
couraged and the exchange of commodities
Is facilitated. we shall be content If not.
| it will again be an issue. But it is not
| and cannot be an issue in this state elcc-
| ton.
| We do not come before the electors of
This state with amy patent device or amy
ttop an scheme to cure all the ills of So
cicty. No one comprehcn,ls mo e full, than
we do that the deep seated difficulty to
which l have referred has come about by
degrees by the methods of our industrial
Developments ana by force of c rcums;arce
The cure must be brought about in the
same way, honesty of purpose, intelligence
patience. and time must guide society away
from the pitfalls that threaten us Tho
social body as ii exists today is the growth
Of thousands OF generations OF human effort
and experience. 1t has always had Ills
Its present ills are perhaps no worse than
those that have bcSet it heretofore We
propose no kill or cure" rrmed, but we
hope and propose to remove at least some
OF tn" conditions that have and are pro-
due ng our present ills. Tho task that we
have set before us in this state by the
platform adopted by our forces, is To so
| reform the administration of the laws and
the conduct of the affairs of the public as
to secure to the producers of the capital
states a more just Rropo:tion of the prod
| ucts of their toll: TO save to the public
| what is left of the public riches OF the
capital state: to sec to 1t that taxation
| shall be as Just and equal as 1t Ia peEsible
| and that every penny collected from the
people shall be honestly expended and de-