The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1898-10-21

permanent school fund will exceed $50, ooo.-
900. This places the young State OF Mime
sofa equal if not superior to any other state
or commonwealth in the world for the en-
couragement and advancement of education
in its broadest sense within her borders. 1t
is wonder our people are jealous of this
trust, and would neither brook nor excuse
negligence or dishonesty in its administra-
ton.
In the present auditor the Republican nom
inee for reelection, Hon. r. c. Dunn, in
whose department the administration of this
trust largely lies, the people have an honest
servant, worthy of the sacred trust he guards.
During his present term, that trust has in
creased 81. 600. 900.
The officials that have to do with the de-
tail management of the various departments
of our state, having proved themselves
worthy and competent, have been renominat-
ed by the Republican party. Their efficiency
and integrity commend them to the 0Oters
of minnesota.
The Republican nominees for Judges of the
Supreme Court are men of high character,
able jurists, just and worthy, and should re-
ceive our loyal and earnest support.
OUR BROADER FIELD.
Proud as ne are of minnesota, zVe haze
still broader field for our political
thought and action. When zOe cast our
ballot IN November, its significance mil be
fell not only zOitlfu the borders Of on, state.
and throughout the old boundaries of the
republic, but TO the fartheSt islands Of the
sea, zOhere today Proudly flies our flag.
Ever since the reconstruction period, fol-
lowing the close of the Civil war; the thoughts
OF our people have at every election been di-
rected to the antagonistic economic principles
of protection and free trade, and the
quantity and quality Of our money.
The prolonged discussion of these issues
eliminated in 1896. Never in the annals of
politics was more intense political economic
conflict waged than that 1t resulted in the
verdict by the people for the principles of
protection to american labor and american
industries and for gold as a standard for
money, with sil0er burchased6y the goOern-
ment and coined only sufficient for the uses
Of our people and to be maintained at all
times on parity with gold. The time for
argument on these principles has for the
present passed.
Often in the discussion of political ques
tons fog banks have been mistaken for land
Facts now reveal to us what was fog and what
was land. Current events have given mathe-
NAUTICAL demonstration of the correctness of
the Republican theories now enforced as law
1t is fortunate that the minds of men do not
long dwell on miseries and calamities. Never
theless, experience must be largely the lamp
by which our people are guided.
In 1892, with year of unexampled pros
perity behind them our people voted to
change the party in power and the policy of
the government This change took place
March a, 1893. W1tAin sir months the
country zVaS IN The throes of a panic, labor
out Of zOork zOages reduced, industries
PoraLysed; sfaSmS follozVed each other in
the financial zVorLd No one had confidence
in another. Gold went in hiding; armies of
idle men marched across the continent; in large
cities artificial work was improvised and
funds raised to give such work to the most
needy; when not enough for all they took their
turns. Strong men, willing to work, and no
work for them. This zOas a nezV experience
in the Vest True, 1t zVaS the first time
zoe had had a full fedged free trade ad-
miniStration. This may be coincidence,
but it is nevertheless fact. This condition,
and one-half of its distresses cannot be told
continued with little improvement until 1896,
when the same party proposed as a specific
remedy for the ills of the times free silver, on
the ratio of 10 to I. The mere proposition
produced financial paresis Ali kinds of
money became scarce. Gold clauses we're in
serted in notes, and general stampede in
financial circles followed. November came,
and the American people voted Democratic
men and measures out
PROSPERITY HAS RETURNED.
Il year and half has passed BY. and
zVhat q change! Fires have been relighted,
wheels begin to move, and the hum of in
dustry is heard in the land. All men who
care to, now. have work; wages are advanced,
money is easy. the rate of interest low, there
is gold enough and to spare. The gold clause
has dfSabbeared, confidence doth much
more abound That zVhtch Republicans
SAID zVould come to pass has come to pass.
Plenty of work. plenty of money, better wages,
lower rate of interest. Lost values are COM
ing back to farms and stocks.
Why should you and l, who have neither
gold nor silver mines, worry about the ratio?
What we want is the best money in the world,
and plenty of it. That we now have. Since
1896 Russia and Japan have adopted the
single gold standard. Only two nations of any
note go it alone on the silver basis-China
and Mexico.
Speaking of Mexico, I found when there
few months ago theory advanced by the Re-
publicans in o6 demonstrated We all know
that free silver, coined in any other ratio
than the market value, drives out gold, but
we did not know from experience that in the
readjustment of prices to cheap money, that
wages are the last to rise. In Mexico wages
are today substantially the same as when
gold and silver exchanged at par In March
last the exchange was 2.I4.
Two or three examples will give sufficient
idea of the condition of wages in Mexico the
Eldorado of free silver advocates. In the
City of Mexico, with population of 1000,