The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-02-23

DETROIT. Mich, Feb. 22.-"It has
been a difficult year. We are landed on
a new field The stars and stripes are
planted tonight in a place where they
never have been before on Washing
tons birthday They have never been
taken down from where they have been
planted but once before; and they never
will he again"
Such was the characteristic utterance
of Gen. Russell y. Alger, secretary Of
war. on assuming the function of toast
master tonight at the fourteenth an
nual banquet of the Michigan club.
When the POSTMASTER arose he was
greeted with cheers from the upwards
Of 500 Republicans of Michigan. who
sat at the banquet tables. and from the
crowd in the galleries. The inquiry
Whats the matter with Alger? was
repeatedly answered favorably, and
finally three systematic cheers were
given.
The secretary said nothing specific in
his brief Introductory remarks about
war department affairs. He congratu-
lated citizens Of the United States upon
their intelligence, loyalty and patriot
ism shown in the past year, and upon
the fact that the financial tide had
turned 50 that the nation. which was
once a borrower, is now on top in a
financial sense. Said he:
I'VE have some hard problems to
solve. but we have a solver in Wash
ington.'
In introducing Gov. Pingree to de-
liver his address Of welcome, Gen. Alger
raised a laugh by saying:
The governor has just been telling
me that he always dreaded to speak.
1 told him 1 thought 1 could get
up a liberal contribution if he never
would speak"
1t is high time that claims TO responsibility
in this republic rested upon something more
substantial than money or political cunning.
The Republican party came into power the
PARTY Of the common people. The welfare Of
an enslaved race was the chief cause of its
organization. The principle of equal rights
for all has full expression in the greatest OF
all Observation-Disclosures Lincoln.
The Republican party was formed to make
men free and equal. Its votes came from the
farmer and his sons, from the villages and
the country districts OF the various states.
They did not come from the overcrowded
portions of our great cities where the voters
were controlled by bosses. Republican major
tiles came from the states that afterwards
furnished patriotic soldiers.
So long as the great questions growing out
of the Civil war remained unsolved the Re-
publican party was controlled by men chosen
TO represent the people, but in time these
questions disappeared and other questions de-
manded attention. The problems Of trade and
finance and questions of administration came
up. Meantime, wealth increased and capital
and labor drifted into conflict. Gradually the
men OF wealth dropped into the Republican
party. Corporations found their interests we'll
cared for by the men who were chosen to the
legislative bodies as Republicans.
Now, this has been going on so long and
steadily that it has become notorious Old
Republicans have been held in line because
they could do nothing else. Some of the lead
ers of the Democratic party have made 1t
almost impossible by their acts for prudent
or thoughtful business to join 1t. All
porations who wanted privileges have joined
the Republican party, expecting that party
TO bear their burdens and to serve them. This
has been going on for years, but it cannot
last forever, gentlemen.
MUST TAKE BACK SEATS.
It is time that corporations combines
trusts and multi millonaires should be re-
quested tc leave the front seats, at least and
let the men who can speak for the great body
Of voters, the men who believe in the Repub-
licanism Of Abraham Lincoln, take part in
conducting the public affairs. I do not sug-
gest that men be ignored simply because they
are rich. but the legislative and executive off,
GERS OF this nation cannot much longer be
filled with men whose claims are based solely
upon their devotion to corporate interests.
Already the enormous business of this ma
ton has passed into the control of gigantic
trade and transportation combinations. ! need
not submit any proof of this. You have only
know that is true. But what is to come of
It all?
The problem has been partially solved by
the man who carries the dinner pail He
has entered another kind Of a combination
one which relies upon capital, strength and