Willmar tribune., 1900-05-16

w s0Al1OoOc%yAs Qy 10
complete control the government
and full-blown imperialism glaring at
US from the white house and in con-
gress our mediatadnty is to bring
the country back totts old ideals, to
install in the administration of the
republic men who believe in the prin-
ciples of the Declaration of Independ-
ence, who regard the flag for what it
represents and whoswill protect our
political rights att the risk of their
lives, even though5they may disagree
with US on questionssof economic sci
ence. Four years more of Mckinley
ism may forever bury democratic
government in America. Four years
more of Hannaism will establish the
army as our governing force. We
cannot afford such calamity, and
Populists, of all men, should be the
last to imperil liberty by factious con-
tention over economic differences or
party names. Populists have for years
predicted that a growing plutocracy
would yet find it necessary to its plans
to substitute a monarchy for repre-
sentative government, Populists have
foreseen clearly the present situation,
and knowing the nature Of imperial
ism they will not be slow in perform
ing sacred duty to the country.
American liberty gains new life or
perishes this year." y
The Governor closeaa his speech bv
referring to South Dakota as "the
Kansas of the New evolution" re-
mark which. brought the Kansas DELE
cation to it's feet and received great
applause. Three cheers were given
for Honest Andy Lee, twice governor
of South Dakota. "
The Minnehaha Mapxlskor then rem
dered song composed for the occa-
sion, entitled, "Our Pop Convention;
or, I'll Be There, which was encored.
Chairman Butler res ponded to Gov.
Lees address in part as follows:
81 want to thank the governor of
the state for his able presentation of
the fundamental principles OF popu-
lism, which is to-day the voice of true
patriotism.
"One point struck me, in the master
full presentation, and that was that in
South Dakota you have adopted the
Initiative and referendum, and run
your representatives and tha at they do
not run you. I have often wondered
when I saw the vigilance of that mas
terful mind, that keen lance, that won
derful memory, full of resources, of
the patriotic and matchless senator,
the Hon. r. F. Pettigrew (Applause.
Hurrahs. Yells of eyes," "YesnD
who always defeats the opposition-I
have often wondered when he could
find so much time to- sore his ;, mind
with M facts 50 potent, and am nanswerable
arguments, and I could not sea where
he found any time to run his people in
South Dakota. But now I understand.
Instead of the senator having to run
the people out here, You have the ini-
tiative and referendum, and instead OF
his running you, you run him. Now
[ understand it. These men in South
Dakota run Senator Pettigrew. That's
the secret.
81 feel that it is my duty to state a
few facts concerning the party's his
tory since the last national conven-
tion. 1t is we'll known that more or
less abstraction resulted from the
unpleasant but seemingly unavoidable
episode of two vice presidential candi-
dates in the last campaign. A few
men took advantage of this dissatis-
faction to appeal to an honest senti-
ment, or shall say prejudice, to
create a schism in the party. They
charged that there WAS a conspiracy
on foot, headed by myself, as your
national chairman, to deliver the party,
bag and. baggage, to the Democratic
organization. Ia. the spring of 1898
they loudly demanded meeting of the
national committee to save the party. ,
They said that I, as your chairman,
should call the committee together, and
let the committeeman from each state
outline a policy for the party until the
next national convention. You all re-