The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1900-08-04
VAN SAINTS vAPID vAPOR1NGs.

Captain Van SAINT, of Winona, the
Republican candidate for governor Of
Minnesota, fired the first shot of the
gubernatorial campaign in this city last
Tuesday evening. 1t was his original
intention to read his written speech from
beginning to end, but after while he
got tired OF the manuscript, dramatically
cast it aside, and spoke extemporane-
ously. He had not proceeded far, how
ever, when he readjustcd his spectacles
and read what purportcd to be an cx-
tract from a speech by William J.
Bryan in 1896, in which the celebrated
Nebraskan was said to have predicted
dire disaster to the country in the event
of McKinley's election to the presidency.
The words attributed to Bryan were the
following: "If William Mckinley is
elected and put in power for the next
four years, wages will decrease, hard
times will come upon us and over the
land the price Of wheat will go down, the
price OF gold will go tip, mortgages will
be forecloscd by the money lenders and
sharks, the factories will close, we will
export no goods, but will import from
foreign lands all the goods we will use.
Want and misery will be with u.s. Re-
member what ! say"
The versatile Van SAINT did not con-
descend to say where and when William
]. Bryan made the speech from which
the alleged extract was taken. In our
opinion he never made use of such lam
guagc. For instance. he is not likely to
have said that 1--WE will export no goods,
but will import from foreign lands all
the goods we will use" Such condi-
ton could not possibly be brought about
under any administration, and William
]. Bryan is not in the habit of talking
through his hat" like the river captain
from Winona.
1t was therefore unnecessary for Van
SAINT to undertake the refutation OF
Bryan's false prophcsics" in regard to
exports and imports for the year end
ing June 80, 1900, by showing balance
of trade in our favor Has it ever oc-
Cured to the genial captain how the ex-
ports have become so large? For his
instruction we will briefly state the fol-
lowing facts:
Since 1897 the trusts have been spring-
ing TIP in every department OF trade
with unprecedented rapidity, The Ding
Icy tariff, which was to protect the
American workman from the paupcr
labor OF Europe" is a bonanza for
American manufacturers. But not con-
tent with competition among themselves
and will, fair profits on their invest
ments they organized into gigantic COM
bines or trusts to make larger profits al
the expense of the American consumers
In some cases they have increased the
prices on their products fifty and one
hundred per cent The Mckinley party
has fostcred the trusts to such an extent
lIidC DCSduSC VI llC SSol Dllalll pllSCs
now charged at home they are enabled
to enter the foreign markets and under.
sell the manufacturers OF foreign coun.
tries at greatly reduced profits.
1t is queer state of affairs wher
American goods can be bought by for
eigners at about half the price charged
to Americans in their own land. TIL,
only way to put a stop to that is te
destroy the trusts and have free compe
tition. II Mr.. Van SAINT, who said no
word about trusts, thinks the mattcl
over he will soon find out the cause fo
the increase of exports during McKin
ley's administration, and see that the bal
| ance OF trade is really in favor OF tn
American trusts to the detriment OF tn
American consumers of their wares ant
merchandise.
Captain Van SAINT touched lightly o,
imperialism" and seemed to misunder
stand what it is. He thinks the Demo
J Gratis are afraid that the republic will b.
converted into an empire by Mckinley
I Nobody believes fiat. What the Demo