The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1900-10-19
BRAGG AGAINST BRYAN.
Wisc6nsin'ss Prominent Democrat Tells
Why He Cannot Vote For Him.

ter to Mexico under President Cleve-
land, Thursday night at Milwaukee, ad-
dressed distinguished audience that
filled the Pabst theatre. He spoke in
response to call signed by number
OF u old Democrats. All shades of poll
tt cal parties were represented at the
meeting. The general, who spoke as
a Gold Democrat, advocated the cleo
ton of Mckinley and Roosevelt. He
was given great ovation. He said:
---"It will be from the standpoint of a
National Democrat, by education, con-
viction and affiliation-I may say, and
from heredity-that l speak tonight,
extending in some regard beyond mere
party duty to the more exalted duty
of every loyal citizen in the land to
rally in the defense and support of his
country in times of danger, trouble or
need, foreign or domestic, and never
by word, act or deeds give aid or COM
fort to its enemies.
cit matters not how specious the
plea, how earnest the pleader, the
American ear may listen, but the loyal
heart is sealed against its influence.
The fate of the Democratic party since
the war of the rebellion is but re-
hearsal of the fate of the Federal and
1 AlS pal J1Cb, anu UIlC Oou6O VI IL UI10
same. 1t failed as party organiza-
ton to grasp the situation and to give
the unwavering strength of it's power,
without reserve, to aid in putting
down the rebellion. l hate to say it,
but it is true, and for years the name
Democrat was an opprobrious one
over this northern country There
were many great leaders in the party,
whom Individually the people honored,
and when they were ignored it was
not for want of confidence in them,
; but from distrust of their followers.
Looking over the history of the
past and comparing it with the pre-
sent instincts of the American people
as [ know them, it seems beyond pos
sibility that any party or any candi-
date no matter on what high rlane of
morals, of sympathy for the oppressed
or of constitutional rights he affects
, to plant himself, can succeed in reach
ing the support of the electors of the
, United States when, in the face of
| bloody war he Classics the treacher-
GUS Aguinaldo as patriot and his
guerrilla bands, who are shooting
down our soldiers, as subjects of our
sympathy if not of our open COM
mendation.
81 may not read the political horo-
scope correctly, but it is my sincere
conviction that were St. Paul to be re-
habited with moral presence and lead
! the Bryan column with Filipino
badge upon his breast and 16 to 1
painted upon his banner nothing but
, signal defeat would await him.
! ''Mr. Bryan is an honest, if not a
practical man. What he says he be-
lieves he can do, and will never falter
in his attempt to do it.. He is a man
of phenomenal oratorical power and
in private and social life he is loved
and respected. In his presence and
speech his influence over those who
hear and associate with him is almost
, hypnotical. He writes poetry, but
this stamp of mind does not fit one to
grapple the complex affairs Of state and
great people in the internal and ex-
ternal clashing of interests and policy
, that constantly arise. He is dreamy
idealist He talks and acts and be-
lieves, if he were president, by a wave
of his magic wand, as 'twere, he can
| make desert blossom, that he can
do away with want and misery and
! make all his subjects prosperous and
/ happy. In other words, that he is
possessed of the mysterious power that
he can make the world anUtopia, if you
give him chance.
"Such man is delightful COM
panion, an estimable member of So
ciety, but a wild bull in China shop
| would not be more dangerous to the
safety of the crockery than such a man
| would be to the safety of the state if
intrusted with the management of
, affairs
''The experience of every farmer, of
! every business man and every wage
Garner has taught him that every pro-
phecy, every statement of financial
economics made and believed in by
Mr.. Bryan are wholly and wretchedly
, incorrect. Why should you trust the
finances of this great government and
its people in power and control of
such an ignorant economist because he
has winning ways, is an estimable
gentleman and hypnotical orator? You
may, perchance, but will not.
81 am not an advanced optimist,
but have no fears of the ghost of
, destroyed republic intruding upon my
presence by reason of Filipino
! episode. Mr. Schurz and Mr.. Cochran
| forget what you do not, that in the
war of the rebellion, even the good
| Horace Greeley believed the republic
was rent in twain and petitioned Mr..
Lincoln that the erring states might
go in peace to prevent further and
useless bloodshed. The republic was
ruined, cried the chickenhearts, and
the constitution destroyed. But out of
the mists came no ghosts, but the old
republic, with new vigor and strength,
Toccinor oil 0n1niaof,1ra ~ g.
to the first place among nations. A
people that can suppress the greatest
rebellion the world ever saw and live
and prosper is not likely to be over
thrown as the result of insurrection in
the Philippines nor in the purchase
of territory and establishing govern
ment there that will protect the per-
son and property of all well-disposed
persons in the newly acquired terri
tory. So long as the heart of our peo-
pie in the home government is true
and loyal we need not fear for it's
safety as consequent upon the acquire
ment of outsi de territory.
The danger to the peace and pros
perity of the republic in present condi-
tions comes from men who constitute
, themselves walking delegates, stir
ring up bad blood between employer
and employed, pandering to the ground
less complaints of the shiftless and
never-do-well class, and they are in
every community, infaming the pas
sions by sympathy with wrongs that
have no real existence, teaching them
the doctrine that to possess wealth
makes it's owner their enemy and op-
pressor, and that his wealth is illgot-.
ten and stained with the blood and
toll suffering of the poor. This state
of feeling, when it reaches its climax,