The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1900-09-15
Nebraska and the two Dakotas, in the
year 1900 produccd.

year 1899 produced:
Minnesota Bushels, Farm value,
wheat ..6Sooo,ooo $4,000 900
Corn ....3I 100000 100000
Iowa
Wheat zee. ...1S,ooo,ooo 100000
Corn 80. .242, 100000 55,oooOoo
South Dakota
Wheat 49,. =. 100000 100000
North Dakota
Wheat 49,. =. 100000 25,ocoooo
Wheat .... 100000 100000
Nebraska
wheat 100000 10000 600
Corn go. .224,OO 100000
The total value OF the crops named OF
all these states for last year was only
$221 100000, less than we are paying an
nuaSy for our army and naval establish
ments under the imperial regime.
The entire amount expended for cdu-
cation in the United States for the year
1893, which is the last year for which l
have authentic figures was $4,000, 900.
Our average consumption of wheat is
less than five bushels per capita. AS
Stunning our population to be 5000, 900,
our consumption of wheat would be
375,ooo,ooo bushels. At the average
farm price, which does not exceed 60
cents, the cost OF the nations bread is
$225,ooo,ooo, the same sum that we pay
tor our army and navy. When the peo-
pie find that they are paying more for
the instrumentalitics OF war than they
are for education and as much as for
bread, will they not conclude that it is
time to weigh carefully the merits OF
imperialism, before taking the final step
and fastening it upon our country?
he same interests that prompted the
formation OF trusts in industry, that adj
vocate the establishment OF colonial
system and the maintenance of a large
military establishment, have induced the
Republican party to surrender to them
the country's finances. Garfield said that
ne who controlled a country's volume
of money controlled its trade and in
dustry. By the legislation OF the last
congress, which, finally turned over the
governmental function Of issuing paper
money to the national banks, those ia
vored institutions have obtained COM
pletc control OF our finances and our
business. 1t is in their power to suffer
good times or to produce a panic.
They can pursue either course as suits
their caprice or interest No other
country on earth has committed such
power to private hands. We believe that
the issuance OF money is government
tai function and should not be delegated
to private corporations. We believe
that the coinage OF both silver and gold
as standard money and as basis for
credit would insure greater stability in
prices and more equal justice between
borrower and lender and all interests;
but the people by their representatives
J., ~,
complexion OF the senate is such that
NOT THE REMOTEST POSSIBLE
1TY that this can be disturbed during
the next administration. Hence it is of
no profit to discuss that question at this
time. l repeat, as l said two years ago,
the gold standard is on trial. If by rea-
-son OF an increase in the output OF gold,
or for other cause, that metal alone shall
prove sufficient in quantity adequately
to perform the functions OF standard
money, and as the basis of credit, then
we are all satisfied. If it fails in that
regard, our people will not be the only
nation to discover it, and the question
of standard will then be adjusted in due
season, as other economic questions
have been adjusted from time to time in
the past. 1t is, after all. only an eco
omic question, and as such, whether set
tied rightly or wrongly. cannot mater
ially affect our institutions. Economic
questions in the nature Of things are
only relatively right or wrong. They
are not like the questions that go to the
very core of Our institutions and to the
form of our government. This is illus
trated by the tariff question. During
tI,a he OS Il
free trade, and we have had extreme
those policies, in the nature OF things,
must be right or wrong. They cannot
both be right in the same country I'M
der substantially the same conditions
and within short period OF time; but
the country has continued to increase in
wealth and the people have prospercd
under each regime SO that the utmost
that can be said of an economic qucs-
ton is that it is only, as l have said,
relatively right or relatively wrong. A
mistake OF that character can be right
cd. IT we convert Our republican insti
tutions into an imperial form Of govern
mcnt the history of the world holds tip
no promise but that OF national de-
struction.
l do not contend that the election of
MIR. Mckinley this fall would result in
the establishment of an empire during
his administration. But do believe,
and do insist that the victory OF Han
naism which his election would imply
and lead to, would irrcvocably fastcn
upon the country policies which would
eventually, notwithstanding that our in
situations for long time continued re-
publican in form, lead to empire as GER
tainly as the succession of day and
night.
These are the facts; this is the situa-
ton. Is it difficult then, to determine
what the issues are?
STATE ISSUES.
Important as these questions are,
there are other questions involved in
this campaign peculiar to our people as
Minnesotans, that deserve our attention
and the careful consideration OF the
people quite as do the national qucs-
lions.
First and foremost among these is the
question of taxation. What assumed
the discharge of the duties OF my Of
fee, I found, as I had contendcd the
\ facts to be in the preceding campaign,
that the bulk of the taxes collected by