Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1901-10-30

holiday In Decorah last Friday. 1t
was truly republican day, and early
the city began to fill up with people
from all northeastern Iowa, who were
delighted to have the opportunity of
hearing two of Americas greatest
statesmen, the distinguished senior
senators of the greatest states OF the
middle west, Hon. Knute Nelson Of
Minnesota and Hon. VIM. B. Allison
of Iowa.
Decorah's metropolitan appearance
had been beautified with handsome
decorations of flags and bunting, her
paved streets washed perfectly clean
and day as perfect as June smiled
upon the occasion.
The honored senators arrived at S:45
a. M, after which reception was held
at the Winnesheik, where many were
introduced to them, following which
they were given a carriage ride to
Luther College and other points of
interest.
AT two o'clock in the afternoon the
Decorah City Band escorted the car
riages containing the speakers and
politicians to the stand in front of the
court house square, where the immense
crowd, variously estimated from three
to five thousand people, had assembled
upon the terraces.
After song by the Cresco Glee Club
which was enthusiastically applauded,
Senator Nelson was introduced, and
followed with an address that was
eloquent and conclusive, and was
accorded the closest attention through
out. He opened with congratulating
the state of Iowa upon her great
resources, her magnificent republican
majorities and her splendid representa-
tionin congress; complimented Senator
Allison, Speaker Henderson and Con-
gresham Haugen, and touchingly
referred to the assassination of Pres-
dent Mckinley. We must do all in
our power to prevent recurrence of
such catastrophe. Foul weeds grow
in the fairest of gardens" but anarchy
must be stamped out. The ship of
state sails smoothly on in the hands of
a younger statesman, but one confident
to securely conduct the, affairs of
government.
He then reviewed the history of the
panic of 1898, the money question, and
how republican legislation had brought
order out of chaos, restored confidence,
brought money into circulation,
opened the mills, factories and work
shops, and brought about condition
whereby every man willing to work
was given employment. There was
great increase i'm currency, the balance
of trade turned in our favor, foreign
trade continued to grow and gold kept
coming back to America in payment
for products sent abroad, filling the
banks and pockets of the people. The
United States is not only the great
producing, manufacturing and jobbing
center, but also the great financial
center of the world. All of which
came to us without the free coinage of
silver, but by the fulfllment of the
republican promises of 1896.
President Mckinley opened diplo-
matte relations with Spain for the
relief of the suffering Cubans, the
Maine was blown up, the entire coun-
try demanded war, and in April con-
gress declared it. The war began in
May, and ended July Sd, in GA days; in
results one of the greatest in history.
Other countries prophesied long war,
but in two months time the United
States utterly destroyed Spanish power
in the western hemisphere; Europe
changed her opinion and recognized
ours as leader among nations. AS a
result of this war the Philippine
Islands We're left upon our hands; they
could not be turned back to atrocious
Spain; they could not be left alone. for
suicide, anarchy and destruction would
follow, and they would be swallowed
up by European powers. The only
honorable course was to take, hold and
civilize them, giving them the bless
ings of a free country, The rebellion
must be suppressed and government
established. In 1896 the democrats
| raised the cry of axpanSion imDerial-
ism, and made God of Aguinaldo,
but now we hear nothing of it. The
American soldier in all history was
never an imperialist. In peace as well
as war he was always brave, true and
loyal to his country. He then adj
dressed himself to his comrades of the
g. A. r., urging them to loyalty sus-
tain the government.
We are one of the greatest producing
countries in the world. What we need