The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1902-07-10
SENATOR NELSON'S ADDRESS
Opening Gun Of the State Campaign Fired BY the
Senior Senator.


OF the convention, made the following adj
dress. outl irs..-=..s the issues now before the
people anu = altitude upon them of the
9ou haVe P not sa0 and all Of
well remember, the critical, hard. and UNI
promising times of 1896.
The country was still suffering from the
industrial and financial stagnation and
depression which began and continued
under Cleveland's administration: The
country was full Of mechanics and labor.
ing men of all classes, idle and without
work. Money, through want of confi-
dence, was out of circulation. and hard
The Industrial the financial and the
business world was stagnant, stood par.
alyzed and in dread of the future. And
1ering. restless and pin1ng for way out
OF the difficulties by which they were sur
rounded. but with no clear purpose, ana
road to take.
= 1t was at such time and under such
conditions that the Democratic party
and despair then prevailing. they might
secure political success, and being willing
to secure victory and power at any cost
their startling and dangerous program.
declaring in favor OF the free and unlim-
tted coinage OF silver, seeking to array la
Dor against capital, and depreciating the
protection, by the courts and the execu,
tive. Of property against lawiessness ana
And their program and policy was, as
you will remember, emphasized and inten.
Si1ed by the declarations. promises ana
animus Of their standard bearer. what
ever ambiguity there may have been in
any paragraph of the platform was
cleared up and made plain by the candi-
It was at this juncture. and under
these conditions. that the republican
party. ever mindful OF the welfare and
best interests of the American people,
the defense q SOUND money. declared its
readiness to foster and protect. in har-.
both capts and ana 60 pps
lawlessness and disorder.
When the issue was first Joined In that
campaign the party arr d lets cont +
seemed as though their new gospel had
captured the masses Of the people. And
there were many good men IN the count
and fearful of the result. The very bold
ness and revolutionary character OF the
Democratic platform and candidate were
But the Republican party, under the
leadership of one Of its best and n9blest
men-William Mcklniey.opened ana car
pealed with faith and energy to the con-
science and good sense OF the American
People Loyalty to the IN the
and sober judgment of the masses were
the fountain and cornerstone. of the Re-
The effervescence which existed imme-
.diately after the Chicago convention
gradually disappeared as men began to
think to reason and to see t the 6angeas
contraction, and the danger or arraying
labor against capital. and thus paralyzing
and ieopardizing both.
The tide was stemmed, the creed and
gosepel of the Republican party bore fruit
and in November the American people,
under the banner of the Republican party,
were saved from one of the greatest
perils that had confronted the country
SINCE THE DAYS OF THE GREAT
Rebellion. -
The result of the election was no soon
awake to a new being and to a new life.
The nightmare of Democracy was past,
and the rejoicing was not alone confined
to the victim.
When the war of the great Rebellion
was over, and the fervor of battle had
ceased, quite a number of the vanquished
I'm their innermost hearts, were glad that
the Union was saved.
So, when the great political struggle of
1896 was over, there were many men
who. from the force OF habit, or who
had voted the Democratic ticket, who
were nevertheless; when the heat of the
strife bad subsidized, happy in the result
and silently rejoiced in the success of the
Republican party.
Time and more than five years of Re-
publican rule have but served to en-
great blessings that have come to the
country as result of that victory.
But the Republican party has not only
stayed the hand of the destroyer, it has
also, to a large extent and in material
degree, by judicious legislation and adj
mjnistration, fostered and promoted the
industrial and economical life and de-
veiopment of the country.
The Democratic tariff law of 1894,
which for lack OF discriminating protec-
ton, bred Industrial stagnation and was
n nrOVidar-
gave way to the Republican tariff act of
1897. passed at special session called
by President Mckinley nile for that p purpose
Whatever criticism may be pronounced
on some of the provisions of this act
and no tariff act can escape or is above
all criticism-it is certain that but for the
then unforeseen Spanish war, 1t would
have provided the country with ample
revenue for its current expenses; and 1t
is also certain, and amply demonstrated
BY our experience. that under it's flag our
country has enjoyed the greatest and
most pronounced commercial and indus
trial revival and continued prosperity in
Our total foreign commerce-exports
and imports-from 1893 to 1897. inclusive
ne. rs Sso. with e balance Of trade ei in
our favor for the entire period Of $685.
HI. $50; while our total foreign commerce
from 1897 to April 1902 period SS a Of f four
&77. with a balance of trade in our favor
upon the same, of the enormous sum of
-. 756. 100, 661, or an annual average of
$3.50, 1854 ,391.
It is this rapid and immense growth of
eur foreign trade-especially the great
balance in our favor-that has alarmed
and frightened so many countries of Eu-
rope. They fear and see in it-and well
they maya loss of their industrial and
commercial supremacy, and its departure
TO and vesture in the great republic of
the West.
American products of the farm and fac
cory, under the momentum of enlarged
market, are invading with irresistible |
force all countries of the civilized world. |
And this is merely the overflow of our
production over the home demand.
The domestic trade of our. country since
1897, resulting from our great Industrial
revival and increased productive capacity 4
has more than kept pace with our foreign |
commerce, and his increased with even |
greater force and volume. Capital has
been and still is abundant; and labor
dnds no lack of employment at fair
wages. And in many industries the de-
mand for the output is in excess of and |
outruns the productive capacity. Many
mills and factories have received orders |
for months in advance of the time in
which they can be filed. And there have 1
been many instances and localities where |
there has been scarcity of labor.
our own people is all the more remark
able because it occurs at time when |
many of the countries of the Old World |
are suffering from Industrial stagnation,
which is attested by the fact that eimmi- /
grafton is pouring to our shores from /