The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1902-07-11
SENATOR NELSON'S ADDRESS
Opening Gun Of the State Campaign Fired by the
:: ~s* - Senior Senator. #..#s u

Republican party. he said: =.
You have not forgotten. and all of you
we'll remember, the critical. hard, and I'M
promising times Of 1896.
The country was still. suffering from the
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 conf
dence was out of circulation, and hard
to earn to acquire or to borrow
business world was stagnant, stood par
alyzed and in dread of the future. And
the great masses OF the people were suf-
of the difficulties by which they were sur,
rounded, but with no clear purpose s era ana
In many cases, undecided as 10 the proper
1t was at such time and under such
conditions that the Democratic party
hoping. that out of the stagnant chaos
and despair then prevailing, they might
secure political success, and being willing
to secure victory and power at any cost
came before the American people with
their startling and dangerous program,
declaring in favor of the free and unlim-
tied coinage Of silver, seeking to array la
Dor against capital, and depreciating the
protection, by the courts and the execu.
tive. of property against lawlessness and
disorder.
And their program and policy was. as
you will remember, emphasized and inten-
animus of their standard bearer. What
ever ambiguity there may have atsu been I'm IN
cleared up and made plain by the candi-
date.
1T was at this ,juncture. and under
party. ever mindful of the welfare and
best interests of the American people,
accepted the gauge of battle and took up
the defense Of sound money. declared it's
readiness to foster and protect. in har-
mony. both capital and labor and to pre-
serve and defend both against anarchy,
I1vr ,Vrr ,v1
When the issue was first joined in that
campaign the Democratic party felt con-
fident of success, for. ut the outset it
captured the masses Of the people. And
there were many good men In the coun-
try, who were alarmed at IT,, the prospect
ness and revolutionary character of the
Democratic platform and candidate were
paralyzing and awe-inspiring.
But the Republican L. party under a,> the
menNWilliam McKinley-opened and car
ried on a campaign of education, and ap-
science and good sense or the American
people. Loyalty to the true interests of
the country and faith in the intelligence
and sober Judgment of the masses were
the fountain and cornerstone of the Re-
publican campaign.
The effervescence which existed imme-
gradually disappeared as men began to
think to reason, and to see the dangers
OF silver monometallism with incidental
labor against CAPITAL. and thus paralyzing
ar, lccrardizing both
The tide was stemmed, the creed and
gospel Of the Republican party bore fruit
and in November the American people,
under the banner of the Republican party,
gained great and glorious victory, and
were :avcd from one of the greatest
periis that had confronted the country
SINCE THE DAYS OF THE GREAT
REBELLION
The result of the election was no SOON
.er known than the country seemed to
awake to a new being and to 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
ceased, quite number Of the vanquished
in their innermost hearts, were glad that
the Union was saved.
So, when the great political struggle Of
1896 was over, there We're many men
who. from the force of habit, or who
like drowning men grasping for straw,
were nevertheless. when the heat of the
strife had subsidized, happy in the result
and silently rejoiced in the success of the
Republican party.
publican rule have but served to en-
phasize the great advantages and the
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
Industrial and economical life and de-
Velopment of the country.
which for lack of discriminating protec-
ton, bred industrial stagnation, and was
also insufficient as revenue provider.
by President Mckinley for that purpose
immediately after his Inauguration:
on some Of the Of this ae
and no tariff act can escape or is above
all criticism-it is certain that but for the
have provided the country with ample
revenue for its current expenses; and it
rs also certain and amply demonstrated
by our experience, that under it's flag our
most pronounced commercial and indus
trial revival and continued prosperity in
all our history.
Our total foreign commerce-exports
and imports-from 1898 to 1897, inclusive
"A "a period OF tive years. amounted to S.
27s, 5000, with balance of trade in
our favor for the entire period of $685.
121,s5O; while our total foreign commerce
from 1897 to April, 1902, a period of four
Years and nine months, was $1OOS6, 49,
Ut, with balance Of trade in our favor
upon the same. of the enormous sum Of
$3.50, 1854 ,391.
our foreign trade-especially the great
balance in our favor-that has alarmed
and frightened many countries of Eu-
rope. They fear and see in it-and well
they maya loss Of their Industrial and
commercial supremacy, and it's departure
to and vesture in the great republic OF
the West.
American products of the farm and fac
tory, under the momentum of enlarged
production, resulting from a good home
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,
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
finds 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
Tor months in advance of the time in
which they can be filed. And there have
been many instances and localities where
there has been a scarcity of labor.
This high degree of prosperity among
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 immi-
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