The Minneapolis journal., 1902-07-01
SENATOR NELSON'S SPEECH

Senator Nelson's speech at the opening
of the republican state convention To-Day
Is an able review of the performance Oh
the republican party during the past SIX
OF. eight years. He recalls the conditions
which obtained in 1896. and adverts to the
causes which produced the distress from
which the country then suffered The
magical effect of republican success IN
1896, and of the final overthrow OF the
great financial heresy which stalKeo
through the land. is pointed out IN the
wonderful revival Of trade both at nome
and abroad Due notice Is taken of the
unprecedented development of our tor
eign commerce and the influence OF wise
financial legislation, particularly In the
direction of increasing the banking ia
ciIities Of the country.
On the subject of trusts. Senator Nelson
takes high ground, recognizing on one
hand the benefits Of organization In In
dustry and the consolidation Of the ener-
gfes Of capital and experience for united
and powerful effort; but he clearly dis
eliminates between the legitimate en-
ployment of this power and the abuse
OF 1t. He cites the efforts of the repub-
licans in congress to amend the con-
stitution so as to provide for more ef-
fective legislation against trusts, and the
defeat of that effort by the solid demo-
cratic vote. :, ...- 49,.
The railroad merger question naturally
receives special attention, and in this
connection the senator expresses ad-
mirably the sentiment and feeling of the
people of this state-a feeling not of hos
tility to railroads or to individuals but
of loyalty to sound principles expressed
inllaw, and a determined resistance to the
establishment of conditions which would
make it possible for nonresident cor
porations to cripple and retard the de-
velopment of the country through selfish
and unsympathetic policies. x l.
The senator reviews the history Of the
work of the administration in the Philip
pines and in Cuba, and makes vigorous
response to the traducers of our soldiers
who rely upon false or exaggerated
charges Of cruelty to excite antagonism
among the people to the policy Of the ad-
ministration. He lays great emphasis
upon what has been done for Cuba in the
way of freeing that island from Spanish
domination, feeding her starving people,
cleaning her filthy cities, destroying pes
thence and disease, and finally, at the
time appointed, passing over into the
,randslof the people themselves the privi-
1eges and duties Of self -government-an
act which has challenged the admiration
,.;z 4 !,
viction Of the disinterestedness and high
minded attitude Of the great republic
toward that island and it's people.
One question, however, which the sena-
tor asks, calls to mind the fact that our
duty to Cuba is not yet finished. And
what have we not done for poor, bleeding
Cuba ?" he adds.
We have done much 1t is true, but We
have fallen short Of our full duty. We
have failed to keep our obligations to
open to her, on terms of special favor,
the avenues Of trade and commerce and
thus enable her to enjoy the largest ben
eft of our friendship. And the remark
able thing is that men in public life, rep
resenting a constituency sensitive and
S
lions of this weighty character should
be Indifferent to these obligations and
so misrepresent the sentiment of their
constituents as to place serious obstacles
in the way of discharging our duty toward
Cuba as it ought to be rendered. The in
dications at the present time are that
Cuba, although free and independent by
our favor, is likely, by the Withholding Of
our favor and assistance where it has
been pledged and where it Is most really
needed, to fall upon worse days than she
has ever experienced. Commercial dis
S tress and = financial ruin threaten
that island, and poor, bleeding Cuba"
appeals to US for help in vain. But she
will not always SO appeal. The hearts Of
the American people are attuned to the
Z cry Of the weak and are never Indifferent
long at time to consciousness of their
own obligations. Cuban reciprocity may
be delayed but 1t is not defeated.