The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1904-10-21
From Mondays Daily.

from Monuhy Daiiy.
The republican campaign was opened
in Mankato Saturday night in a blaze of
glory, without fireworks, but with scin-
tillations of wisdom. The opera house
was filled before the curtain went up,
and the crowd still continued to come.
Leading party members from this city
and the surrounding country occupied
seats on the stage, and there above them
hung a beautiful silk flag, on either side
of which were the pictures of Roosevelt
and Fairbanks Above the foot lights
were large pictures of Roosevelt, Dunn
and McCleary.
The Concordia band furnished music,
rendering several selections before the
speech in a very acceptable manner.
DR.. j. w. Andrews, chairman of the
county committee, presided, and first an
nounced the band, which played ''The
Star Spangled Banner" The Whipple
twins sang a duet so nicely that they
were called back and delighted the au-
dience the second time.
Dr. Andrews, in introducing Senator
Nelson, congratulated the audience on
the opportunity which it had of hear
ing speaker who had an international
reputation, being almost as well known
in the halls of parliament, in England
and Germany, France and Sweden as in
this country.
Senator Nelson appeared at his best,
and was closely listened to and frequent
ly interrupted with bursts of applause.
He said that on the eve of an important
election that concerns the welfare and
honor of the nation for the next few
years, and of a state election that con-
Germs the welfare and credit of the
state for the next two years, it becomes
us to take our bearings, as voters, at
this time. Our government is one by
political parties. One party is the re-
publican, the other the democratic, which
is much older in years, and some think
in iniquity. 1t is well to look them in
the face and see what they have done.
The democratic party has had complete
control of the government but for foul
years, the republicans the remainder OF
the time since the war. The situation in
1892 was similar to what it is today
The country had enjoyed a period OF
prosperity and during the previous four
years had reduced the public debt $780,
100000. Wages were good and there was
plenty of work, and it seemed as though
long period of prosperity was due
Yet the democrats hoodwinked the peo-
pie by promising that tariff reform would
bring higher degree of prosperity than
ever before. The majority of the peo-
pie were foolish enough to believe this
and placed the democratic party in pow
er. When it became known what was
to happen, the entire commercial and
manufacturing world became stagnant
and mills We're shut down or the out.
put reduced. The acts which the demo
cratic party took toward free trade re-
suited in the country being thrown into
an industrial and financial panic, thous.
ands of people were thrown out of en-
ployment, and an army of laboring men
tramped around looking for work at re.
duced wages.
On the heels of this came a financial
stagnation and panic, and money was
withdrawn and went into hiding in safe
ty deposit vaults, bureau drawers and
old stockings. We dragged through foul
long, weary years, and then in 1896 the
democratic party came forward with the
gospel of free silver, knowing that il
could not get us to take another dose OF
tariff reform. The republican party said
that there was no lack of money and
that if the old protective tariff policy
was restored it would start the factories
and of itself give confidence and bring
money ont of hiding. The people had
the good sense to elect Mckinley, and
then confidence was installed, and before
congress met we could see the sunrise OF
prosperity and the incipient stage of the
great and wonderous prosperity that we
have enjoyed since under the Dingley
protective tariff law.
On the heels of this industrial reviv
al came great increase of commerce, will
great balance of trade in our favor
The balance of trade during the foul
years of democratic ascendency averag
ed $l75, 100000, while the average is now
$54O,0OO,O 900. Out of that came the solu
ton of the money question, for the ole
world had to liquidate the balance Of
trade with securities and money. Under
Cleveland steady stream of gold sail
ed across the Atlantic, and he was com
PEELED to borrow $3.50, 1000, 900 to replenisl
the treasury in time of peace. Sine,