Year: 1879

70 the Democratic Republicans of Minnesota


We, the undersigned committee appointed
by the Democratic members of the present
Legislature to prepare an address to you upon
the political topics of the time, and the pres
eut state of affairs in our country, respectfully
submit the following: While there ls an
abundance of money in the country, and a
large surplus of manufactured commodities,
the great mass of the people see but little OF
the money and handle still less, and there il
greater suffering and distress for the neces-
sares of life than has ever before been expert
enced in our land and it is growing daily
worse The farmer finds it very difficult, if not
impossible, to pay his taxes and decently sup.
port his family and educate his children. The
skilled mechanic, with a good trade, if he can
get employment at all, is forced to work fol
such low wages as to keep him constantly on
the strain to meet his actual necessities; while
tens and hundreds of thousands, out of means
and unable to get any employment, become
demoralized tramps, and in many Instances,
breaking over all moral and legal re-
straints, become actual criminals
This state of affairs is all wrong, unnatural
and unnecessary. It has not been produced
and. is not being continued and daily aggravat-
ed by natural causes, OR the inevitable course
of events; nor are the causes beyond govern
mental remedy. In fact, the causes are direct
ly traceable to a vicious system of legislation
which has prevailed now for many long years.
great part of the legislation of the country has
long been in the interest of capital and against
labor: in the interest of certain classes at the
expense and detriment of others; in the inter.
est of associated wealth at the expense of the
people; in the interest Of the non producer tc
the detriment of the producer of wealth. And
we are now reaping the fruits and suffering the
effects of this long pursued system of class
legislation.


The system also of raising revenue FOR the
federal government, by the tariff and internal
revenue acts, practically exempts capital and
throws the burden upon the laboring classes;
and the official records show that from the close
Of the war in 1865, until 1875, and while the
Republican party had things all their own way,
there was extracted from the pockets
of the people, through the operations
of the tariff and internal revenue system, over
,rour thousand millions Of dollars, while the en-
tire amount of revenue thus collected from the
organization of the government in 1889, down
to 1865 was only about half that sum. This
enormous drain of over million of dollars per
day has been sufficient of itself to almost i'm
poyerish the people; but in addition to this.
they have been compelled to pay AS much more,
Indirectly, to favored class of individuals.
through the operations of the tariff. The con-
sequences are now seen aud felt in the hard
,tr lirhD ,S1, do
moralization prevailing throughout! the coun-
try.


Since the Democrats got control of the lower
House of Congress they have been enabled to
curtail expenses somewhat, and, to ex-
tent, check the evils entailed by the Repub-
lican party. But until party can have
full control of all branches of the government
no thorough and effective reformatory legislation
can be hoped for. So long the Republican
party is in power the banking interests, the
railroad interests, and the class interests gener
ally, can demand what they will and it is
granted unto them And 1T is a distinguishing
characteristic Of that party that it is always
swift to uphold, defend aud sustain its parti.
san officials who proven to be derelict in
their duty, incompetent or dishonest.


In proof of this we need only refer to the
scandals connected with the federal and State
administrations for years past, and the fact
that during the present session of the legisla.
ture, in the Senate, where there has been Re-
publican majority of but one vote, it has been
possible to initiate and carry out measures ol
reform to some extent, while the large Repub
lican majority of the House has effectually de-
feated every measure looking in that direction,
even resorting to the desperate means of q
party caucus to sustain its corrupt officials.


There seems to be a secret Or taeit upder.
standing between the Republican party and
those combined interests which live off the
people, that the latter shall contribute the
means to keep the former in power, and in
consideration therefor shall dictate the legisla-
tion they may want for the attainment of their
own private purposes. This coalition has con-
tinued in successful operation ever since the
close of the war, but they have blinded the eyes
of the people to it by thrusting the bloody shirt
before them, and keeping alive the old sec
tional war animosities, and thereby diverting
attention from their own evil doings.


And only so long as the Republican party
can thus deludc and deceive the people, have
they any hope of retaining power. Sooner OF
oA
Republican legislation and rule will be too
keenly felt to be dsregarded excused; and
the people will discover that, instead Of gnash-
ing teeth at the South and keeping up the old
sectional strife, relief and prosperity can only
be founa by n return to the old Democratic
governmental theory and policy Of


No class legislation.


Free trade and equal taxation.


A currency based upon coin.


Equality among the the States, and each left
to control its own local affairs.


No more sectional strife or animosity.


Legislation for the people, and nos dishonest
or inefficient officials to be tolerated.


Eqnal protection to all, and 81 ecial favors to
none.


Already the people are beginning to realize
the necessity of return to these principles of
government as the only way for relief from
present evils, and they will have to learn that
these principles be reduced to practice only
by the restoration Of the Democratic party to
power.


There is, therefore. every consideration and
announcement to induce and all friends of
reform to stand together and press forward,
shoulder to shoulder under the old Democratic
banner and the next Presidential election i'll
place osr party in power, when the reforms so
essential to the relief of the people can be
inaugurated and carried into successful opera
tion.


The vital issue now is, shall the machinery
Of the government be longer, used for the ag-
gcandisement OF certain favored classes, at the
expense of the people, Or shall all legislation
b. in the interest Of the entire people, with