THE HESPERIAN
whole country, each taking up some subject that he has in
vestigated thoroughly, and putting it into readable form.
These bulletins should be widely circulated among the farm
crs of the state so that they may become interested in the
work of the station. It was for them that this station was
planted, and indeed without their co operation and support
there would be little need for such an institution. Men who
desire to make a study of practical fanning can obtain
much valuable information from these bulletins. In short,
they arc indispensable, and should occupy a prominent shelf
in every farmer's library.
State conventions have come and gone. Full delegations
have been selected to attend the national conventions which
will shortly be held in Chicago and St. Louis. As usual the
men with thcirbarrcls, tried to manipulate the convenlions.and
to send men to represent our state who were allies of the
bummer clement, and hostile to clean polities. Hy the fore
sight and wisdom of the conventions this clement was neg
lected, and in almost every case men were chosen who will
represent their constituency in an honest and impartial man
ner. It is a relief to the better clement in both parties to
know and feel that the unscupulous politicians, who have by
the aid of the "ring" managed to run the political machinery
of this state in such a manner that all gain would accrue to
them individually and not their parties, can no longer muster
sufficient force to trample under foot the sacred rights of
their constituents for the sake of private gain. We sincerely
hope the time will never come again when this bummer cle
ment shall be permitted by the people of this state to dictate
to them. Political parties should be managed with a view to
benefit the people, and not to benefit dishonest and dis
reputable men who pose as leaders. We arc glad to note a
general awakening among all classes to the realization of
the fact that they have been hood winked, and by intimida
tion forced to support the rascals who have proved to be their
enemies. The only lault we have to find is that the people
have been asleep too long. If the spirit that pervaded the
late conventions had been manifested years ago Nebraska
would now have some claim to a political system bordering
on decency.
whether he be a foreigner, so long as he can do the woik and
do it cheap. Yet the factory man has the audacity to de
mand that his employes purchase at his will.
This is what a protective tariff docs for the laborer. Hy
unceasing toil and a desire to see our country prosperous the
laboring man has sacrificed himself on the altar of protection.
Shall he continue to do so? We believe it is not to his in
terest to do so longer. lie has denied himself many years in
order to promote home industries. Now our manufacturing
interests arc as firmly established as those of any other country.
They are able to stand alone. Then why not allow the whole
nation to enjoy the privileges ol low priced articles instead of
permitting a few manufacturing concerns to grow rich at the
expense of the laborers of this country. Ncbiaska wants a
reduction of tariff, and we are pleased to learn that our Re
publican congressmen are going to vote for a partial reduc"
turn at least, whether it agrees with the boss rule business of
'stick to party on this question" or not.
Congress is just now occupied by rehashing the oft-told
story, free trade versus protection. Indeed the tariff ques
tion has come to be the dividing line between the ruling
parties, and it is but fair that our representatives put in their
time discussing this all-important question. We call it im
portant, for it is a question that seriously concerns the labor
ing man on the one hand and vested industries on the other.
That the laboring man is better paid with a protective tariff
than he would be without it docs not seem plausible. True,
his daily wages may average him 50 cents more than the
wages of an English laborer, but when he has to pay, for all
articles purchased by him, about twice as much as he would
with the duties off, it seems reasonable to suppose that at the
end of the year his financial condition cannot be better with
a high tariff.
To say that the tariff keeps up wages is absurd. Wages
will increase or decrease according to the number of work
ing men. If one man offers to work for less than another the
manufacturer will hire him without ceremony. What differ
ence does it make to him who he hires? He will take the
cheapest labor he can get, without regard to the rights of
the laboring man. It don't make any difference to him
whether the man he hires is an American citizen paying taxes
to support the manufacturing interests of this country or
Another of our nation's greatest statesmen has been
called to rest. The career of Roscoc Conkling was brilliant
and useful, yet not what it might have been had the party to
which he belonged been quicker to appreciate his services.
He was among the first to join the Republican party. Hy un
ceasing toil he helped to place it upon a solid foundation.
In him were all the elements of a party commander. Hy the
magic of his presence, and the power of his oratory he was
the man ably fitted to hold his party's bark in the channel of
success, uthcr men, not so worthy as he, sought his scalp.
They took it for he would not resist. lie towered above
partywhcneveranygie.it issue came up. His aim was nut
to enrich himself at the expense of his party. He chose
rather to serve it. His great and only blemish was his aris
tocratic bearing. He had slight sympathy for the lower
classes, and did nothing towards raising them to a higher
plain of citizenship. His mission seemed to be to deal with
great men, and consequently the lower classes were neglected.
His party, through the influence of a few, cast him off be
cause they feared him. Neglected, rejected, forgotten until
death siczed him; this was his fate. Then, and not till then,
did his party begin to appreciate his services. At his death
all were anxious to kneel at his shrine. Then they saw, when
it was too late, how he had been neglected. His magnificent
faculty for grappling with weighty questions; his uncompro
mising disposition; and his untiring efforts to make his party
supreme, together with his fidelity, honesty and patrotism,
will live and grow upon the minds of the members of the
party to which he belonged, and will serve as a noble ex
ample for them to follow in the years that are to come.
Destiny marked out his path as it often has for other men.
Many a man fitted to receive honors from his country has
been neglected until death, untimely death, snatched him
from earth. Conkling was not an exception.
JEFERSON.
KNIGHT l'RIZE ORATION.
While examining a popular history of the United States, a
few days ago, I read in reference to Jeflcrson: "His great
services in the Revolution, his draft of the Declaration of
Independence, his acquisition of Louisiana, and the purity
and grandeur of liis character placed him in public estima
tion next to Washington." This is generally believed to be
true. Examine his career for proof of the statement. If it be
true, the reputation of Jefferson will not suffer from the exam-