The weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1852-1858, 1854-05-27
THE MINES TIA N
The Pioneer in full Retreat.

Pioneer had taken decided ground against the
Homestead bill. The fact that the editor had
been recently visited with some new lights
from Washington, which gave him some reason
to suppose that the bill would be vetoed if il
should pass Congress, led us. as well as every
body else with whom we conversed upon the
matter, to suppose the Pioneer was getting out
an anchor to windward, that it might be pre-
pared to ride the storm which such an event Is
certain to create, In safcty-n other words, TO
stand on winning ground with the Adminstra-
tion. We never dreamed that man possessed
Of grain of common sense or judgment, even
though he might be opposed to the principles
of right and justice embodied in the Homestead
bill, would think to gain favor with the people
ofMinncsota by putting forth such doctrines as
aas following, which is an extract from the
Pioneers article of Wednesday:
..Granting lands to the lazy landless, can
never enhance the value of the public domain.
No man is worth having in new country. who
lacks the energy to gather together the small
pittance now demanded by the government for
its public lands. There may be exceptions, Oc-
casioned by long and continued misfortuncs,
but the rule in general will hold good. Such
course would bring upon the frontiers, where
we want live, active workers, the curse OF an
idle population. willing to declare themselves
paupers. and always to remain so. For, the
able bodied man who would take a grant OF
land under the provisions of the contemplated
Homestead bill, when an acre costs no more
than the price of dozen tipples, has shift.
less lazy 'paupcr-by-naturc' stamped on
him as irremovably as if placed there by pre-
cent of fore ordination. Wcwant no such men
here, to act as clogs and hindrances to the de-
velopment of our glorious Northwest Their
presence would be an insult to our fruitful, and
generous soil"
Consequently, the conclusion was forced
upon those who had their attention called to this
naughty and purse-proud insult to the poor
and industrious landless, that the editor was
willing to sacrifice the good will and favor OF
this worthy class for the sake ofstanding high
at Court, and getting, some time, remunerat-
ing mess Of pottage from that quarter The
Pioneer has SO long been self interest pa.
per misunderstanding Democracy when
that kind of music would best pay, and hang
ing on to the skirts ofthe Wings when such was
the surest way ofputting money into its purse,
that it has become almost proverbial that no line
Of policy which it may choose to advocate one
day is any guaranty that it will continue on
the next This is the character the paper
has here at home, among those who know
1t best; and thei cfore We were not in such
hurry to pitch into the false doctrines put
forth on the Homestead question as some of our
ncighbors, although we had set apart to-day
for that purpose.
Our views upon this important measure have
been SO often spread before the public ofMinne-
sofa, that it would scarcely have been nccessa-
ry to reiterate them at this time, even had not
the Pioneer beat hasty retreat yesterday
morning, backing entirely out from the uncnvi-
able position taken two days before. We give
the editor the full benefit of his apology to our
insulted people by publishing the whole of his
last article save one Irrelevant sentence.
The PIONEER AND TIE HOMESTEAD Bill
BY one OF tnUse accidents which, if not abso.
!utely unavoidable, are certainly very annoy
ing, communication which was sent us by a
iriend, containing sentiments adverse to the
principles contained in the measure now before
Congress, and known as the Homestead Bill
was, instead of being published as such, print.
ed IN our paper as editorial and thus we were
committed to doctrines we do not entertain
Inc article appearing in the shape it did, at
tracted the notice of the editor of the Times
who replied in terms and spirit challcn ging ou
entire sympathy and appreciation.
Inc flOneer'has always been an ardent ad
Vocate OF the doctrines embodied in the Home
stead Bill, and its course will remain uncbong
ed. Since the idea of granting homes to t6,
homeless was first presented to the attention O
congress through a bill introduced by Senator
walker OF Wisconsin, the present editor of tn,
siOneer mas on various occasions. and through
different journals, fully endorsed the principIc
ana urged its adoption. as of immeasurahlc ben
eilt TO the East and West. These convictions
were forced upon us after years of residence i,
tne west, and they have been strengthened b,
all succeeding thought and observation ~,
are indebted to the blundcr. however onnovin.
as II has been to u.s. for the admirable article i,
the Times in defence ofthe Homestead RilI an,
Ior prlcklng up our caution in reference to sucl
accidents hereafter" ~ '"''
Now, respect for the word of a gentleman
courtesy to brother editor, and sympatbv fo
man VINO has gotten himself into the wors
KIND OF "scrape" with the people anon
whom ne resides, compel us to believe, to tn
iuil extent, all that is here written. But Their
"re divers and sundry less easily convinced ne,
sons than We in the community, who will 81
una oelleve, that the able vindcation of til
Tree land principle and the character of the me
"hom it is intended to benefit, which appearc
In the Times on Thursday morning. in rcplv I
the Pioneers gross attack, and the severe .ra,
ing down" which our neighbor of the Democr;
gave the derelict editor on the same day, force
MIN to get out of the dilemma coma ho,,,
other, and he chose the awkward manner he di
plays above. These questioning and doubtiu
persons, who are very large class, will natu
ally think il strange, that even commune
ton, embodying sentiments so outrageous
unjust to thousands of our meritorious citizen
and these sentiments, too, so directly (as is no
Stated) at war with the editors own view
should be allowed to go into the Pioneer wifi
out oeins accompanied with strongly disa,
proving editorial Remarks at the time An
more particularly strange will they rerord ~
ut