River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1873-10-21
PRESENT ISSUES DISCUSSED
An Able Review of the
Situation.
Speech Of Gov. C. C. Washhurn
At Fond du Lac, October 8, 1873,

When / accepted the other day, nom
nation for Governor, stated that should
feel 1t to be my duty TO address the peo
pie, to some extent, between that time and
the day of election.
Though TO me there Is no duty more
unpleasant than that of speaking in pub
lie, and though there is scarcely any voice
that I would not rather hear than my own
still regard it as the right of the people
to hear from their public servants, and
the duty of the servant to respond, how.
ever unpleasant that duty may be.
PEOPLES MONEY HONESTLY EXPENDED
Having been Governor for nearly two
years, the people who pay the bills have
the right to ask if the State has been
wisely governed, and their money hon.
estly expended. l think may safely as
sure them that the administration of the
State Government in the past two years,
has, in all its branches, been entirely in
accordance with their wishes. Perfect
peace has prevailed throughout our entire
borders. There have been no infractions
of law, that the local authorities have not
been entirely competent to deal with. The
State was never more free from crime
and there was never higher moral tone
pervading it than now. A kind Provl.
dence has blessed the husbandman with
such harvest as has not been known for
many years, and good prices are pretty
well assured until the next harvest. Our
manufacturing industry is progressing
rapidly, and gives promise OF bright fu'
ture for us as great manufacturing State
and our railway development has been
undated.
COST Upstate GOVERNMENT.
The ordinary expenses for the support
of the State Government for the last year
were 1897 ,594S3, or about 30 cents per
capita.
The extraordinary expenses were $685.
S4S.13. These extraordinary expenses
are: for interest on our State debt, $780,
032.t5; for our charitable and penal in
situations, Sass, 707.S9; for special appro-
priations, $l20, 10S.O9.
PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS.
The management of all our public in
stitutions appears TO have been economic
al and humane.
Our charitable institutions are excelled
by no other state, and it is source OF just
pride to our people that it is so. Nothing
can reflect greater credit upon the state,
than the fact that here, all that human
kindness can do for the relief of those,
who, in the Providence of God, have been
deprived of reason, speech, hearing and
sight is done. All this, our people have
done in the most loving and generous
manner, and l have never yet found a
man within the state mean enough to
complain that it was so. 1t is a sad
thought that so many require our aid.
The Northern Hospital for the Insane,
at Oshkosh noble structure-but only
about two-thirds completed, was opened
about ninety days ago, and INDUCED the
hope that it would afford accommoda-
tions for most of the insane in the state
who could not be cared for at Madison !;
but it was filled TO its utmost capacity
almost Immediately, and yet we know Of
many who, from necessity, are deprived
of hospital treatment, and who, in jails
and poor houses, are dragging out life
more intolerable than death itself l
shall ask your representatives next win
ter, should / be Governor, to provide for
the completion of this hospital on the
original plan, when it is hoped that all
may be taken in and properly cared for
| do not know that | need say more in
regard to the affairs of our state, except
TO remind the people that this prosperous
and happy condition of state affairs exists
and has existed for many years under a
Republican state administration. The
public, believe, are satisfied; at least the
administration has not and cannot be sue
cessfully assailed, and the people will
keep 1t in power so long as 1t fairly and
honestly represents their wishes. When
il fails to do that, il mast give place to a
party that will. That the Republican
party will continue. TO meet the just ex-
pectations of the public, cannot doubt
If they live up TO the principles of their
platform in this and other states, the peo-
pie must be satisfied. But do not dis
guise from myself the fact that platforms
are often made only to be broken; or for
get that Hindoo adage, which says, that
words are the daughters OF earth, but
deeds are the sons of heaven" The peo-
pie are not going 10 be satisfied with fair
words, well said, but will require deeds to
accord with them.
CALAMITIEs OF TWO YEARS AGO.
II Is now lacking but three days Of be-
ing two years, since | addressed the peo-
pie of this city jointly with Judge boo.
little, my opponent for Governor. On
the morning that was leaving this city,
and while waiting at the railway station,
the news was received that the great city
ef Chicago was in ashes. ] shall never
forget the emotions Of that hour, or the
looks Of anguish and despair of the as
ssembled multitude, some Of whom were res
idents of aunfortunate city, while many
others had near aud dear friends there.
But we live to see a new and better Chi.
cago. The despair OF that day soon gave
way before the indomitable. will of our
people. A few hours later, aAd the tales
of Peshtigo and other fated towns smote
the ear. But while the memory Of those
dread calamities has almost passed away
the remembrance Of tho noble charities
Of the world which they called forth, Is
still fresh TO remind us Of that touch OF
nature which makes the whole world kim
FINANCIAL REyuLsIos.
Great and tragic al was the calamity Of