The Grange advance., 1874-03-04
lKaatius Donnelly and the st. Paul
'.@777 = = - E~ Press. >':'~"2ss

-
entertain no sentiments Of love and affec-
tion for each other, and have not done so
for many years. Each has exhausted upon
the other the whole vocabulary Of abusive
ep;thets, in the use of which it would be
difficult to say which is endowed with the
highest talent. Either of them in calm
and unimpassioned moments would ac-
knowledge that they have both frequently
played the fool. The Press is undoubtedly
journal of great merit. and conduct ed
with superior ability. Mr.. Donnelly has
long been acknowledged to be one of the
most talented men in the whole country,
and yet each has been guilty of words and
actions towards each other that have been
utterly disgraceful.
Although we have. been compelled to
differ very materially from MIR. Donnelly
| in reference 10 some Of the measures he
has urged in the Senate during the present
! session, yet we know that he has labored
continually and faithfully for what he be-
lieved to be the interests of the State and
people. Yet, notwithstanding this fact
the Press has allowed itself to he governed
by very petty spite toward Mr.. Donnelly,
and has opposed every measure thai he
has devised, no matter how meritorous it
may nave been. Instead of keeping right
along at his work and utterly lisregarling
the continual TRADE Of malicious abuse
poured upon him from day to day. Mr..
Donnelly has from time to time replied to
these outrageous charges and to this oppo
sition founded solely in spite in doing
| which. we think he acted very toolishly.-
At length the Press made the dist inct
charge that Mr.. Donnelly, while q member
| Of Congress, demanded and received s..
500 OF paid-up stock in the Hastings s. Da-
kota railroad in compensation for his legis-
lative services as Congressman in procur-
| ing the land grant for that road, and then
demands that Donnelly should prove that
he didn't do any such thing. Now we have
always supposed that when a charge of
this nature was made it ought to be fol-
lowed by proof instead Of calling upon the
party charged to show that he is innocent
The Press says it can prove by Gen. LeDuc,
former President Of the road, that Dom
| nelly did demand and receive the said stock,
Well, why does it not do so? If this is a
fact the people want to know II the Press
can prove it, why does it not do so? We
don't ask that Gen. LeDuc he sworn and
testify under oath, but that he simply make
a statement Of this fact, if it is fact
The columns of every paper in the State
are at his disposal. If Mr.. Donnelly made
this demand and received this stock for
legislative services, and Mr.. LeDuc knows
that fact. he is almost as guilty as Donnelly
If he does not make it known to the people.
We suspect, however, that this charge
of the Press is like many others it has
made, melted by malice, and done for 20
litical purposes. But if this is not so. let
us know the truth Of the matter. Let US
know who we can trust and who we can't
LeDuc is no friend of Donnelly's, and can
not be suspected Of holding back any thing
to favor Donnelly. If he knows any thing
about the matter, which the Press says he
does, let him speak at once. Wenahe Pill be
glad to place the columns ~
GRANGE ADVANCE at his disposal ~
meantime we give place to a leta dr.!
dressed to the Press by some of the best
men Of Hastings and officers Of the Hast
ings & Dakota road:
HASTINGS, Minn., Feb. %. 1874
Editors St. Paul Press:
In your attack on Senator Donuelly, a
few days since, you made reference to his
having demanded, and that he had been
paid So, 500 in stock by the Hastings and
Dakota R. r. Go. for his services in Con-
gress in aid Of that company. We the un-
dersigned were at that time Directors and
stockholders of the Hastings and Dakota r.
R. company, and voted for giving him the
stock, but did so in a very different sense
from that in which you put it. The stock
was voted to Mr.. Donnelly upon the repre-
sentation Of Gen. LIE Due, President Of the
company, who stated privately and at the
meetings Of the Board, that Mr.. Donnelly
had labored hard and zealously in Congress
to obtain a land grant for the road. That
after the charter and grant had been OBJ
tanned, it was impossible to obtain the money
to commence operations, and that he, Mr..
Donnelly, aided him in negotiating a loan
from Oakes Ames, for which service, aud
others outside Of his Congressional duties, LIE
Duo asked US to vote Mr.. Donnelly 50, 500
in stock, saying that it would only in part
compensate him for his trouble. We knew
that Mr.. Donnelly had performed these SER