The Grange advance., 1874-06-24
POLITICAL FORTRE Ess.

sick, he first of all determines the charac-
ter Of the malady, the mischief already
done or to be apprehended. This rule has
an extensive application in the affairs Of life,
and bears directly upon the present politi-
cal state Of affairs in Minnesota. Never
since the organization ofthe State has such
a powerful combination of men and mater
ial means been marshalled together in one
compact scheme to control and subjugate
the popular will as at this moment. "The
Genius and the Elements are in council "
and are bringing to bear upon the autumnal
elections every element that ingenuity and
strategy can devise. If We would be pre-
pared to counteract these evil Vaccinations
we must, like the prudent physician, anal
ize the danger that threatens and estimate
the power of the enemy. And here, be it
understood, that we designate as "the en-
emy" the old political tricksters who op-
posed the farmers movement tow ards a
political reformation of the country.
The adopts in political warfare are COM
ing into the field fully armed and equipped,
ready for a vigorous campaign and resolved
to contest the ground inch by inch over the
entire State.
First. The combination of men includes
the best drilled tacticians of the old parties.
Powerful from long prestige, old associa-
tions and experience in manipulating pub
lie sentiment
Second. These men are too adroit to rest
their chances Of success on personal merit,
but have formed an alliance with financial
capitalists for the purpose of controlling as
far as possible the public press.
Messrs. Wheelock and Driscou of the
St. Paul Press get eight thousand dollars
year from the Post Office. This secures the
service of that journal and is portion Of
Senator Ramsey'ss stock in trade and goes
to his credit on the CON pany's books.
Then there is Ramsey's old SIC, 900 stand
ing to his account on the books Of the Pio-
neer. Paulding, the late editor, was RAM
sey's man. He had him as private secre-
tary in Paris at the time the government
paid the Senator and his secretary for MAX
ing pleasure trip to that fascinating city.
On Mr.. Paulding's return he took charge of
Ramsey's interest in the so-called Demo-
cratic organ. For several years the Pho .
neer ran behind ruinously, and Bill King
had to come to the rescue, to the tune Of
$4,000, his friends say, to keep up
shadow of Democracy, and thus cripple the
chances Of success for any other paper.
Third. From St. Paul we pass to Mime
apolis and review the forces in garrison in
that stronghold. 1t is not publicly known
what money Senator Ramsey has invested
in papers in that city as Bill King has the
credit of owning them all. The Tribune,
the Evening Mail, Farmers Union and two
papers are all printed and
issued from Bill Kings printing establish
ment. Stephens and Farmers Union
(which the Dispatch calls Bill Kings side
show are for the Cabal Of course; the
Tribune is more especially King himself:
while Kings new men of the Evening
Mail profess, like the Pioneer, indepen-
dence. This independence dodge is
the shrewdest trick in the whole pro-
gramme. By this vancouver the Cabal has
in hand an organ ready should any one
threaten to start an opposition paper to
run the independent on the same
ground, kill off its rival, then fall back and
talk twaddle, leaving the field open to the
avowed Ramsey, Window, Edgerton and
King organs.
Fourth. Our diagnosis is still incomplete.
The duty assigned to the S.. Paul Press is
to bring into line and ready for action all
the postmasters Of the State and to give to
such as publish papers the cue to what they
shall say and when to say it. Again, there
are all the public contractors and Indian
ring a:ents who, from year to year since
Ramsey has been in power, have fattened
by plundering the pnblic treasury on one
side and the Indians ON the ether. Will
der's pine land contract is a specimen Of
the way in which the lucrative swag" is
thrown into the pockets of efficient agents
for past and present political services. Each
year these contracts grow more and more
valuable. A few years ago Wilder was a
shop-keeper, now he is millionaire. Be"
sides the powers above enumerated against
the people there is still reserve by which,
if necessary, certain banks. must come for
ward with accommodations in order to re-
tain the advantage Of being U. S. deposi-
tories.
This Sc lint cHo1ofov1 outline nf the a.