The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1876-02-10
The Conference Question.

The suggestion of Gov Davis in his mes
sage, was that a committee be appointed or
! the part OF Minnesota to confer with the au.
thorities of Wisconsin to the end of harmon
lzing the two States, touching the improve.
ment OF this harbor. Senator Graves fol
lowed IN due time with resolutions providing
for the appointment of such committee
which were adopted The recommendation
and the resolutions were drawn in temperate
language, and bore on their face an open and
candid look They purported to have in
view settlement of inter state difficulties, in
order that the means and energies heretofor,
consumed in warfare, might be directed to
the uses of peace-such as facilitating appro.
prla tions, and carrying forw ard the public
works for the common benefit without delav
or hinderance
At the start joint committee was contem
piated-hve members of the legislatures from
each state-who should consider the cues
tons at issue, and make report of their con-
clusions IN reference thereto This action
originated at the instance of citizens of Du-
iuth, prominent in standing and influence
and considerable in numbers. The Canal.
situated at the point it is was a stumbling
block and foolishness in the house of its
friends, as well as bone of contention be-
tween neighboring States Among other
matters wrong about it, the thing was not in
the right place. Ithad gone back to torment
itsperpetrators, now that.the fever and excite
ment of building was over Could it be
moved? Could some plan be devised to cor
rect an evil which had been denounced with out
cea5ing, from abroad, and which at home had
come to be regarded no less blunder than all
evil. The precise position which Wisconsin
was preparing to attack and carry, was felt
! by its defenders to be untenable or not
worth holding. Such, in brief, was the motive
that prompted the friendly overtures
Now, whatever might have come of it, the
conjuncture was surely favorable for a neigh
borly Interview. The committee had only
power to meet, confer and come to the best
conclusions possible in the case--then report
to their respective legislatures who were fully
competent TO enterta in or reject any propo-
siton of settlement that might be submitted
Nobody thought of interfering with the
/ present l.lt. s.....- OH of abun,ant oant.o !.
the citizens of Superior united in petition
to the leg. stature that no action should be
TAX en- to disturb the canal suit. A reuues.
likewise was sent to our Legislature TO the eff
feet that co mmittee of conference as pro-
posed might be appointed. 1t aas deemed
prudent as well as a matter of comfy, to
respond to the invitation which had been
courieously extended to meet, talk over af-
fairs and see what could be done towards a
mutual understanding. What was the harm
in this ? ...
There are a few, doubtless, on both sides,
whose souls are moved with a righteous alb
horence of fanything squirting at an accom-
modation of these difficulties, no matter what
might be the resulting benefits. Like the
old heathen priests, on the approach of
wicked persons at seasons of sacrifice, such
people cry out, procea, Oprocm, este prCfa1as F.!
when you speak of compromise. Being Of
light material and very combustible, they
touch and go off at the slightest heat. They
raise a smoke but no fire. They are harmless
except as they cast false light over
more solid materials.
But what now has disrupted the co ommittee
arrangement? Why does..his Minnesota excel
lency withhold from our authorities official
notice of the conference resolutions Assur-
edly the fault is not with Superior. We
have all the time been willing to meet the
oVertures. We wanted to discuss the feast
bility of measures which might lead to the
abandonment of hostilities and to peaceful and
prosperous progression side by side. Nay,
there are ideas of annexation to Minnesota,
which find favor with many of US, and if
realized would compose the whole strife
But no, the Duluth council in trembling
conclave, say that conference would q
confession of weakness and therefore go
tooth and nail against it. They trrn their
deputies, Messrs. Graves and Stone, back
} from their peaceful mission, and command
them t. go for an appropriation from the
state to tortify the crumbling piers of the
canal. This is what they call rendering the
olive brand.
Twice nas the city of Dnluth rendered
the olive branch to Superior to heal any sup
posed differences existing between them.
SO chants the seer of the Minnesotian-Herald,
This is adding Misrepresentation to injury.
1t is but another example of that law viii ch
drives those who have committed wrong
from one false position to another, so that
they become estopped, as by a decree of fate
from asserting the truth or doing the right.
Instead of taking counsel of their fears,
it would have been better for the Duluth wis
dom to have. needed that better injunction
which says Agree with thine adversary
quickly while thou art in the way with him
lest at any time the adversary oliver thes
to the Judge and the judge deliver thee t.
the officer and thou be cast into prison
Verify, thou shalt by no means come ou
thence, sill thou hast paid the uttermos
farthingn