Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1876-12-28
Starr OF MlNNRoOTA.
EEcurivH DEPARTMENT
Sr. pAuI. Dec. 20. 1870.

EkEcurivE DEPARTMENT
ST.. PAUL, Dec 20, 1876.
To the pastors of tue several religious de.
nominations; 10 the officers of the
various charitable associations, and to
the humane and philautropic, individ.
uslly and collectively, throughout the
State Of Minnesota, this appeal 10 earn.
cstly made.
Repeated applications for relief hare
been made to me for months past, by per.
sons claiming to be sufferers from grass
hopper ravnKes in various frontier coun.
Tics of this State. Although these ap-
peals were apparently supported by
various concurrent representations, they
were received witl, some distrust On &C.
count Of thu: abuses frequently resulting
from the practices of unauihOtiEcd and
unworthy solicitors Ut public aid.
In order, therefore, to ascertain beyond
question the actual condition Of these
people, I have visited many OF them in
their homes, md verified by personal In.
tercoursc and observation, the worthy
character of the sufferers, aud the urgent
necessity for their speedy succor from
impending aud extreme restitution.
MANY localities In the frontier counties
Of the southwestern portion Of this State
have sustained au almost total loss of
crops for four YEARS in succession, and
the people who have suffered these con-
staut ravagcs have been compelled to
mortgage not only their farms but their en-
tire stock and household goods to pro.
cure means to avert
STARVATION FROM THEIR rA4lLHa.
Most Or tue inlprovident and unscrupu-
lous persons who were disposed 10 beg
cling and 70 trade upon the distress Of
their neigh6ors, have been forced to ab.
sent Themselves, and those WHO remain
are among the very best people in the
State. Indeed, their humble Pride and
noble spirit Of self.dependence. as evi.
denced by thIer indisposition to reveal
The full extent Of their poverty. appeal to
to the worthicst impulses Of our common
nature. Instances are not infrcquent Of
strong men reduced to extreme poverty,
who, in behalf Ut still more destitute
neighbors. pcrsistently disclaim any nectl
Of AID for themselves; while the spectacle
of parents who maintain themselves in
faith and hope, but break down at any
allusion 10 their half naked children, is
such As to touch the hardest hearts. Many
Of these people are living upon . single
article NJ toO<l-in some instances flour.
in others potatoes, aud not unftcQuently
bran OF shorts. They posses. variously.
from twenty to dlty pounds Of flour per
family, or = like quantity Of inferior food,
as their sole dependence until the CON-
ing of another crop. Unless relieved
they must reach the point Of starvation
before the
WINTER II HALF GONE.
= g., rvn~i~ol~, "s1Noe~en S1>AS~ IL
serving Of Md ~ho cannot be reached by
ordinary modes Of distribution. They
must bc persistcntly sought out. For
this reason, n we'll a. the doubtful consti.
tutionality and the still more qucstiona-
bic policy Of the measure. hesitate TO
RECOMMEND any plan of general relief by
the Stale; which, however well meant,
must inevitably tend to sggravate the evil,
By tempting the unworthy, and impair.
ing among all, wholesome Habits of self
reliance. But there can be no question
either Of the necessity or Of tue happy
results Of the individual and associa,ed
charity now solicited. However it may
be with those who receive aims, the effec,
is always good upon those who give Them
In this case both givers and receivers
must experience the saluiary effect Of
ScucJVuS stIN ~" o1NS S1bC \ISSC1
I respectfully and earnestly ask the
pastors Ut our several religious denonin
atoms to appeal to the christian charity
Of their respective congregations; and
suggest that they set day apart for spec
ial contributions tow ard this object. And
moreover invoke the aid of all benevo
lent societies. and of individual charity
in such shape and by such means as may
| Gc deemed exPcdient towards All otjcc
so obviously commendable. Surely THU
glad season. which celebrates the coming
Of Him who was "a man Of SORROWS ant
acquainted with grief" there can be NJ
more fitting or blessed service than tina
kindly remembrance Of the afflicted
which he constantly crjOincd.
CONTRIBUTIONS
may be made in money, provisions aus
clcthing. The first Is preferable, rs b!
judiciOus expenditures in most urgent di
rections, the best results are obtained.
food he contributed, -four and beans ar,
most serviceable articles in point Of sus
tenance and economy. Cast.of clothing
OF all sizes. and especially for children
Hill be gladly received.
! Ipropose myself 10 revisit the des,i
tute localities, to personally distribute
the contributions, anu TO carefully seel
out the mos. necessitous and worthy re
cipients; ind ask contributors to &dvis,
me by letter, OF the money and characte
Of the articles contributed; whereupol
instructions will be given relative to tn
disposition Of the contributions.
john 8. P1LlsBUR1.
! Governor.