The St. Cloud journal. [volume] (St. Cloud, Minn.) 1866-1876, 1876-01-27

As to what position Minnesota
shall occupy at the Centennial Ex-
hibition depends upon the present
Legislature. If that body shall ap-
preclate, in anything likeansintelss
ligent manner, the Importance Of the
opportunity and shall vote fair ap-
preparation, this State will be enabled
to make the display and attract the
attention it is entitled to. If the
same narrow and iliberal spirit which
appears for the time being atlsastt to
have masterea the majority in the
Senate ahall dictate the policy Of both
Houses, Minnssots will b passed by
almost unnoticed in the cramped
space awarded her among the thous-
ands Of other exhibitors III the gener-
Al buildings. She will be able to
play = part in the grand commemora-
ton pageant too tritiing to be remem-
bered even if seen. Our citizens, in
stead Of being able to look upon aud
to recall the appearance Of their State
with pride, will feel only modification
for her shabbiness and indignation
for the men whose narrowness and
false economy forced upon them and
her this humiliation. ..
In some respects Minnesota
has been unfortunate during
the past few years. A blind
ing snow storm, sweeping across
the prairies without = moments warn
ing, caused the loss Of many lives.
Greatly exaggerated reports Of this
were scattered broadcast through the
United States and many Of the ooun-
tries of the old world BY Kansas, Ne
braska aud other States which were
and are rivals Of Minnesota for; tho
emigration which is flowing westward.
Following this came the grasshopper
devastation in certain counties, and
again an unfavorable impression was
sought to be created against this State,
Is being series Of sandy plains, the
natural home and breeding place Of
these devouring pests. These impress
sions must be overcome by such =
showing Of our growth and prosper;-
ty and Of our productions as shall be
irresistably convincing. :
"A lie that !. ali . lie may b met with and fought
Blu. il RI i. half truth is. harder matter to
We had the storm and We had the
grasshopper visitation, but both were
exceptional occurrences. The States
that endeavored to make the most
capital out Of them to our hurt, have
suffered from the same causes and to
even a greater degree. But these
States appreciate wherein they may
gain all that they have lost in this
| way and much more, by having
buildings Of their own on the Cen
tennial grounds and filing them with
the products of their soil and manu-.
| factories. Minnesota must do the
same or suffer. Kansas, which was
swept by the grasshopper plague un.
til the aid Of the charitable all over
the country was invoked in behalf Of
her starving people, now sppropriates
$50, 900 for a State building At Phila-
delphla. Minnesota's restitution was
! readily relieved from her own re-
sources, and yet the Senate thinks
she il "too poor" to pay more than
$10,O00for representation atthe Ex'
hibition! This is as short-sighted -
it is calumnious of the State. r.. .
There is a large preponderance Of
sentiment among the people Of Mime
sofa in favor of such an appropriation
by the Legislature as will provide for
the erection of suitable building
upon the Centennial grounds, meet
the expenses incident to preparing ar
ticles for exhibition, printing cir
culars, etc., and tho lowest estimate
at which this can be done il 100000
which certainly is not great sum
They believe that it will pay the
State better than all the money tina,
has heretofore been expended for
immigration purposes, and better
than any other investment that could
be made Of that amount. The cos'
would be scarcely Eve cents per CAPT
t. of tho population Of the State, and
| whether looked at. in this way o,
in the aggregate is triaing in compar
ison with tho returns which it would
| without question, speedily. bring.
Aside from these somewhat selGsl
considerations, there are many patri
otto men and women in Minnesota
who think with pride upon the mag
ni6cent exhibition which this nation
will make of it, first oertury's growth
before the gaze Of the people Of tn
world. who will come even from til.
antipodes to zee what one hundred
years Of freedom can do for 4 nation
just that old. They also think tina
no stronger or more favorable impres
sion could be made upon these visit
os from afar-off than by fair show
inc of the Agricultural and minera