Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1877-05-31

new bonds upon the terms prescribed by
lie legislature Of last winter. Hereafter
then let no man resort to this "dodge" us
Al excuse for voting to repudiatc.
There arc a few men that oppose the
pending bond adjustment scheme for the
reason, as they assert, that the
whole transaction out of which the in.
dcbtedncss grew was so tainted with fraud
as to render the claim of the holders lille
gal and unjust. We have no disposition
unduly to criticise the action Of any per-
son, and least Of all those who appear to
be sincere in what they do, but it seems
to US that some men at times indulge in
i degree of denunciation which is not at
all warranted by the facts From the MI.
turc Of the case it is impossible that the
masses OF the people should know as
much concerning the character of the
original proceedings under which the old
State Railroad Bonds were issued, rs do
the men through whose iustrumcn,ality
the work was done, or, as those do who
have found 1t their duty to examine the
facts2ptficially- Governors Siblcy, Ram.
sey, Miller, Marshall, Austin, Davis and
Pillsbury have each had ample opportun.
ity and incentive to acquaint themselves
with the history of the whole case, and
each IN his official capacity has urgently
recommended settlement of the question
by paying the claim. Now we wish TO
enquire whether it has ever occurred to
those who SO vehcncntly shout "fraud,"
and corruption" and ''stcal," in con-
nec'ion with every proposition to dis
charge this Indebtedness, that they there
by declare every Executive of the
State since 1858 to be knav and a per-
jurcd scountlrel 1t should he remembered
that each Of the gentlemen named has
registered on high a solemn oath which
is incompatible with any effort 10 pay
those bonds, if they are to the extent
claimcd-fraudulen and void. Ofwlat
value Is an honorable career in the public
service, extending from early manhood to
old age, if such men as General Sibley
and Senator Ramsey are to be denounced
as abettors of a gigantic fraud agaius: the
State, whose interests they have sevcrally
sworn to protect and defend? Has Gov
ernor Marshall lived in Minnesota twenty.
five years, and fought upon the forum
and upon the sanguiuary field to dc.
TEND her against mercenary men at home
and traitors abroad only to be character.
lied as "bond swindler: ?" Has Hon. C.
K. Davis, already surfeitcd with civic
honors, and having the largest part of
the time allotted to man yet before him,
no incentive to act an honorable part in
the capacity Of public servant: Is it
believed that John S. Pillsbery, known
throughout the State as the "largc.heartcd
Governor,"-the man who, more than any
other knows the necessities and sufferines
OF the people Of this State, and cares for
thcm,-is it believed that HE would urge
the strikcn and needy inhabitants of the
frontier to pay claim which is fraudu.
lent and void: MOI! Men who thus
traducc the lllustrlous Governors of Min.
ncsota, don't know them, and are not
worthy to know them. It il a fact that
every Legislature that has been elected
IN this State since 1857, has recognized
the validity Of those bonds, and favored
m adjustment Of the claim based upon
them. The Supreme court in deciding
upon Collateral questions, repeatedly held
that the old bond debt was both legally
and morally binding upon the State.
Inc Baptist churches, represented by
their 'c'crgymcn and by prominent lay
members, have solemnly declared that in
the treatment Of its bond holders, the
State has covered itself with disgrace
and The Congregational people, assembled
Id conference, have deliberately resolved
that to repudiate the old railroad bono
indebtedness is violation Of plightet
faith so outrageous as to fiji the minds O
hon est people, and especially christians
with indignation and shame. Min,
tcnths of the capitalists and business me,
OF the State are urging an acceptance O
the pending proposition upon business
principles, believing that it will cost les
TO pay the debt as proposed, and have III
benefit OF restored credit and confidence
than II will to repndiatc and suffer III
disgrace and the unfavorable discrimins
ton which suc], on act involves.
Now we submit in all candor to thos
of our friends who cry "fraud" and "co
ruption,"-who profess to believe III.
every man that fayors q settlement
Observation-Disclosures, as without int,
rity or principle, all from highest to Low
est, that venture to express an opinlo
favorable to the bond holders,-who ca
see nothing just in Governors, and n
thing honorable in legislatures, and n
thing incorruptible in Supreme judge
and nothing conscientious in ministers
their churches, and nothing disintereste
IN the utterances of those to whom Il
State is indebted for her enterprise in bu
mess, in education, and ia morals, that Il
thinking men of the State are n
} to bc deceived by mere denunciation. v
confess to he astonished at the reckle.
: ness with which facts, and theories. al
character, and principle are assailed I
!. some, for the sole purpose of avoidi,
the payment of q claim, the validity
], which is attcsted by every cousiderati,
!. whether it be of ethics of law or Of valr
E Men don't know what they are dol,
j, when they characterize the best citize
s of the State as ''swindlcrs' and "thievet
I Integrity is the soil from which tie re