The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1878-01-17
= ANNUAL MESSAGE
GOV. j. s. PILLSBURY.

tati,es: |'~'
The presentation Of my third annual com
munication touching general public affairs
ahords. an occasion which gladly embrace tc
tender my cordial congratulations upon the
encouraging auspices under which you now
convene for legislative deliberation. One veal
ago when you assembled for this purpose, the
country at large was disturbed with threaten,
ing uncertainty respecting the determination
OF It's choice OF chief magistrate; business
energies everywhere lay PROSTATE; the dread
ed insect which had repeatedly destroyed the
fruits OF agriculture had prepared for the pro-
s2tsas q 2g vast
marked with arrested enterprises, and the fll.
ture filled with forebodng, while feeling OF
rear ana dcspOndency was RAPIDLY spreading
among all classes of the people. These dis.
Gouragemcnts have happily Disappeared The
riesaaentIal t, complication which impcrilled
the public peace If not the stability of the
government, was adjusted in that happy spir-
II OF concession and wise moderation which
IN my Judgment will give popular govern
ment a proudcr status among the nations of
the earth; the finances of the government
have been managed with that sound and
healthy business revival, and which if persist
cd In must speedily ensure an honorable re-
dcmption OF the national pledges. The invad-
ing iocusts have completely evacuated our
territory, under circumstances which give
hopeful promise Of future exemption from
their incursions; the labors of the husband
man have been rewarded with crops unex-
ampled i'll quality and abundance in the ag-
rlcultural experience of the State; our unoc-
cuplcd lands are being rapidly absorbed for
Immediate cultivation by new immigrants in
numbers and character never before equallcd; :;
our suspended railroad construction has been
earnestly resumed, important links in the
broken arterlal lines have been supplied, new
routes and extensions in the development of
our railroad system projected for early con-
hope and courage, is everywhere melting
our people to new efforts for individual and
public prosperity.
To gratefully recognize the bountiful agency
OF Almighty God in such numberless blessings
Is not less the duty than the wholesome i'm
pulse OF an appreciative people. Indeed, con-
stdering Natures first munifcence of climate
and physical attributes, and the subsequent
success which has marked the formation and
growth Of our State, a cheerful and frequent
reference to such advantages, is but the
healthful exercise of that ready and sober
good sense which becomes rational and hap
py people. Glad and hopeful however as we
should feel in view Of the prosperity of the
present and the prospects of the future,
thoughtful men will feel not less deeply the
'CopOASIDlnClCs lulpOSCu ny CnCHl. 80 r1DlQ
and energetic is the recupcration of our pco-
pie from PROSTATE industrial condition, that
the lessons OF the past are prone to be over
looked. Recovery from business depression
!or this reason is nevcr..unattcnded with serious
danger, and it may indeed be questioned whcth-
er seasons of excited activity, all things consd-
cred, not really more detrimental to a dur
able public welfare than those marked by slow
and more cautious movements. Happy the
people who may prove sufficiently wise to
profit by both-to reap victory equally from
adversely and from prosperity, and with whom
guide rather than snare. With such pco-
pie the worthy use Of what has been already
gained, Is at once an acceptable offering for
the past and an inviting guarantee of the fu
ture.
DEBT AND ExTRAvAGANCE.
These considerations lmpel me O warn my
fellow citizens against a repetition OF those
errors OF the past, with which we are all too
familiar. It is obvious to all persons of
even casual observation that the most fruitful
source Of the VIDE popular distress, from
which we in Minnesota are happily emerging,
propensity to incur debt. In this State the
poor settler, beginning with the small indebt-
edness absolutely required as the hard con-
dition of his frontier lot, soon acquires the
habit OF buying on credit and is constantly
tempted to anticipate the proceeds of his ex-
pected crop by etfecting loan for the imme-
diate satisfaction of his real or fancied neces-
stiles. If there follows failure or serious
shrinkage of the crop which is thus drawn
upon in advance, or if there be material de-
cline in its expected market value, the en-
barrassmcnt of the debtor is inevitable, and
his purchases are therefore made at q con-
slant disadvantage, while his necessities as
constantly increase. Nor is this carly con-
traction of debt caused in most instances so
much by the urgent wants of the settler as by
f1,nf SvvovN oo1~
unassisted labor which induces the prema-
turc purchase Of improved implements. and by
his readiness to listen to the pcrsuasions of
various and ever present patent venders Of cv-
cry conceivable article of necessity or conven-
ience. In the course of my visits to different
sections of the State, and especially to those
regions ravishcd by grasshoppers, l have been
surprised at the extent to which farmers have
been willing to mortgage their entire prop
crty-lands, stock, implements and house
hold furniture-for the purpose of purchas-
machinery; which costly purchase, and the
often excellent machine it supercedes, are
alike not unfrcqucntly suffered to perish un-
protected from the weather, while the need
less debt thus incurred is accumulating its
other source Of embarrassment to the average
farmer, is his passion for the purchase OF
more land than he can proftably work, and
his disposition to keep store debts constantly
floating for expenses sometimes of a pernic.
ious personal character, which could well be
avoided with benefit alike to his pocket and
= his health. This inclination to incur debt
which finds perhaps some excuse in the pri-
ess t. t hc o.so, osa g;
means, to crafty his love for more luxurious
living; to the rich for the indulgence of ex-
travagant display, and to the reckless pre-
tender from the necessity to preserve false ap.
pearances. From individuals it extends to
communities, to public organizations and So
cieties constituted for various purposes not
excepting those with moral and religious
aims. Townships, school districts, villages
cities and countries all alike hasten to issue
bonds In behalf Of what arc assumed to be
needed Improvements the construction
school cdifices and other public structures,
and especially for fixing the route and has
tening the construction of promised railroads
held temptingly for bonuses from competing
localities.
It Is not claimed that the purposes for which
much Of this indebtedness has been incurred
are not desirable or worthy objects. They at.
test indeed the characteristics of enterprisine
and high toned communities, and when KEPT
within judicious bounds the means thus re.
sorted to in furtherance Of these objects are
effective aids to commcndable public progress
But the eagerness with which both private
and public debts are incurred without due
consideration of the time or needs OF the stu
alton or the adaptation of means to ends, is
unquestionably the crying evil Of the period
and the most potent cause of financial dis
orders. e"
~ +. .'-.:''. RETRENCHMENr.
In view OF the disasters which have mani
= festly resulted from these causes feel it my
duty to appeal earnestly to all classes of ou1
people to heed the costly lessons of the past
Now that we are emerging from period o.
what is termed hard times, there is danger
u that our best men, impelled by a renewed
: spirit Of enterprise may plunge. into renewed