Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1879-10-21
OUR CANDIDATE FOR RAILROAD
COMMISSIONERS.

COMMISSIONERS.
During the late war. while the North was
yet warm in its admiration of the men who
responded to the first call for volunteers, it
was widely proclaimed that tho highest
honors and rewards of civil life should there
after testify the nations gratitude to its
brave defenders. The promise has not been
we'll kept. AS a rule the men who stayed at
home have maintained the control they
gained at that time of the machinery by
which parties are guided, and the honors
and emoluments of public life are
awarded. AS a rule, too, the ay-at-homes
have impudently claimed that they were the
only truly loyal men, and, by implication.
that periling ones life and giving his best
of life for the Union was NO such proof of
fealty as they gave who did not get fighting
mad till after the fighting was over. Rarely
have they taken up some true soldier to give
them the benefit of association with him in
the public mind. But oftener they have
found more convenient for their uses and
partnerships, the counterfeit soldiers whose
battles were fought in the columns
of newspapers and whose promotions
we're won by the favor of politicians instead
of by merit. The volunteers of 1861-62
must have felt the injustice which has been
done them, the contempt in which their jus t
claims have been held by the men who are
at the front in these days of peace, but who
we're not at the front when the Union was in
danger.
The Democratic convention of Minnesota,
in nominating for railroad commissioner
Col. William Colville, of the First regiment
of Minnesota volunteers, has given to the
ex-soldiers of Minnesota and to all who re-
member the popular promises to the heroes
of the volunteer army of the Union, the
opportunity of making partial amends for
the past in voting for an eminently repre-
sentative veteran. Col. Colville entered the
army as Captain of Company F, First Min
nesota, April 29th, 1861; was promoted
Major August 28th, 1862; Lieutenant Col
onel, Sept. 26th, 1862; and Colonel, May
9th, 1853. That is, briefly, his military
record as it appears in the published reports
of our State military Office. And, as Colonel
Colville has not written and published his
army history or proclaimed his honors, his
services might be obscured were it not for
his glorious wounds and the praises of his
comrades and followers. From these we
know that he was bravest among the brave
on more than hundred fields where the
First Minnesota met and withstood the
| armed enemies of the Union. He carries a
Grave soldiers mementoes of the hardest
battles of the Army of the Potomac in Grip
pied limbs, shattered shoulder and rebel
bullets still imbedded in his frame.
Col. Colv'lle's promotions were for gal
lantry on fields of battle. After the war,
when titles of General were showered alike
on politicians, provost marshals, home
guards and soldiers, one Of the brevets fell
to Colonel Colville. But the title he won
and won in service is the
one by which he is known.
His opponent, with little actual service but
large personal or political influence, had all
the honors of military title and, since the
Var, has paraded his title SO effectually as to
be almost constantly in Office, though in Of
ice 10 is remarkable for nothing unless il
be- inef6ciency.
Had William r. Marshall been one of the
fighting men of 1861 and had he won his
title Of general by merit, his rewards since
the war would have been more than enough.
1t is time for him to give place to one who
is more deserving. He has made the Office
of railroad commissioner sinecure. The
people of the State feel that the Office might
as we'll be abolished if it is to be longer filled
by Marshall. Col. Colville would make it
useful to the people. If the people regard
their own interests in the matter they will
elect him, and if they truly honor the loyal
ty, the courage and the manhood which
saved the Union from Acknowledgement in
1861 they will show it by their votes for
Colville for railroad commissioner.