Stevens County tribune. (Morris, Minn.) 1877-1880, 1879-01-16
Delivered to the Minnesota Legislature
Jan. 9th, 1870.

Gentlemen Of the Senate and House Of Repre-,
seRtGtiUes.
The annual recurrence of public events convenes
you this year for the deliberations of the twenty
regular session Of the State legislature.
For something less than twenty-one years, Mime.
sofa has enjoyed political existence member OF
this union of States. They have been years not of
uninterrupted prosperity but Of varying fortune and
Sicisstude yet from the first struggling experiment
Of sovereignty to the assured position of to-day
career has been marked by constant anu unsurpassed
growth in all that should constitute stable and pros
porous commonwealth. Without here iudulging in
the pleasing retrospecton which the facts seem to
invite it is not too much to say that few years of the
past have afforded upon the whole substantial
cause for encouragement than that which has just
terminated. No wasting pestilence nor destitution
has afflicted our people. Their fields have been ex-
empt from insect ravages and their labors rewarded
with general abundance. The various industrial in
terests of the State have been fairly advanced. Our
education and charitable institutions have prospered.
There has been continuance of the progress
noticed i'll my last message respecting Railroad
structlon growth of population and the absorption
and cultivation of our unoccuped lands, and the sole
hinderance to the uniform Advancement of the
general prosperity results from that unwse pursuit
OF agriculture which restricts its operations too
largely to the production of single cereal. Chiefly
In consequence of this wrongful COURSE the profits
OF agriculture the past year were suddenly swept
away throughout The Oldest and weathiest portions
OF the State, by few days of unpropitious Weather
which, at a critical moment blighted the promise of
superintendent yield of great staple, while
sporing other products in unmpaired abundance.
While the effect has been to cause q partial relapse
into the business depression from which COM
munities re.recovering, if it shall also prove to
have checked the prevalent tendency toward the
contraction of needless debt the total result cannot
be deemed an unmixed calamity.
II extend the review to the country at large the
year will loug be remembered for the unuar He'd
abundance of its agricultural products for increased
revival of industry for renewed stimulus to the pro-
Rress OF invention; for that proud growth of the
national credit which triumphantly anticipated the
redemption of the national pledges and for the rapid
elimination and exposure of tn strange popular
oelusiop which assumes that wealth may be created
by arbitrary enactment rather than by actual pro-
duction, and which would substitute the semblance
for the substance of prosperity. The year will more
over, be held In both sad and honored remembrance
for the prolonged and deadly peshlence which deci-
mated portions of tie country, and for the magaan-
NOUS conduct of a great people who silenced the
voice of civil strife by extending the succor of kin.
dred to perishing kindred with unsparing hands.
These varied evidences of an interposing aud con-
ferring Providence call for that prompt and CRATE
full recognition of supreme guidance which becomes
an enlightened people.
The condition of public affairs will be amply shown
you by the reports of the several departments and
State institutions. The financial exhibit is clearly
detailed by the State auditor summary Of which is
embraced in the figures following: