Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1880-08-19
DUNNELL-sIKaII-W 4SHBURN.

This is Minnesota's illustrious contribu-
ton to Congress. The Republican noun
tain was in travail and brought forth these
three little mice. There was time when
the most respectable Republicans and dis
gusted Democrats hoped for the honor of
the State, for the sensibility of refined socie-
ty, and for the educated, cultured and de-
cent classes among all elements of our pop
ulation that, at no distant day, Minnesota
might be rid of the nightmare of such a
burden as Dunnell, Strait and Washburn,
This hope sprang out of confidence that
the Republican party itself, impressed with
the rising grandeur of Minnesota, and hold
ing within its membership SO many profess
sional men of education and talents, so many
distinguished business mon of means and
experience, 80 many ambitious young men
of promise and culture, could not remain so
lost to shame as seriously to ask decent
people to make fools of themselves by send
ing to Washington package of ignorance
and rascality. Democrats have
resisted, aud they have been almost
willing to throw politics aside to secure, if
not Democratic representatives, at least re-
spectacle Republicans. 1t is just to say
that many Republicans, honest and intelli-
gent citizens, while they have sympathizsd
with the general disgust and with any effort
to quietly get rid of this trio of brazen medi-
ocritv, nevertheless have not broken the par
ty chains for fear of the party whip.
1t is not necessary to diagnose the char
acter, or to chronicle the reputation of Dun
nell, Strait and Washburn. "Col." Dun
nell's record is one too black for himself
to preserve in his own house. He
belongs to the genus of tramp political nd
venturers without conscience and without
principle. Too lazy to work, he started out
to make his living by becoming pensioner
on the church or the Republican party, or
both. Gunpowder was too caustic for his
picus nostrils and he retreated from Bull
Run into the basement of the Baptist church,
whence he emerged to migrate to Mime
sofa. His career began here by
a bargain and sale in the Legis-
Iature whereby he became Superintend-
ent Of Public Instruction. He degraded
that position into an electioneering card to
get to Congress. He got there, and there
he insists on staying, although he has been
repudiated by his own party.
Washburn is bird of the same feather.
1t is doubtful whether you could find two
better mated. These columns have repeat.
edly given the history of this youthful scion
of the house of Washburn-a house that
has afflicted the Republican party in every
State from Maine to Minnesota. Congress
has long been the heaven Of his
ambition. Having speculated in
timber on the public lands through informa-
| ton obtained while surveyor-general, and
proceeds (S3oo,oo enjoyed pleasure trip
| to Europe, and on his return bribed his way
to Congress. The story is too familiar to
need repetition.
And last but not least "Major Strait" We
had charitably hoped to have heard the last
of Strait two years ago, but already fairly
beaten twice for Congress, the major comes
up as smiling as ever. 1t has been puzzle
as to the peculiar attractions of Washington
for Major Strait. 1t may become necessary
IN the farther progress of the campaign to
allude to these. 1t is only necessary now to
say, that Major Straits first nomination was
regarded by all alike as the broadcast kind OF
farce, and his reappearance has Invested
the performance of none of its harlequin
features. Major Strait, some fifty years ago,
might have made respectable justice of the
peace, but Major Strait in Congress:
| Loud thunder to the bottom shook the bog,
And the hoarse nation croaked, God save
King Log