Daily globe., 1881-11-28
MINNESOTA POLITICS.

l.
Caustic Review Of the Situation In the
[St. Paul Correspondent Louisville Courier.
Journal
The Democratic convention met and
did work of which the party might well
be proud. It chose worthy and honora-
BILE men for all the offices, Gen. R. W.
johnson, of st. Paul, being the candidate
for governor. 1t adopted the two judges
whom the Republicans also supported,
but in order to effectually rebuke the
degradation of that Office by the Repub-
lican convention, it nominated Judge
Clark, in spite of his protests and his
declaration that he would not be a can
didate. Itpassed a ringing resolution
in favor of state honesty and against re-
pudiation. There was not single point
in Its proceedings in which any Repub-
lican could pick a flaw.
Thus the Democracy went into this
contest as clearly in the right upon every
essential point as could be desired. Their
opponents had not a single principle
about which to rally, except the distribu-
tion of the offices and the hope of future
spoils. The conduct of the campaign
completed the analogy. The Republicans
collected their assessments from Office
holders, and that was about all. Gen.
Hubbard refused to meet Gen. johnson
in debate; he refused to say one word
about the state debt; he could not have
ko1 1ol l.
wooden dummy. His organs de-
nounced the action of the legisla-
ture IN settling the unpaid bonds,
denounced the governor for calling
the extra session, and openly accepted
the issue which the Democrats had made,
by courting the favor of the reputation
element throughout the state. This
election was, therefore, the best possible
test of the power of honesty and inde-
pendence in Minnesota politics. If the
Republicans could hold the state, even
by small majority, it would be in the
teeth of an opposition based upon prin-
ciples of honesty and self-respect. What
do the returns show9 They give the
Hubbard ticket majority of over q, 900,
in an off year, when half the number
would have Deen adecided victory. Judge
Clark, it is true, in spite of his continued
refusal to run, and his actual prohibition
upon his friends to work for him, had
the support of the people; and Wander
burg, with no regular candidate against
him, and his friends making frantic
efforts lest he should be repudiated at the
polls, has majority of q few hundred less
than Hubbard, running against an organ
lied opposition.
But the conspicuous triumph of the
Republican party, after having placed it
self in almost every point indefensibly in
the wrong, proves several things. It
shows that reputation is yet strong in
this state, for it was the repudiators who
swelled Hubbard's majority. Minnesota
has just had little gloridcation over her
redemption from dishonor, but all the
ruling forces of her new administration
are committed to reputation; and if any
way can be found to delay or
to undo the work which the
present legislature, under the inspiration
of Gov. Pillsbury, has accomplished,
it will be unhesitatingly adopted. Again,
it shows that independence in politics,
and rebellion against leaders who wish
only to use the people for their own COR
rupt ends, have not made great progress
in this State. A full disclosure of the
aims and methods of the men now in
power has done nothing to weaken their
authority among the people. And it
demonstrates that banner Republican
state may adopt as cardinal principles
the worst of those things which it has
been the fashion to bind upon the should
ers OF Democracy alene, and yet come
out OF the fray with its forces nowise i'm
paired.
Some of the leading Democrats almost
despair of the honesty and capacity for
good self government of the people, in
view of these circumstances. but there is
one thing sure to happen. The men who
have crawled to power by such Shiny and
devious ways are uot and could not be
men who would use it wisely or well. A
few more repetitions of this sort of thing,
few years more to teach newly natural
lied emigrants that all the virtues and
the graces are not upon the
side which they know wields the
power and bestows the favors, and Min
nesota will no longer lie tamely under
the feet of whatever ring can control her
Republican primaries and conventions.
To-day she is as solid as the much talked
OF South, but if the Republicans can right
fully say she is solid by free and honest
ballot, the Democrats can quite as Justly
affirm that her solidity is accumulated
ignorance, dishonesty and partisan SUBJ
serviency; and that fraud. though not
its means, is its end. NORTH STAR.