Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1881-10-15
GEN. JOHNSON'S ADDRESS.

The Democratic Candidate for Governor
Takes Manly Stand Upon the One Live
State Issue.
Voters of Minnesota:
AS it will be impossible for me to meet you
all before the election, desire to submit the
following for your consideration:
Recently our nation has had to mourn the
loss of its president, who fell at the hands of
cowardly assassin. This sad event caused
universal sorrow to all partie and all classes
and conditions of men. Yet the death of
James A. Garfield was not in vain. His
blood has cemented all sections OF our coun-
try in one compact, homogeneous whole.
All sections of the country met around his
tomb and poured out their tears In one COM
mon stream.
The historic "bloody shirt" has been
buried forever, and the tree of peace
spreads her broad and beautiful branches
from the Atlantic to the Pacific. No
longer does political enemy to our govern
ment, or its institutions, find an asylum be-
meath the shadowy sheen of the stars and
stripes In future political parties must con-
test for supremacy on principles, not on
passion or prejudice.
The great issue of this campaign is public
faith and credit against repudiation and dis
honor.
The main plank in the platform of the
Democratic party this year refers to the settle
ment of the old railroad bonds, in opposition
to reputation, which has already injured our
credit in all of the great financial centres of
the world, and fastened upon us the stain of
repudiation and consequent dishonor. at one
time opposed the settlement of this question
upon the basis then proposed for, thought
it unjust to the state and to the bondholders.
I favored the law of last winter and did all in
my power to secure its passage.
Reputation, always to be condemned as 1t de-
stroys public faith and public credit, is not JUS
tifiable in our state which has been prosperous
beyond precedent. Our fields have produced
abundantly and our barns have been filled with
plenty. We have not the ex cuse OF some OF
the southern states which were devastated by
war and their people rendered unable to meet
their private and public obligations.
1t is notable fact that the platform of the
Republican party is silent upon this import
ant question, by the side of which all other
questions of state policy sink into insignii-
canoe.
The law enacted by the last legislature look
ing to the settlement of this question, met
with my unqualified approval. 1t provided
that new bonds should be issued to pay off the
old ones at fifty cents on the dollar, such
settlement being acceptable to the holders of
the old bonds. and that the interest on the new
issue as it became due, should be paid out of
the fund derived from the railroads, being a
percentage on their earnings. The payment
of the interest would therefore require no di-
rect tax to be imposed.
The general government some years since
made generous gift to the state OF 100000
acres of land, a much more valuable donation
than was at first supposed. Some of these
lands have been sold.
ssThe average price realized thus far for the
lands sold is about 81 per acre, and the fund
for such sale already amounts to $S0O,OO0 In
view of the rapid settlement of the country it
is believed that the total sum which will be
finally realized from the sale of these lands
will reach Sf,000,000, sum nearly or quite
sufficient to pay the whole Indebtedness with
out recourse to taxation"
It is thus seen that we can clear away the
stain of lepudiation without increasing the
rate of taxation single mill.
Now, this being true, is it not the
part of wisdom to seize upon
the opportunity of paying off this debt when
it can be settled at fifty cents on the dollar
and not one cent of that amount to be wrested
from the pockets of the hard working, heav-
lily taxed people? 1t will not do to say that
these bonds are 'bogus" and fraudulent"
for the highest judicial tribunal of our state
has declared otherwise.
This golden opportunity will not be held
out to us forever. If we are blind to our own
interest, and care not for the reputation of our
state. the generation to follow may have cause
to censure lis for our short-sighted policy in
transmitting to it claim which will have to
be paid in all probability, dollar for dollar.
My relations with Minnesota and residence
within its boundaries, commenced on its first
organization as territory, and l have ever
considered 1t my home and have never ceased
to feel the deepest interest in whatever might
promote It's honor, its welfare and the pros
perity of it's people.
Ifelected to the highest Office within your gift
shall strive to exercise the strictest economy
in the public expenditures, SO that taxation,
upon all classes of our citizens may be reduced
to the lowest possible minimum and in other
respects it shall be my constant endeavor to
serve you, fellow citizens, honestly, faithfully
and fearlessly. R. W. JOHNSON.
INCENDI4RY FIRE