The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1881-03-10
LETTER lvROM THE CAPITAL.
SAINT PAUL. March Z.

SAINT PAUL, March Z.
EDITOR FREE PRESS The destruc.
ion of the State Capitol, which oc
urred on the I'd INST, was duly an
lounced by the FREE PRESS, and i
will not occupy your space 10y fuller
of tho event. But di.
,erging train Of tho' tight has been
started by the occurrence, which
must be set of.
The light Of this fire served to
bring out In bold relief-on a back
ground of dazed dependency the
cool head Of the born commander
While the crowd were wondering
what the legislature would do for
place to finish its business in and adj
jOurn from, message was OH the way
from the Mayor Of st. Paul, tender
ing the use Of Market Hall for this
purpose, with rooms for the accOmmo.
dation of the State officers. The Of
fer was promptly acceptcd-no red
tape needed in the hour of emergency
and scarce ripple was observed in
the course Of law making. The ac-
ton o',G0y. Pillsbury was equally
prompt and exhibited high order
of generalship.
AS soou as it became certain that
the fire was beyond control, it
began to be whispered about that the
legislature would embrace the Oppor.
tunity to remove the capitol, Mime.
apolis, Fergus Falls, Bird Island, and
the dark horse being limited as the
coming city. Improbable as you may
regard it, the capitalists, business
men, especially the hotel keepers and
''sample room" fellows, were Il good
deal agitated about it, and number
of caucuses were held to adopt meas
ures to counterfeit the project. But
before the forces on either side-if in
deed there were any forces in favor
of the project could be rallied, Gov.
Pillsbury settled the question, at
least for the next few years, by few
strokes of his pen. Securing proxi-
mate estimateof the cost of restoring
the building, he sent brief message
to the legislature showing the wisdom
and economy of the measure SO plain
ly that his recommendation met with
little or no opposition. and $4,000
was voted to rebuild the capitol, with
in and upon the old walls, which are
unimpaired. With his afterthought.
the average citizen agrees that this
was just the thing to do, under the
circumstances. Gov. Pillsbury's clear
perception of the proper thing to be
done, and prompt action in the prem
ises, are certainly very commenda.
BILE.
And before I forget it, l rise again
to remark that all this talk about re-
moving the capital to some other
point, or what is worse, half way to
somewhere, is damned foolishness.
Now, Mr.. Editor, don't - any
word in the above sentence. l would
not be guilty of introducing profanity
into your clean columns, had l no
higher motive for abstaining from its
use. Understand it to imply, then,
that the people of Minnesota have
fully considered the project of removal
and condemned it as FOOLISH, and IN.
worthy of further notice, unless it be-
to sit upon the man who brings it up
again. / am not and never expect to
be permanent resident of st. Paul,
and have no more interest in its fu.
ture than that of any other Saint in
the calendar, but from Il general ex.
preston from outsiders, believe it is
conceded to be the political and mer.
camille center Of the State. and more
easy of access to the whole people
then any other point. The average
citizen takes no stock in petty local
aspirations, and has decided the ques-
ton on the broad basis of the general
good. Let us have peace.
The legislature adjourned on the
4th, and the members, or such of
them as are not prevented from doing
so by the snow blockades. have re-
turned to the bosoms of their families,
to seek repose and recuperation from
the exhaustive labors Of the winter.
No doubt many of them rejecting on
the crooked paths leading from virtue
anu uuuUr, oIiu which ,i.iI vs..t:...
steps they have avoided, are now fully
resolved to avoid temptation in
future, by setting their faces like
flints in opposition toa reelection.
But we may never know how numer-
Gus this class is, for mankind are for
getful Of danger, and when grapes
hang low enough to be reached, they
are rarely considered sour.
On the whole the session just end.
ed has not been very eventful one.
Of bills passed, the one for the settle.
ment Of the old railroad bonds. was
perhaps the most important.
The position accorded to Nlinneso.
ia by the appointment of Senator
Window as Secretary Of the Treas.
ury, is tiattering to our state pride,
while better judges than any of his
fellow citizens approve the choice.
1t is said taht Window was Secretary
Sherman's first choice, of all the
names that have been mentioned for
the position, which is very strong
endorsement. The appointment leaves
"A vacancy for Gov. Plllsbury to fill.
and the friends of various candidates
are actively engaged pushing their
favOrites. OF the candidates named,
Gordon E. Cole, Of Rice county, is
to have most natural ability,
but there are others who are more