Daily globe., 1881-01-17
OUR p1sHoNoRED BONDS.
What the Press of the Country Thinks OF
Minnesota Reputation.
rRocton Post

Boston POst.1
We have called attention to the fac
that Minnesota's executive, Gov. Pills
bury, has handled the principal sll
of that State without gloves, and 1t vii
not be his fault if her railroad bonds con
tinue to be dishonored and the disgrace
of reputation becomes a part OF the his
tory of the commonwealth. In the con
cluding paragraph of his inaugural mes
sage the governor said: 'One day Min.
nesota will have a history; but
whether it shall be his
tory of honor or dishoner her people may
soon determine BY the simplest rule
of fair dealing-ln the name OF law, JUS
tice and honor-as the last public utter
ance may make to you, implore the
people of Minnesota and you, gentlemen,
their honored representatives, to seize
this last opportunity, before it is too late,
to wipe this only blot from the fair name
of our beloved State'' The country has
contemplated with disgust and indigna-
ton this attempt of great and prosper
Gus commonwealth to rid itself of certain
obligations that it was at one time glad
to acknowledge, simply because it saw a
way to evade payment, through technl-
cality. But political and social morality
based upon technlcalltles IS a
SAVIOR of death unto death,
and unless it is repented OF 1t
will destroy the foundation OF any State,
no matter how much health and strength
it may seem to have. An individual can
sometimes acquire wealth and enjoy the
visible signs Of prosperity, through dis
honesty, as long as he lives; but State is
supposed to have longer life than a man,
and when she is careless of her own rep
utation and has the name of breaking
faith with her creditors when it is possible
for her to do so, shemakes the road OF COM
ing generations difficult one, and leaves a
heritage for which they have good cause to
curse her. There cannot be different stand
ards of honesty for States and individ-
uals. When the former are tricky and
dishonest, society necessarily becomes dis
honest and credit grows constantly weak
er. Minnesota has not sinned merely IN
attempting to defraud her own creditors,
but in setting wretched example to
States more unsettled than herself, and in
which poverty of resources gave them a
much better excuse for reputation, II
excuse there can be for such horrid
crime. If Gov. Pillsbury shall lead his
people to repentance and square dealing
he will accomplish about as much as we
can expect from one man; but shame and
woe be to that State if it does not heed
the good advice he has given it.
[Chicago Tribune.]
No governor gave his people sounder
advice nor put it in palmer language than
Gov. Pillsbury, of Minnesota, did in that
part of his message relating to the State
debt Those honest words should prick
the consciences of the voters IN the State
who defeated the provision for the pay
ment of the debt, dollar for dollar. Min
nesota has no excuse for abiding in the
slough of dishonorable bankruptcy. The
State is rich. 1t can pay up, without
feeling it, every cent due. 1t, cannot
afford to be dishonest; nor can the great
Northwest, of which Minnesota is SO rich
part, suffer patiently the reproach
which has been cast upon the whole sec
ton through that single act of bad faith.