New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1885-04-21
THE MINNESOTA IDEA.

NV'N"'N'NNE"-
science of government since that eminent
Democratic reformer, Mr.. Tweed, offered his
own person and career as definition Of states
manship, has just been made by the Democracy
of Minnesota. In response to n large and
significant wink a conference OF patriots was
held at the Merchants Hotel in ST. Paul last
week Tuesday The proceedings were yelled in
more OF less secrecy. but the result is officially
proclaimed in the following unanimous II solu-
tom
Resored That the Hon. r. II. Kelly member OF the Ma
tional Democratic Committee. and the Hon. NJ Doran
chairman Of Central be aud hereby
authorized ao. for tho Democracy OF Minnesota In IN
dorslng and transmitting to Washington applications for
appointments Federal positlops and that request
tho President and heads Of departments to recognize
other Endorsement from this state.
Inasmuch rs the Hon. =. III. Kelly and the
Hon. VI. Doran are tho gentlemen under whose
auspices " the conference was held 1t must be
admitted that they made very neat job OF 1t.
Moreover they are not the men to waste time
when great public interests are at stake and so
they forthwith issued a proclamation TO all
whom it may concern" instructng them to for
ward their applications at once for examination.
Thus in the twinkling OF an eye as It were,
without buster or confusion, but modestly and
gently, have the Democrats OF a remote and
youthful commonwealth worked out an original
inspiration and set au example 10 the whole
country.
We are panied To learn that some malicious
persons who were not invited 10 the conference
are disposed to rebel; and notably the Hon.
Eugene NJ. Wilson, late member of Congress
from Minnesota who has published an unfeel
ing letter on the subject But this mean
spirited opposition may safely be set down to
jealousy-an explanation which is rendered the
more probable by the circumstance that Mr..
Wilson is "a citizen of Minneapolis. and the con-
ference was held at st. Paul. Mr.. Wilson is
afraid that the Democracy of Minnesota has
been made laughng-stock for the whole coun-
try; but this apprehension furnishes an ac-
curate measure of the critic, for Democratic
statesmen cannot be manufactured to any adj
vantage out of men who shrink from public
derisiOn.
IL may be remarked incidentally, though the
fact had no direct connection with tho purpose
of the conference, that upon motion of the Hon.
p. ii. Kelly, resolution was offered, unan
mOusly adopted, engrossed and mailed to the
President and all the heads of departments at
Washington, demanding that the Hon. Ignatus
Donnelly should not be appointed to the posi-
ton OF Surveyor General OF Minnesota or to any
other Office whatsoever, at home or abroad. 1t
is assumed that the Hon. p. II. Kelly has no
personal antipathy to Mr.. Donnely, but merely
desired by this practical action to redeem the
conference from the possible reproach that it
was too exclusively devoted to transccndental
politics. Ignatus may not see it in that light at
first, but We are confident that upon reflection
he will rejoice to sacrifice himself upon the
altar Of a great political principle
1t is evident that the rest of the country must
embrace the Minnesota idea or else lose caste
with the reformers !. and it is emnently fitting
that New-York should be the first to fall into
line. We have no right or desire to dictate but
purely III the interest OF harmony and the Civil
Service we venture to suggest "A Censors and
Dispensers for this State the Editor of The
Evening Post and the Hon. Hubert O. Thomp
son. They pulled together like twins during
the campaign, and such cOngenial partnership
ought not to be allowed to lapse. If. ON ac-
count of the size of the State it should be
deemed unwise to stand on good pair and it
were decided to draw for three of kind, the
addition of Mr.. Beecher or Sheriff Davidson
would make an uncOmmonly good hand.