The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1886-02-12
which prevails there at tho present I

which prevails there Mt tho present I
would say That, as report goes, an insane
person was placed sometime ago in the
care of another officer, &C." I can pre-
sent my witnesses to provo the currency
of the report which was certainly consist
ent aud which for certain other reasons
seemed probable. While Cavalier
Citizen" in Grand; Forks Herald made
show of presenting the real facts and
while I accept his statement in the main
I must say that am still unsatlsfied.
Every effect must have cause and this
is rs true ofa general rumor as of any
thing else. The rumor In this case was
definite and consiste mt. Let us have the
cause. Whether Mr.. McHugh received
too much or too little for his work IN
transcrlbing, I do not positively know.
l have, however, pretty strong opinion
that many capable man in the county
would have been glad to do the work for
half the money and in this opinion am
joined by others. But if there be
statute prescribing the exact amount
we are of course constrained to be satisfi-
ed. Will the Courier please quote the
exact language of the statute and accom-
motlate severa of its readers. please do
it without losing temper.) The point
wished to make was not that too much
had been paid but that the board had
allowed itself to be influenced by Mr..
McHugh ON several occasions. The
criticism OH ]. NJ. r. was if mistake not
on the editorial page of the Courier and
had no signature whatever. therefore
very naturally took the editor himself to
be the author Off But perhaps there
are two or moro editors to tho paper.
Who knows? AS to the errors of the
Courier and of the county officials leave
its readers and the public to decide. It
is however strange that the press in gen.
eral as well as the majority of the people
throughout the county should haye such
different views in regard to certain
matters if there is not something wrong.
The Courier disdainfully styles me self
constituted censor. In u proper sense
admit this to be so. Ifthere be censor
at all presume he must be self-constitut-
ed and as I understand every citizen has
an inalienable right to thus constitute
lin,selfor else We must write the Declare
ton of Independence over again. OF
course if public sentiment refuses to sus-
tain my criticisms I am simplya "crank"
as the Courier is pleased to call me. But
here again am safe for with very few
exceptions the people cfthe county are
ut my back. AS told friend the other
day, I have received commentator
wherever l have gone. The invariable
| remark that hear from the people is
that they are glad there is some one to
take the lead i'll this matter. 1t is said
that if had the interest of the country
ut heart to the extent of my pretensions
would turn out to some of the public
meetings which are being held from time
to time for the purpose offorwarding the
interests of the county. acknowledge
that there is some appearance of reason
for this statement. It was not indifler-
ence, however, that kept me away but
my wife's delicate state or health and my
whole sympathy has been with the move
ment. Those who know me know well
that have the interest of the county at
heart, and why not since my home is here?
Some three years ago 1 had the honor of
writing IN article against. the repeal ofthe
presumption law, copies Of which were
sent by the publisher both to Congress
and to the Department ofthe Interior. 1
think was the very first, over two years
ago in the Grand Forks Herald, to propose
organization on the part of the people
against the monopolies. remember
very we'll having received letter from
the editor. wherein, he said that I had
struck stlle nail exactly OH the head.
have correspondent with the manager of
the st. P. NJ. & NJ. road urging him to
give US market by next fall within the
county. The people will also remember
that last summer defended this county
against certain reports made by parties
travelling through it, when I received the
the sobriquet of Don Quixote-a. name
which is applicable in q sense, since like
my celebrated prototype am doing vail
ant battle with the windmills. But they
are not as in his case decent, useful
structures producing what is wholesome
and good. Rather the opposite,- grind
ers of dirt and abuse. I may just say
here that the smaller man is the more
likely he is to give vent to his impotent
spleen by calling names and uttcring inn
pertinent billingsgate. Let the Courier and
Cavalier citizen" both take notice.
Another charge made against me is that
last fall misrepresented and exaggerat-
ed the damage done by frost thus driving
away capital from the country. Let the
people here again decide. Does the
Courier imagine that capital would have
come into the country with its ears and
eyes closed SO that it could neither hear
nor see what ON every side can he SO
plainly heard and seen? This is the
most ridiculous cut of all. The fact is
that as regular correspondent to the
Grand Forks Herald I gave an account Of
the damage done especially 10 the oat
crop as mere matter of news. If recol-
lect right I did not say anything about
the wheat crop for was afraid that such
a report might be used by grain dealers as
an excuse for lowering grades. The
Courier it seems would have suppressed
the whole affair although SO general in
it's nature. This will add to its repu-
tation as reliable journal throughout