The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1886-03-26
MR.. DIAMONDS DEMAND"
Editor Free Press

IIolus VI any OtiiSI HicuiucT Vi thc Doaiu
whose character and reputation are so
known and established
throughout the county as is his, would
be useless, in bad taste and very unjust.
We are very sorry to have wounded Mr..
feelings and disclaim all in
tention SO to do, and frankly say that
whatever may have been the method of
betrayal, we do not believe it to have
been for consideration, and if Mr..
Diamond will read Justices" former
article through, he will find the whole
grievance at the close of the article set
forth IN the very clear and beautiful
words of the editor of the Reriep, viz !:
"This is the peoples cause of complaint
it is the betrayal of trust they con-
DENIM" The writer fails TO see any in
timation Reconsideration in these words.
But all this does not alter the fact that
the people regard the Commissioners
their representatives in honor bound to
carry out the will of the majority, and
i'm this instance they have failed to do
this, and in so doing have betrayed u
most sacred trust.
While 10 criminal intention is attach
ed to the Commissioners in their action
i'm this matter, the people look upon
them as monuments of wonder and
amaZement. In earnest and in vain
have the people sought for reasons to
explain their actions. The chief excuse
offered for them is that the vote on the
bonds was only vote on the method OF
raising the money, that the people real.
ly wanted to build the house but voted
the bonds down because they wanted to
paw the cash for it. These agricultural
people feel that they may be pretty big
fools, but to present such a reason even
to them is an insult to folly.
Mr.. Diamond gives as the Boards rea'
son for levying the tax, that the levy
was based on the recommendation o.
two grand juries, and that some people
from Vernon, Medo, Pleasant Mound
Mapleton, Lincoln and other towns
asked money for roads and did not pro
test against this levy. What has tn,
levy of a tax for roads to do with THU
court house, Mr.. Diamond may want t,
buy a plug of tobacco, but does it follow
| therefore that he must be made to buy
buzz saw? Does not Mr.. Diamond know
that the levy for the court house wa
made and beyond protest before ont
tax payer in five hundred in the countr'
knew ANYTHING about it? Has it come t,
that rpass that every taxpayer mus
"protest" in his hand before he will de
sist from dong that which he has beef
informed not to doP Thus Mr.. damon,
for himself, and for all the other mem
bers of the board, offers the recommen
dation of tine grand jury, and the failur
of people to file protests as an offset to
majority vote of the people, as justif
cation of their extraordinary action
This is too silly. People who offer sue
wishy-washy things are usually set dow
as "knaves or fools" Mr. damon
has filed disclaimer to the former ian
we accept the disclaimer.) The peopl
prefer to think the latter. Is Mr.. Dia
mond ignorant of the fact that no ma
ter what any sci OF men may say or
in matter in which they are withou
legal significance, it counts for nothin
when set over against the wish of tn
people? And does he not know tin;
when the people have expressed the
decision by ballot, that that Is final an
from it there is no appeal? Has he bee
the headlight of the old Democratic pal
ty all these years and not yet learne
these old Democratic principles (pel
haps they are too old for his recolle,
tom If he is still ignorant of the con
mon fundamental principles of Amer
can government, he had best step asid
for some one who is better schoOled j
living thoughts of the day. Is it an
wonder that the people feel that the
are trodden upon and speak with no I'll
certain meaning, and is it any wonde
that the soles of Mr.. Diamonds feet ar
sensitive to the points of these unhead
ed rights that he is treading upon? Fo
years in the grange and at the agricultul
al fairs from the platform Mr.. damon
has cried (as it were) from the hous
tops for the people. But from his pres
ent exalted position the common her,
are lost to the sight of his official vision
This, to the people, is passing strang
and remains without explanation.
Mr.. Diamond in his simple innocenc
says 1--WE supposed we were working 70
the best interests of the county and wit
the approval of majority of the tax
payers"
Singular supposition indeed in tn
face of a vote of 200 majority on the 9th
who don't know their best interests. w
suggest to Mr.. Diamond, If he is so Il
the dark and misled, that he Suppose
once more and this time Suppose he re
signs" and let the people select Com
missioner who can suppose" that tn
line of duty indicated by the majority i
the one for him to follow. Whateve
may have been his 'suppositions" here
tofore, since the action of many of tn,
towns at their annual meeting are tn
scales still upon his eyes and does h,
still Suppose" the people are clamor
ing to pay cash for a court house? Doe
| Mr.. Diamond still wonder that the PEG
pie feel that very sacred trust has beer
betrayed and they can't understand
why?
Mr.. Diamond makes use of these re
markable words: "THE FREE PRESS ha
tried to make the people of Mankato be
lieve that it is in favor ofbuildinga cour
house, but / can conceive of no possibl,
publication that could do more to en-
courage the factional opposition that ha
worked up against us, or more seriOusl,
embarrass our action in this matter"
These words are simply amazin,
coming from an officer charged with
public trust. Must public journal b,
reviled and condemned because it per
mis- public discussion of matter O
public interest? Is it to be understood
that the Reriem would suppress the dis
cussion of public interests in its columns
because 1t gives space to the announce
ment of such a doctrine as this Wha
manner of thing is this that is going Oh
that cannot stand public gaze and public
criticism? Is the court house business O
such character that it cannot be talked
about? Some star chamber proceeding
is it? How naturally those who drink
the milk inherit the nature ofthe mothe I
Fractional opposition against usn TIL
factional opposition is majority of tn
voters of Blue Earth county. Mr.. Dia
mond admits then that "us' (the Com
misioners) are arrayed on one side ant
the majority of the people on the other
How does he reconcile such a state o.
affairs? Mr.. Diamond may suppose" 9
majority are with him. But in the face
of recorded majority of over 200 against
him the people don't accept any such
"supposition." Mr.. Diamond condemns
The FREE PRESS because the light thai
shines through il is seriously embar.
RAISING to our action in the matter
What sort of matter" has Mr.. Dia
mond got on hand that is 80 seriously
embarrassed" when the light dawns up.
on him as to his duties? What matter
is it, what attitude The FREE PRESS sus.
tains. Does the proposed court house
belong to The FREE PRESS. Reuiew and
Gus, ""we?" No wonder Mr.. Diamand
and his colleagues, like rats in barrel
when the cover 10 lifted, strike and
scratch in every way and bite the first
thing they touch. JUSTICE.
HoN. GEO. A. PILLsBURY, present may.
-. or ,,oa communicated e.