The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1888-12-28
A SENATORIAL "REMINISCENCES.

out al interesting fcmiulpCcuCc VI tus
senatorial contest of six years ago. In
the shape of an excerpt from the St
Paul Pioneer Press of Feb. 2, 1883. 1t ID
as follows:
Much worse things might have hap.
pened than the election of ID. NJ. Sabin
to the Senate. He owes his election
largely to personal qualities, which
stamp him as natural leader of men,
One thing at least will be conceded
even by those who most deprecate his
election, and that is that no more capable
representative of the general business interest,
of the State could haze been elected than ID.
N. Sdbin. He has certain attractive and
popular personal qualities, which are
often more conducive TO a successful
public career than the highest order OF
intellectual endowments. He has the
personal magnetism of frank. forceful,
generous, large hearted man.
In the Winona Republican of Saturday
Mr.. Youmans makes some vigorous COM
ments on this text, which we're doubt
less prompted by the recent editorials OF
the Pioneer-Press demanding that a
statesman" and later that business
man is wanted" Mr.. Youmans says:
The Italics are my own. This appre-
ciative estimate of Senator Sabin was not
the exuberant gushing of partisan Ella
ted by victory, but the spontaneous trib-
ute of journal that had been earnestly
supporting another candidate. 1t was
fitting and generous for the Pioneer Press
to grace Its columns with such apprecia-
tive commentator In its next issue after
his election, and how appropriate and
deserved was its eulogium his six years
of faithful and efficient service in the
United States has fully illustrated.
"No morelcapable representative of the
general business interests of the State
could have been elected than ID. NJ. Sa-
bin" With what possible higher quail
ficatiOn could a man be endowed for
meeting the responsibilities of this high
position? When the general businessin-
terest is competently served, nothing is
neglected. 1t is when special or local
business interests are made paramount
to the general business interest, and
when, as now, a candidate is put forward
because he belongs to a certain locality,
and will serve that locality and make its
interests paramount to every other, that
it becomes important to the people of
the State outside that narrow boundary
to see that their Senator In the future,
as heretofore, shall represent the general
business interests. Indeed this question
of subordinating the general welfare to
local benefit is assuming such importance
in this State that it invites serious atten-
ton. While the twin cities were COM
petitors in their schemes before the leg
islature to secure some local advantage
at the expense of the State, the MEM
bers from outside had guarantee of
cooperation with the municipal rival.
But having, in some of their measures in
the legislature, verified the truth of the
aphorism "that in union there is
strength" it seems quite apparent that in
questions to be decided by the legisla-
ture, of which choosing Senator is of
first Importance, new principle will
dominate, and as throwing light upon 1t,
the appelation of the "twin cities'' be-
comes most suggestive cognomen.
Mr.. Sabin possessed the high q ualifi-
cations for senator ascribed to him by
the Pioneer Press before he was indicted
into and charged with the responsible
ties of that high position, how largely
must the experience of six years OF ser
vice have added to his capacity for flu.
this controversy that the representa-
tives of the people who are to decide it
cannot afford to overlook. Moreover,
it should not be forgotten that the re-
cord of Mr.. Sabin is before the people,
and that in the earnest contest now GO
ing forward his opponents cannot point
to an official act that impugns that rec
ord. He Is charged with no laundering,
with no incompetence, with no derelic-
ton; but his opposers concede, as his
friends claim, that he is emInently en-
titled to receive, and at the hands of an
intelligent constituency he does receive,
that highest of all encomiums, well
done, good and faithful servant"
In this issue political principles are
not involved. The candidates are all
supposed to be orthodox Republicans
and characteristics that measure their
relative fitness must be estimated on
other grounds. Senator Sabin was in
Quoted into the Office six years ago with
the qualifications 80 felicltously delin-
Gated by the Pioneer Press In the quota
ton given above, and his official career
has made evident that this analysis was
correct, that his accomplishments we're
not overstated, and to such ample
groundwork is added six years of in
structive experience. If no considera-
ton, aside from the highest aptitude for
dIscharging the duties of a representa-
tive of the entire state, with no partial
ity to any locality, we're considered, the
name uttered by every Republican
member of the legislature, when in the
course of his official duty he is called up
on to: record his choice for United
Statesl senator, would be that of D. M.
Sabin. E. S. YouMANs.