St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1888-02-05
A FOOLS WISDOM.

The Republican press has published
with great glee every morning for the
past fortnight announcements Of the
formation of Republican clubs through
out the state. Some facts in connection
with these embryo organizations these
papers have omitted to note. SOREN
LIsToE, OF Wilkin county, was one of
the chairmen chosen by the Minneap-
oils Republican conference to organize
club in his own county. Mr.. LISTOE
ence that he will not accept the posi-
ton. Why? He is Republican,
Scandinavian, and has held Office. Or
dinarily his enthusiasm in party work
would not be questioned. But Mr.. LIS
TOE inform the Republican leaders that
the tariff question has made the task of
organizing Republican clubs in Wilkin
county a thankless one. Messrs. BARTO,
HEATwoLE, FLETCHER, and others
will hardly appreciate Mr.. LIsTOE's
honest frankness. but it is re-
freShing to Democrats. j. q.
NORBY, of Ada, Norman county, was
another chairman chosen by the Mime
apOiiS conference. He has also declined
the questionable honor. His answer is
that as between BLAINE and CLEvE-
LAND and their respective standings on
the tariff question, there is no question
but that CLEVELAND and tariff reduc-
ton are preferred. This testimony from
two prominent Scandinavian Republi-
cans of the Fifth district is the forecast
ing of the result of the campaign in
Minnesota this year, if the issue is di
rectly upon the tariff. Mr.. BLAINE
drove from himself and his party, when
he made public his views on the tariff,
the strongest political factor in this
state.
The Scandinavian voters of Mime
sofa hold the balance of power i'll the
state. If their voting strength as Nor
wegians, Swedes and Danes be eSti-
mattel, the figure selected will be about
10000. Against this tremendous aggre-
CATION the Germans can poll only 80 900
votes, and the Irish all insignificant
$4,000. The native vote is supposed to
be 10000. but as voting is not their
forte. | deem that figure high. This
Scandinavian contingent is essentially
for radical and lasting tariff reform,
and it is no longer swayed by the mag
netiSm of Mr.. BLAINE. 1t is almost GER
from Minnesota this spring will be in
structed for BLAINE. That instruction,
though, will not carry the state for him,
and cannot convince the Scandinavian
vote that he and protection are to be
desired.
As I come more in contact with them
am surprised at the ease with which
the Scandinayians adapt themselves to
American customs. believe that they
asSimilate more rapidly than any of the
other natiOnalities. ClannishnesS is not
a deep-rOOted trait with them, nor do
they make religion or home customs a
little tin god before which the republic
must give way. l find among the most
intelligent of them strong Democratic
tendencies. e., their opposition to a
centralized government and adj
herence to the doctrine of free
trade, or at least tariff for revenue
only. Their influence upon the state in
time must be very great. Their vote is
fast Overtaking the native vote, and they
propagate in the proportion OF two to
one. That is, as near as it can be math-
ematically demonstrated, a Scandina-
Wan family will have two children
where the native produces one. On the
other hand, one Scandinavian dies to
about every three natives.
1t would be interesting to have exact
statistics as to the excess of children
foreigners in America breed over the
natives, and to know just how fast the
foreign vote Gin the Northwest at least
is gaining ground OH the American. In
an indefinite fashion it is known that
by the statistics of 1861 the for
efgn vote in the area of Wis
nnncin Minnncnt0 an1 dakota
ceeded by nearly 100000 votes, the
native, and that it is on a constant in
crease. Much of this excess is due per-
hapS to the contempt with which the
average native looks upon the right of
suffrage. Still more of it is due to the
prepOnderance of foreign settlement
over that from the East and the New
England states. The result of these re-
latiOnS between foreigner and native in
the Northwest may eventually bring
about remarkable changes in local gov
eminent and public sentiment on ma
tiOnal questions. In fact, the native, as
a result of some of these changes, may
rise some sunny morn native no more.
-
Said an angry policeman on Thurs
day afternoon, while trying to regulate
crowd on Seventh street:
Stand back or FL slap your
mouths"
A motherly old lady behind him re-
tOrted:
Poor baby!"
Back of her stood another woman,
Juggling at crying little boy. She eX-
claimed, as the yOungSter SQuealed:
''Shut up! Don't [ wish | had your
father here-I'd tear his HAIR out by the
roots"
Near her was third woman. and be-
hind her a fourth. No. turned around
to No. 4, and she said:
Madam, your baby is sitting on my
bustle-take her OFF,
The baby was removed precipita ely,
and the hustle, moist and damp, read
iuSted. l might have heard more that
was funny, but the band struck up and
l left.
The prohibitionists profess to be de-
lighted with the decision of the state
supreme court eXempting wholesale
LIQUOR dealers and brewers from the
$1,000 license. They feel that it is a
new provOcation for them to fight the
traflc. They intimate as we'll that the
Republicans can choose but one of two
courses-absolute prohibition or defense
OF the present PATCHWORK Incense law.
They must cut bait or fish. The country
brewers, whose productions are small,
are pleased with the decision, for it con-
tinueS their existence, and the city
wholesalers find nothing out of the way
i'll it. Behold then jubiant choruS--a
harmonious trio-prohibitioniStS, brew
ers, wholesale liquor dealers. What
bedfellows!
~
Up in Grant county, where hitherto
Republican votes have been plentiful
as MCGILL ante-election pledges, a
meeting of the board of county commits
sioners was held last week. Several
other county officials were present.
During the session the presidents mes
sage was discussed and the facts brought
out that the county at large was badly