St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1888-10-15
REQUA'S WORK.
Moral and Political Reform
Among the Norwegians.

Moral and Political Reform
Among the Norwegians.
Special to the Globe.
SPRING GROVE. Oct. lin the moral
history of Houston county the life and
deeds OF Rev. S. Requa, Lutheran pastor
of Spring Grove, will stand out forever
as a shining light. This mana Nor
wegian of the intellectual type pOr-
trayed so finely in the Children of the
Lords Supper'-cOming as pastor to
the numerous Norwegian settlements
along the narrow gauge line of the Mil
waukee road. running from Caledonia
Junction TO Preston, fifteen years ago
found community embrOiled in the
discussions and torture of intempeT-
Rnce, litigation and public disorder. To
face the moral chaos prevailing re-
quiTed courage; to condemn and attack
it demanded something mOre-faith.
Both of these Rev. Requa possessed.
Glove. Truth and Mercy sat upon his brow,
And in his hand was the Word of God"
Mild of manners, deep in thought. a
persistent foe OF immortality of any
stamp. he threw himself into the work
and fought for the redemption of his
cOuntrymen. There were months and
months Of trial and defeat, but by slow
degrees and under the changing order
of the new rule, Spring Grove and that
which is tributary 10 it rose from the
depths to the higher plane. To-day it
Is a sober. temperate Norwegian COM
munity. free from all saloon domina-
ton, and in many respects more pro-
greSsIve than the average family COM
munity in this state. The deluSiOn of
Wheat-raising has been abandoned; the
rio iann i IN and 0nH
pork raising has passed into the
realm of material profits. If the land
and personal taxes were reduced to the
mere necessities of administering gov
eminent, | do not know a section in
Minnesota that could be more blessed
than this. The bar sinister that rests
upon these farms, these tOling people
and all that they eat and wear, is Excess
Sive taxation eXacted by the state and
national government. They are begin
ming to appreciate this. Much has been
written OF the American eagerneSS to
learn as if it were peculiar national
trait. | discredit the assertion this
much by asserting that among the most
earnest and impetuOuS acknowledgements
erS Of America are the NOTwegianS.
First to reach the educational level of
an American and then to go beyond il
every bright Norwegian. He will leave
no stone unturned in his search for the
truth and spare no pains to rid his mind
of error.
In knowing this disposition of his
country men and getting to the root of a
moral sense that is never lacking in this
race. Rev. ReQua found the success of
his mission. The teachers of the low
tax cause now abroad in the land, have
taken the same avenue to their sense of
Justice, and To all apparent purposes,
will attain the same success. The pro
cess is slow. but the turnings of minds
that twenty-five years ago adopted Re
publicaniSm, because it meant anti
slavery. is bringing the Norwegian vOt-
ers and thinkers to the Democracy on
the principle that it represents lower
taxes. tariff reform and governmental
economy.
When Judge Wilson arrived at Spring
Grove he was met by a delegation OF
prominent NOTwegianS, chief among
them Rev. Requa and Teman Gilbert
son. 2. J. SmalleY and Capt. Harries
accompanied him from Caledonia. AT
7:30 the Spring Grove COTnet band.
heading a tOrch-light procession, the
bearers of which carried Roman
candles. discharging their balls OF
fire. marched through the main street
serenaded the Judge and then escorted
him to the meeting hall. The place was
packed with Norwegian merchants and
farmers. ana they made up just about
as sturdy an audience as has vet greeted
the CONGRESSMAN. He spoke for three
hours Oh low taxes. II. l. c.