The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1889-02-15
COMMUNICATIONS.
WINNIPEG, MAN, Feb. 9th. 80,

| WINNIPEG, MAN., FEB. 9TH, ~.
Editors of PIONEER EXPRESS.
SIRs: In your issue of yesterday, you
devoted half column to the denuncia-
ton of representations made in the
Northwest Farmer. which you regard as
unjust and injurious to Dakota. You al
so ask a few questions winding up with
this: "Shall We hear from the Nor'west."
Well here am ready to apologize most
humbly fol any wrong have done.
But, may l ask you in the first place,
to quote for the information of your read
ers, what did say that is improper.
The Minneapolis Tribune, OH tile
strength of representations made by a
resident clergyman, sent out special
reporter, who published columns of the
details of what he saw and heard.
quoted just ten lines Of that, and suggest
ed to my own readers that people who
were not so well off as they would like
should know that Dakota is not always
found q paradise by poor settlers. You
say that the story was disproved three
weeks since. submit that disproof of
that mans statement has not yet
been made, though as l suggested their
better off neighbors VENT promptly to
their relief, so averting the worst results
he feared. III have exaggerated or gar
bled, kindly prove it by printing just
what l did say.
In another place l quoted from the
New York Herald, certain statements
made, as their reporter asserts, by a
good many of your own citizens,
about matters with which climate and
nationality have nothing to do. Is this
reporter lying or have these gentlemen
been guilty of bearing false witness
against your social institution? You
published lately an eulogy ON a respect
ed settler to this effect:
"a few days before taking his last ILL.,
ness in conversation with the writer he
said: IL was offered thirty per cent for
money in Bathgate but would not take
it. think it fraud to charge that rate.
let the money was offered this rate
for at ten per cent" This illustrates his
manner of life as whole, which would
be we'll for many other to copy"
Was that worthy man lying when lie
spoke of thirty per cent interest, or are
all the newspaper reporters on your side
liars, or is the sin only sinful when some
body talks about it? l have perfect
right to publish statements such as these
made six weeks since or more and still
uncontradicted by you, though you
could not but be aware that such state.
ments had been made about your own
town and county. The missionaries Of
the western states and territories do moi
scruple to scatter broad cast over Canada
the most INSCRIPTIONS and unfounded
reports about our northwest, and because
l tell my eastern reader facts that have
never been contradicted about the scalp
ers of Dakota and others places named
you raise loud cutlery. have moi
come into your country as spy, hui
have used with perfect fairness the ma
terial you have placed ready to my hand
facts which know are facts, not in dis
paraging your soil and climate as you ]
think very unfairly insinuate, but il
exposing abuses Of which you ought t.
be ashamed and from which this coun.
try is happily free. Hit US as hard a.
you like in the same way and you won'l
find the Nor'west Farmer squcaling.
quite agree with you that it is only
an imaginary line that divides us ant
that as neighbors We connot afford t.
, run down the splendid valley, which VIZ
f share in common, and if you SHOULD
! find me i'll the wrong, guarantee 70,
won't find me trying to betterit by abus
ing the plaintiffs attorney.