St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1891-03-13
AN APPEAL TO REASON.

To the Editor OF the Globe.
1t seems that little more logic and
much less sentiment, used with equal
zeal and in fair proportions, would tend
largely to solve fairly, if not salts
factorily, the impending and much
agitated subject of patrol limits. The
difficulty in bringing the matter TO 4
pleasant or agreeable conclusion under
the present condition of affairs lies
principally in the circumstance that
those who agitate on either hand are the
EXTREMIST of those who hold opposing
and conflicting opinions upon the sub
ject. Fortunately there is a happy me-
dunn which rests uUOn a primal princi-
pie, upon which all free civil govern
ment must be based to afford its citizens
the full advantages of civil liberty.
Local Self-g0vernment is essential to
free society; 1t is Indispensable to the
complete enjoyment of the blessings OF
civil liberty. Those who oppose patrol
limits entirely, and those who advocate
their existence within interchangeable
localities are alike extreme in their re-
Spective views upon the subject, and, as
rule, neither of them confine the m
selves to governmental principles in dis
cuSsing the subject. One acts upon his
opposition to the existence of the thing,
the other upon his opposition to its eX-
tension: both without reference to the
opinions and desires of others and to
the inquiry: What do the peOnle in the
several localities want? One asserts
the people oppose 1t: the other,
with equal vehemence and zeal,
prOlaimS the contrary; and such
condition produces this unfort-
innate and disagreeable middle, which,
if not tempered with much good judg
ment and not governed in its adjust
ment by the application of principle,
aside from sentiment, may throw the
whole subject into the hands of the peo-
pie to determine at another election to
the neglect of other more material mat
tiers.
Minneapolis is a locality within the
state of Minnesota, the same as is every
municipality in the state. Minneapolis
is made up again of a large number of
small communities or localities distinct.
separate and unknown to each other,
wherein the habits and wants of the
people of one are entirely different in
manner and desire from those of others,
yet each and all of these claim the right,
and certainly ought to enjoy the priv-
leges of -self-government.
Minneapolis, through the city council,
should govern its local affairs, and it is
that LEGISLATORS who reside hundreds of
miles away from its limits and who
never stepped upon its streets, perhaps,
should dictate for it and make laws to
govern its domestic affairs. No man can
proclaim his belief in local self govern
ment and adhere in good faith to the
argument that the state legislature
should establish patrol limits for Mime.
apoliS. If such things are advisable and
demanded by the people let the respon-
sibility of establishing them rest upon
the local government 'ot the city, not
upon the legislature of the state. whom
the people of the city can never cali to
account for its conduct. If left to the
city council, where it rightly belongs.
the people may soon indicate IN their
elections just how they want this matter
managed.
Since my acquaintance with politics
in this city the question has never gone
to the people as square issue, and dur
ing the last campaign l never heard the
subject mentioned.
Who ever heard of the subject at al
as question for state legislation until
the converting of the legislature in 1887,
when this county and city was repre-
sented by majority of Republicans in
a strongly Republican legislature? Ger
tainly no issue was made upon the queS-
ton when DR.. Ames ran against Gov.
McGill. But the doctor remained mayor
and the city council was Democratic. In
der those conditions it was deemed nee
eSSary for the legislature to establish
patrol limits in this city. SOlong as the
Republican party had control of the To-
cal government there were no patrol
limits established by state laws.
Their creation by the state was a
breach of the fundamental principle of
self-gOvernment,a and that the act was
political one is not susceptible OF DIS
cussion. The law creating them should
be repealed, not because patrol limits
are wrong-that question is not under
discussion; but because if they are es-
sential To good government in Minneap-
oils the people of this cityIa capable of
creating them independent from other
parts of the state; to insist that they
cannon do so is TO admit their inability
10 govern themselves. The writer Ia