Oakes weekly Republican. (Oakes, Dickey County, D.T. [i.e. N.D.]) 1883-1898, 1895-01-11

.o0NERNoR, ALLINss MEssAes.

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GENrLEMExs or THE SENATE AND HOUSE
OF REPRESENTATIVES,:
Agreeably TO the. provisions of the CON
stitution, the Legislative assembly Of the
State Of North Dakota has convened to
consider measures pertaining to the peo-
pie and the state. The confidence of your
constituents in choosing YOU to exercise
the functions of the legislative branch of
our state governments n sacred trust.
Officials change, but the government
continues. As the mantle of yonr prede-
cessors has fallen upon you without
blame or blemish, in like manner may you
be enabled to transmit it to your success.
ors, unstained by dishonor
The true basis of government is found in
the nature of men themselves. They
have desires, wills, ideas and character,
and have invested you with the authority
to speak for them. Your intercourse with
your constituents has made YOU familiar
with these characteristics. They may
have importuned YOU to secure the passing
of measures which, in their individual
capacity, they deem necessary to their
best interests. An honest effort
But it is your duty TO determine
by conference whether the best interests
of the state will be served by such meas
ures; should it be necessary to abandon
the effort for the general welfare, you do
not prove recreant to the trust reposed on
you, but rise to the dignity of broad
minded and liberal legislators, which
will secnre for you the plaudits of an in
itelligenS constituency. A grave response
bility, therefore, rests upon you, and il
the discharge of that duty invoke the
assistance of Almighty God.
Tor your guidance you have the results
of the four legislative assemblies of the
state and those of the territory. Many
measures then operative would to day be
inadeduate and unsatisfactory. In the
march of civilization legislative assemblies
as we'll rs individuals are required to con-
tribute. A conservative policy has always
characterized the American people, giving
our state and federal governments
strength at home, and securing respect
abroad There are those who demand the
repeal of laws because of their ancient
origin; others demand the enactment of
laws that will embody the most advanced
ideas; but the greatest number is that
conservative class that findssthe golden
medium between the two extremes, pos
sessing that disnosition of mind which
|sneither reveres What is old or adnires
what is new, simply because it is old or
new, but submits every question to the
test of strict examination upon it's intrin-
sic merits. .,r.s.,
+ It is to be hoped, gentlemen, that in
your intercourse with your constituents
you have been impressed with the neces-
sity of as economical Il session as is compat-
ible with public interests Being compelled
ito practice the most rigid economy, on
account of financial depression and the
low price Of their products, they expect a
reasonable degree of frugality on the part
of their representatives.
/ desire at this time to commend the
people of the state, through you, for the
admirable manner in which they deported
themselves during the unfortunate dis
turbances during the past year. Though
inconvenienced and made material losers
by reason Of such disturbances, the people
of this state have faithfully kept the com
pact entered into with the general govern
mentwhen admitted into the union. They
have proven themselves worthy of all the
rights and privileges of statehood.
My honorable predecessor has admitted
q report of the executive Office during his
incumbency, together with report Of the
various departments of state. 1t is not
my purpose to recommend numerous or
radical measures for your consideration,
butto pursue n conservative course, be-
heving 1t to be to the best interests of the