The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1896-10-03

tegrity and unity of our government and
the unity Of our government and the free
dom and equality of man, and those of
them who were spared to enjoy tho fruits
of their victory are to-day found in the
Republican ranks fighting to SUSTAIN our
national credit. to preserve to American
citizens the markets of our country, and
to protect our institutions against AS
sauits of it's e,,r,n,es. The ancient enemy
of freedom aud Atnericanism is only lift
ing its hoary head in a new guise. 1t is
the some old rogue, freshly painted and
newly FURNISHED.
1t was my privilege when but a boy of
10, to be attracted to the West. I looked
with wonder upon tho possibilities which
seemed to be open to the energy and the
determination in Dakota Territory and it
was with fondest antlcipations of future
success that l crossed the Red River into
the new land. 1 had so long been thrown
upon my own resources that l looked
upon myself as a man without celcula-
ting upon legal qualifications. And it
was with the deepest despair that while I
was subject to all the laws of the United
States, yet I could not avail myself of any
of the privileges of the land laws which
were freely extended to those who had
reached the coveted age of 81 years. And
if there is a young man in this house who
has at any time had in his minds eye a
beautiful qurter section of government
land, and has seen it slip from his grasp
into the clutches of some person who had
merely happened to have been born a few
years before Hmm he can appreciate tho
feelings of resentment which swayed me
when l was being constantly crowded
from quarter section to quarter section
| by some fresh arrival from the East. But
herein is exempliied that great principal
before the law, as laid down by the great
Republican party in its declarations OF
l $50, and which the party maintains to-
day with rs much fervqr and earnestness
as it did then.
As I came over the $40 line Yesterday.
my thoughts reverted to the summer of
1880, when n party Of adventurous young
men started from Wahpeton on ponies
for a tour Of inspection OF the country.
We left the settlements far behind. and
Travelled for days IN a northeasterlv direc
ton, touching ut Spiritwood Lake, Dew
ills Lake, and only concluding our jour
ney when we had explored the Turtle
Mountain country.
In those days deep lakes we're found on
overy hand, and flowing streams of water
%abounded. Water fowl were as common
AS blackbirds are to-day, while VT on
joyed daily feasts of antelope or venison.
The country was the paradise of hunter
and explorer, and the fresh delights and
now experiences which greeted us from
day to day, will never be forgotten. We
did not believ. then that the country
would ever be settled. There we're but
two lines of railway in the northern part
of the Territory. The Northern Pacific
was building west, and the Manitoba had
a line from Fargo to Grand Forks. The
from breckenridge, and Wahpeton was a
town only in name. Fargo was n stragg-
ling village. Bismarck, now thu State
capital, was only a railroad camp. and
but few farmers had located in the coun-
try. We found a few ambitious townsite
spectators along the Sheyenne and Jim
Rivers. and the occasional shack Of some
sqnatter could be seen in the more favored
locations. But as the towns sprung up
! along the railroads settlers penetrated the
prairies, and farther back from those
great arteries of commerce., civilization
betOok it's way.
Up the James River Valley the North
ern Pacific built a line to tap the rich
country extending northward to Devils
Lake. The Manitoba began reaching out
for the rich treasures TO be garnered from
the fertile fields lying west of Grand
Forks, only ceasing it's conquest of new
country whom it had re lched the golden
sands OF the far off Pacific. We nave
seen the rich territory extending back
from the Red River gradually opened
to settlers, and we have witnessed with
pride and satisfaction the conversion of
the virgin prairie sod into grain produc-
ing fields. We have seen the struggling
settlements organized into populous
counties aud become a part of the grand
young state w all love 80 we'll. But as
we have developed into statehood. we
have also assumed political responsible
ties, and we must see to it that we dis
charge our duties of citizenship faithfully
and we'll. The questions which confront
us a nation to-day must be met and deci.
ded sc positively that our national policy
for the future will be clearly defined.
These great questions I shall not attempt
to discuss, leaving them for. more exper-
fenced debaters to expound. But I am
confident that when the people who are
now sitting in judgment upon the great
issues under consideration shall render
their verdict at the polls on the third day