The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1897-07-28
PINE ISLAND.

On our way 10 NASHVILLE VIC "'oPPo
over. for one day, to deliver Thlrd
of July speech the Fourth coming on
Sunday, at Pine Island, in Goodhue
county in this state
We were the guest of an old anu non
ored friend, Mr.. ]. c. Dickey, one OF the
first settlers in this country, who came
here when the buffalo were ranging
over the greater part of Minnesota. His
father was our friend, and so the
friendship is a matter of inheritance
with the son.
Mr.. Dickey is an old soldier. repre-
sentative of that sturdy, warlike race,
north and south, who when the poll
ticians talked the country into war had
to do the fighting. And they did it
we'll, on both sides.
This breed Of men is as different from
the degraded inhabitants of the purliens
OF our eastern cities as il they belonged
to different planet. There is no mis-
taking them. They are quiet, earnest,
resol'ite, unpretentious-ready at all
times to die for their sense of right,
The Texan and the Minnesotan-there
is no difference between them save that
perhaps one is a little more sunburned
than the other
Ihey are natural pioneers When
Mr.. Dickey entered Goodhue county ba
advanced into veritable garden of God
1t makes one sad to think that such
opportunities as were possessed by The
generation now passing away, will new
er be enjoyed again, as long as the
planet rolls on it's axis; for nowhere
is there left on the earth unsettled an
other such region Of country as the
great Mississippi valley, stretching from
the highlands of Minnesota to the gulf
Of Mexico.
For a thousand years mankind will
look back upon this period as the gold
en- age Of the world, when civilized man
advanced into the wilderness, and took
possession of the fairest and most fer
tile fields on earth. 1t was the heroic
age. when courage and industry walked
hand in hand, and plenty, and culture
and civilization sprang up in super
abundant beauty from beneath their
footsteps.
And it is pleasant to think that
the new party-the Peoples party-is
bringing together, in friendship and
trust, all these millions Of good honest,
people, north and south, lately divided
by rivers of blood; but who are now
uniting to protect their mutual inter-
ests from the plunderers and despoilers
of mankind. Every national convention
OF that party is building up OF that
Union Of lakes and union of lands,
And union of hearts none can sever"
described by the poet
That sentiment alone justifies the
Peoples party, and furnishes sufficient
reason for it's continued existence.
Pine Island is a beautiful and thriv-
.ng town, and surrounded by as glor.
ious country as lies out Of doors any
WHERE Cu edItil, dIli pCpuldtSu " q
splendid race of men, drawn from all
the great stocks of western Europe,
and from all the states of the union.
A good people too. whose judgment may
be misled by their emotions, but who
never intend to do or to be wrong.
There is no better. or greater, or more
generous race on earth than this n0b!s
American people
The celebration Of the Fourth was
ldylllc. grove of trees, great null
titude, platform, music. prayer, sing
ing, olatory. Everybody peaceful, or
derry, kindly. sober and happy. Such
swarms of young people. too, hale and
hearty and intelligent, with Cupid busv
shoWeilng his arrows among 1bem
thick as lying hailstones. 1t set one
thinking Of the not very distant dav
"hen the Republic would contain >
thousand million people. God grant
they De the greatest and wisest and
happlest that have ever dwell an +b;s
g!oce. That ignorance and brvt,1i+,
ana injustice may disappear from 4bo
planet forever.
was a great pleasure to us to mo,4
50 many cid settlers and friends TIT.
halr was touched by the SHOWS Of tin,o
'o' 'helr eyes were bright and their
WARM. Many had come
.N1e Instances. There was one old
li1eho' u. o. Gates. Of Mantorvilla ,n,
JOSIAH Lothrop, of Roscoe and WIZ
"'' noolor Charles Hill, an honored
old settler, and Charles Edison
VI nc great inventor; and Daniel Dick
ey' over 80 years of age; and Henry
Hanllne, and Rush Irish. editor Of Tho
neeoru' anu l.. r. Irish, and 10 Irish
and Jim Harmer, and a host of othor,
we mad the pleasure of meeting Nrs
Dlckey, mother of J. c. Dickey four
generations in one group, a very bright
Intelligent lady. despite her years
MI. }. c. Dickey has fine farm .
mouse worthy of any city in the land
ana wife fit to adorn it. He i an
independent farmer, and chairm,, &c
the town board, a man OF great coed
sense and practical wisdom. He has
managed the town affairs so well that
he ought 70 be sent to represent the