The Redwood gazette., 1902-06-18
VANSANT AT HIS BEST.
Hold On to Your Farm, is the Advice he
Gave the Farmers.

! Gov. VanSant commenced his ad-
dress at the old settlers picnic by con-
graduating the audience on the beauti-
ful surroundings. He then spoke of
the splendid outlook for a beautiful
crop and said that if paradise was a
more beautiful land than this portion
of Minnesota, with it's green fields, wav-
ing grain, and happy, contented people
be earnestly hoped that he would not
miss getting there. He then spoke at
some length OF the early trials and
hardships Of the old settlers, saying
that the younger generation could not
fully appreciate how much had been
done for them by the old settlers. Ow-
ing to their labors and hardships they
were enabled to come and occupy the
land, and Judging by their appearance
they were as we'll to do as any people
anyW here to behold. "These old pio-
neers not only opened the way for this
splendid civilization, but they have
seemed to almost conquer the climate"
The Governor then related the early
impressions that outside people had of
our State. It was claimed that our
climate was too frigid to raise corn.
He told Of the remarks of our first gov
ernor, Alex. Ramsey, who, in 1856, in
a speech, declared in answer to this
criticism that we could successfully
raise corn, and he has lived to see Min
nesota's corn crops yield in single
year 81, 100000 bushels. He spoke at
some length of Minnesota's resources,
and after paying tribute to the farm
ers for showing their wisdom in divsr
styling their crops, gave history Of
dairying in the same.
'Our butter in not only the best ever
made, as shown by the prizes every
where awarded, but it yields SO much
annually to our farmers thatit is rapid
idly enriching them and giving us an
advanced position with our sister
States. We are already known as fur
nishing the bread to feed the world,
and with all this fine butter to spead
on it we are rapidly becoming known
as the great Bread and Butter State"
Gov, Vansant also spoke of our min
eral wealth, our lumber interests, our
railroads and river routes and felt safe
in predicting that the child was living
that would see Minnesota contain s.
900, 900 people within her border. 1t
will not be possible to give only mere
idea in this article of the splendid trib
ute paid to our State. He did not for
get to tell of the trialsof the fathers
with the Indians, and said that no
more heroic people ever lived than tine
old settlers. They left all to fight the
redskins, and then he depicted the ter
rible times in 49, Eighteen counties
were devastated by them. 10000 peo-
pie made homeless and 700 men, wo-
men and children butchered, and 200
more carried into captivity. "All honor
to such brave people, But this was
not all. This State, the youngest in
the union. sent to the front 25.OOO men
to fight for the union. Five out OF
seven of her voters were soldiers. In
fact, the State was practically depopu-
lated so far as its able bodied male citi-
zens were concerned. How nobly did
the women of those times do their parts
They often titled the soil and performed
the labors of their husbands, sons ant
brothers, who were down south fight
ing for the flag that we all love so well
All honor to the old settlers, both mel
and women"
Gov. VanSant stated that the great
est honor that could possibly come to s
man was to be an American citizen
and "while we gather here from aimos
every State in the Union, and from
every country under the sun, still ",
are one people, with the same love fo
! our flag and actuated by the same lof
: ty desires to see our country remain th,
5 most prosperous of earth, and her peo
. pie the Iuost happy and contented."
To the farmers Gov. VanSant re
, marked: off you have farm hold OF
to it; if you have not, by all means bu.
one, for no man is doing better thar
1 the farmers, or is more independent
and besides farm lands are cheape
now then they ever will be again, TO
! while our population is rapidly increas
| ing there are no more acres in Mime
, sofa than when Adam was driven from
!, the garden of Eden. Our people in
, crease, but our acres do not. Ifyo,
remember nothing else of what I hav
said to-day, remember this: Hold OF
to your farm. 1t will prove to be you
: best friend"