The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-05-16

Getting up the Mississippi was no easy
task, but was rather in luck, for en-
.countered Charlie Tread, after whom
Reads Landing was named, and he helped
me along. He had a contract for carrying
the mail that year, and he took me IN his
canoe as passenger The doctor re-
called with vividness the few settlements
that were along the river, and the sham
bling houses which constituted st. Paul
Governor RAMSEY wanted just such a man
for his secretary asaRpctor Foster proved
to be. He was not only a secretary but a
counselor, his active brain supplementing
his. ready hand. HIS pen drew up the
treaty with the Sioux at Mendoza, fol-
lowing Ramsey's suggestions and dicta-.
tions.ssaAt that council Little Grow spoke
for the Sioux and, among other things,
said * : My friends, sent from the white
father, my young men have said that they
would kill me II signed this treaty to-day.
They say they are notEready They say
must wait. am going to sign this treaty
before this sun sets, for a man can die
but once and it matters little when or
how"
=.t IA Benevolent "Boss."
! During the next eight or ten years Dr.
Foster was one Of the most influential
men in Minnesota. He was in the front
rank of its politicians. He managed and
edited the Daily st. Paul Minnesotian, the
| most widely circulated paper in the state.
He was leading member of the state
committee, whig and republican. He
generally wrote the platforms of his party.
Few men rose to power in the state with
out his assistance. He was benevolent
boss, with all that that implies. His
| advice and approval were sought by men
who taspired to be governor representative
| in congress or senator He caused VIM
dom to be sent to congress, Donnelly to be
made lieutenant governor and Charlie
Shaefer to be nominated for state treas
urer. He declined all offices for himself
during this decade before the war and was
content to direct caucuses and conven-
| lions. But he accepted from the hand of
Lincoln a commission as captain and
conmissary of subsistence.
i DR.. Foster narrated the following Incl
dent: II was at the Chicago convention
AS spectator only. The delegation to
headed by George Ashmun Of Massachus-
etts, and John w. North of Minnesota, a
member of it, invited me to go down to
1 Springfield with them I went gladly and
remember every word Of Ashmun's speech
and Lincoln's reply. Old Abe was a
sfnged cat; he received US timidly and
shook hands round awkwardly. He spoke
i in rather hesitating manner and made
/ the hearer wish that he could help him
i out. When he had accepted he seemed
much relieved. Now my part is over,
/ he said: We must see what Mrs. Lin
coin has to say about It,. She's in the
other room We followed him and had a
very warm welcome from the lady. We
then took our leave. The next time saw
Mr.. Lincoln he was In his coffin at
Springfield
His chronological Studies.
DR.. Foster had early felt an interest in
the life and history of the American In
\ dams and pursued the study for years un-
i til he became an expert ethnologist and
historiographer. In 1873 he was appointed
by congress to edit the collections of the
Indian languages Of the, countryside po-
sition that SchcOlcraft filed during his
4 latter days. This position he admins
tered until congress withheld its appro-
i priation. He had collected some 5000
words in the vocabularies Of the Winnie
bagoes, Sioux and Ghippewas. and during
the last days OF hisElf showR continue
anxiety that the result of hfy investiga-
i lions might be put In permanent form
4 He had made himself somewhat &C.
lquainted with many Indian tongues an6
all the leisure hours Of his later years
were spent in recording, collating and Coz
ordinating into something OF q system
the vocabularies ofEthese languages. He
a had succeeded to his own satisfaction
i in tracing the Indian names Of all the
states and of many IL the rivers from Their
j derivatives back tb the primitive sig
nifcance Of the VOID, and had tabulated
4 whole newspaper pages.
1 The DISASTROUS Railroad Loan.
4 asked DR.. Foster what he considered
his greatest serviceEto Minnesota.
..It was a service that didn't serve,'' he
said-"the effort tol prevent the adoption
of the IS, 100000 loian. In opposing and
denouncing that lokn your paper and
mine the Falls Etening News and the
Minnesotian, were almost absolutely alone
4 among the newspapers Of the5state. W.
prophesied that it wpuld lead to ruin. They
lcalled us Cassandr{s and Jeremiahs ant
took the bit IN thfir teeth. The people