Morris tribune., 1906-08-25
MlNNESOTA'S SEMI CENTENNIAL AND REPUBLICAN
STEWA IRISH Up.

| to be any controversy or dispute, Is the ohe
recommending the proposition for celebration
of the semi-centennial of Minnesota's admission
to the union. This is not only worthy move
ment, but it is one which covers period of the
nations life important than any other
| fifty years since the Declaration of lndepend-
ence. At the time Minnesota was admitted IN
1853 she was a distant frontier state, attracting
| but little attention in the world at large and
practically thrown upon her own resources.
After the great development which has since
followed, there is every reason to celebrate
what has happened to and for Minnesota since
that seemingly far distant period. AT that time
Abraham Lincoln had not become a factor in
the public eye: Stephen A. Douglas was con-
spicuous and even Bob Toombs of Georgia.
who boosted that he would some day call the
roll of his slaves at the foot of Bunker Hill
monument, was more conspicuous in public
affairs than Lincoln. Minnesota had many
able and resolute men and it is not boastful to
say that she had as many able and resolute men
at that time in proportion to population as she
has today, They realized that they were laying
the foundations of great state and they laid
it we'll
on to face one of the greatest calamities which
ever befen her; that the terrible Indian
massacre in 1862, when between six and seven
hundred peaceful men, women and children
were ruthlessly slaughtered by the savages.
But the state superior to that great calam-
ity and next took up the problem OF securing
transportation facilities, which owing to the
failure of the five million loan scheme, had left
the state withoutsa single mile of railroad in
actual operation BY far-seeing, wise and
prudent course, railroad development was
stimulated and encouraged until now have
over seven thousand miles of road in the state,
and by the time the centennial celebration oc
urs, it may reach nine thousand and possibly
ten thousand miles within our borders. Every
movement made was for progress, and with the
close of the Civil War, and the return of our
citizens to peaceful vocations, prosperity began
to dawn upon u.s. an influx of population oc
Cured and this was nourished and encouraged
until our population has reached the two million
mark In fact there has been one continue
and continuous stream of advancement anC
progress ever since the foundation was laid il
the early days. We have a magnificent schoo'
fund which already exceeds that of every state
in the union, save one and it is only question
of time when it will pass that one. The state
university had existence whatever, Will,
now it is one of the commanding institutions
of the country with over four thousand pupil:
and able corps of professors can b.
found in any institution of learning in thu
whole land
In recaptulatng all these things and score:
of others, to which we do not have the space t.
alude is it not proper to also call attention tt
the fact that all these years the state has been
in the control of the Republican party and
managed by her able Republican leaders
Whatever prosperity has come to the state
whatever advancement has been made il
education, in transportation, in convenience.
and comforts for her industrious inhabitants
has been done by and to large extent is due
to the action of the Republican party. 1t was
accordingly fitting that the state convention al
Duluth should cordially commend the semi
centennial celebration While not designed tt
be partisan, it cannot fail to be paean OF
praise for the political rule which has CONTROL
ed the destines of Minnesota ever since she be
state. There is scarcely any other
northern state that has not been at some period
OF existence swung from it's mornings, but
there has been no break in Minnesotas record
Twice IN her history, Democratic governors
have been elected hut all of the other state
officers have been Republican and every legis-
LOT, I1och L