The Columbus journal. (Columbus, Neb.) 1874-1911, 1909-09-29
JOHN A. JOHNSON.

S>4AAN IA S/1AASSOASs
The mysterious way" in which his
wonders are performed is never more
mysterious than when death strikes
down, before the allotted time, one
who has striven nobly and effectively
in q great cause and whom his fellows
have marked for reward and honor
and in whom they have conferred hope
of future accomplishment.
Such q man was Governor John A.
johnson of Minnesota. His personally
wrought career and his potential pub
lie service made him q national figure,
and at a time when the qualities that
gave him distinction and power were
sorely needed in public affairs. His
struggles and his attachments appealed
to the popular Imagination just Is his
steadfastness and his courage touched
the moral sensibilities of the country.
The life and the success Of Cover.
nor johnson were intensely democratic
distinctively American-the more
American because he was born of
poor foreign parentage and thus re-
presented, in his development, the
wonderful processes of assimilation
that have worked out the racial and
political destinies of this Nation.
In retrospect the career of Cover.
nor johnson has the elements of 70.
nance and picturesqueness; in reality
that career represents some of the
hardest knocks that noble fortitude
was ever called upon to withstand.
The eldest of the family, left father.
less in every helpful sense at an early
age, he became the dependence of his
wage earning mother and his younger
brothers and sisters, and at the age of
Is was thei' sole support. Yet this
boy, meeting the responsibilities of
man, gratifed bis desire for learning
absorbing the village library and get
ting common wisdom from the running
gossip and discussion IF the town drug
store where he was employed.
Governor johnson rise as country
journalist, as a member of the Mime
sofa Legislature and as chief executive
of his state is now matter If common
knowledge. Minnesota owes him
everlasting gratitude an honor, but
it cannot honor him dead more than
il hon"red him Ii, ing. and in this the
great commonwealth will fi.d enhur.
ing consolation as it c,"tsmpIates its
mOurnfuI loss. OF all the reform
governors of his time, J,hns,n was
most signallv rewarded by those he
served, gaining support in amazing
numbers from an opposition and nor
mally dominant party. And he Sc
cured for Minnesota in return many
great Legislative reforms. Indeed, he
placed his state in the front rank in
legislative attainment.
There is reason to believe that if
Governor johnson had chosen to as
sert himself politically at particular
time preceding the Presidential cam.
paign of last year he would have
achieved the place of leadership in the
Democratic party. The leaders of
that party desired a change. The
rank and file were ready for a new
standard bearer, for even among those
who preferred Mr.. Bryan and had
unfaltering faith in him there were
many who believed that his election
would be impossible. But Mr.. John
son would not place himself in the
attitude of seeking a national Office.
However, the attention that the
discussion of his name centered upon
him, together with the splendid quail.
ties and striking record that this
scrutiny revealed, made him the most
popular man in the national Demo-
cracy, with the single exception of Mr..
Bryan. And had he lived he would
have stood fair to attain the higher
honor that once seemed almost about
to be thrust upon him.-Kansas City
Star.