The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1910-05-13
HANSBR0UGH
ON POLITICS
He Regrets the Condition Of Chao!
and Discord That Now Prevails
In the State.

/
written letter to a friend in the
western part of the state. His
many admirers, republicans and
democrats, will find it mighty in
teresting reading:
81 have been away from the
state for many months, as you
know" writes the senator, "irst on
account of a serious illness, and af-
ter that my physicians said it
would be necessary for me to keep
very quite in order to build up.
They said my strength would re-
turn slowly, as I had been under a
great strain for twenty years. So
l have been devoting my time to
recuperating, and am glad to tell
you that it has been time we'll
spent. [ feel younger than I did
ten years ago.
NATURALLY, after quarter CEN
tury of active political work, 1 have
not lost interest in what has been
going on in North Dakota, for I
have warm place in my heart for
the state and its people, regardless
i
of their political beliefs. And it
lgives me great pleasure to say
that I have no bitterness toward
those who thought best to put me
out of the senate. Life is too short
for that sort of thing, even were it
lChristianlike. I am thankful to
them for it. for they relieved me of
a great load of responsibility, and
I wish them we'll under the guild
ance Of the aspiring gentlemen
who seem anxious to lead them to
better things.
Nothing that has happened,
however, could drive rue to the des-
perate end of being anything but
a republican. Measures are big
ger than men and principles great
er than politics, and I regret the
condition of chaos and discord that
now prevails among the factions.
You will pardon my egotism when
! say that no one knows better
than I what it all means. It is
simply a scramble for place and
power, and if it were possible for
me to impress my views upon the
self-constituted and ambitious
leaders who seem. determined to
turn our republican state over to
our friends the democrats. I would
gladly give my time and my re-
stored energies to the task. But I
am doubtful if any considerable
number of gentlemen who are in
quest of office would be disposed
to listen to fatherly advice, and.it
would be an uncertain undertake
ing to attempt to convince the
great mass of the voters that in
some respects they are being mis-
led and bamboozled.
Il owe nothing to any so.called
leaders, but as a private citizen
and a republican 1 cannot look
with compla ency upon the
tendency toward party demoraliza-
tion and the consequent business
upheaval that always follows such
a condition. It would be some con-
ISOLATION, perhaps, if I could believe
that change in party control in
North Dakota-for that is what is
coming it the substantial, thought
full multitude do not check the
headless and selfish insurrection-
would bring positive relief. Re-
lief from what? From prosperous
times? from business stability p
from promising future?
"And what would the state get
il return? Well, it would get q
change from the republican policy
(which might be improved upon
with conscientious and unselfsh
leaders at the head) to democratic
policy; and who is there among
them that is wise enough, and dis
interested enough and patriotic
'enongh, to accurately define demo-