The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1914-08-25
PRESTIGE.

Often when a man CritiCises the &C
! ton OF some other man, he gives a
more or less accurate analysis of his
own character. Did O ever run
across he individual who was con-
t|stantly imputing to others some base
or unworthy motive? This fellow is
Ito be met in politics oftener than
anywhere else.
He is,expressing ]Rthoughts that mir
7 ror the workings of his own brain
The crook conceives that all others
| are crooked andthe can't possibly un-
=, derstand sincere'and honest motives.
All of which ~is'apropos of some crit
F icisms that have been made Of Gov,
ernor Hanna's trip to Norway, that
are very pertinently Unanswered in the
Following from The 1 Pembina Pioneer
Express:
I Some officials Of the society of
the Sons of Norway refused an
invitation to be present at a re-
ception to Governor Hanna on his
return to Fargo, on the ground
that his trip to, Norway vas for
political prestige.
Well, suppose It was. BY exact
" the same sort of reasoning ev-
cry act of the governor is also for
political prestige, no matter how
insignificant.
Further, no, matter what the real
motive, every act of the governor
makes or breaks his political
prestige.
Hence so far as the act is con-
sidered in itself, the question is
rather, what is the result to the
state and it's people, instead the
result to the governor, though the
latter is necessarily involved.
If these critics honestly think
that it would have been better for
the state of North Dakota for the
governor to have remained at
home, then their criticism would
have some basis.
On the. contrary, if the governor
Of this or any other state shall be
debarred from doing anything for
the benefit of the state because
that benefit would also increase
tainly will) then the governor
would be under the absurd neces-
sity of only doing that which
would be q detriment to the state
and to himself.
But admitting the fact that the
trip to Norway might in gone
ways be of a political benefit to
Governor Hanna, is it beyond be-
lief hat Governor Hanna or any
other citizen Of this state might
not possibly have some higher
motive than just selfish asgran-
dizement in making such a trip?
There are several thousands Of
NorWegianS in this country who
went to Norway this summer. We
think while they We're visiting
their old homes that they were
also doing good missionary work
for this state. The very presence
< of so many well-to-do men Of high
= standing in this their adopted
- country must have meant verv
= much to the people of Norway.
y That the governor of the state in
= which they had their homes, felt
it worth while to accompany them,
- must have added to the feeling. 1t
is therefore certain no matter
what the motive, that it was a tes- ,
timony to the respect and stand
ing Of the Norwegian Americans,
in this state and country.
Personally, this writer, an
American born descendant of
n Puritan stock, and he believes also
every other born American citizen
s. of the state, was glad to learn that
& Governor Hanna had gone across
rs the water to testify of his personal
presence, as governor of this
state, to the esteem with which
the Norwegions are held by he
I Americans, and incidentally give a
welcome to any others who
might by this means be influenced
to come Here. -