MINNESOTA. 



509 



were granted by it to existing companies free 

 and clear, and the result has been the develop- 

 ment of our railway system to its present pro- 

 portions." 



In May, 1871, a popular vote was taken on a 

 proposition for a settlement by arbitration of 

 these claims, when 21,499 votes were cast 

 against and 9,293 in favor of the proposition, 

 the total vote being less than half the average 

 vote of the State. Ex-Governor Davis is of 

 opinion that the questions involved might be 

 settled by a board of arbitrators. He says : 



If a board of commissioners, composed of men of 

 or not of this State, eminent for integrity and judi- 

 cial wisdom, could be invested with jurisdiction to 

 hear and determine the questions involved, by a 

 consideration of every equity, legal or moral, exist- 

 ing on either side of the controversy, it cannot be 

 presumed that our people would hesitate to perform 

 the award. If these bonds were void in their incep- 

 tion for any reason; or if they were procured by 

 fraudulent representations or unfaithful perform- 

 ance of conditions precedent ; or if there is a class 

 of unfortunate persons who invested in good faith, 

 for value, without notice so that the last-named de- 

 fense is not applicable to them ; or if they are wholly 

 due let us meet each responsibility as becomes a 

 great State, holding its honor dearer than anything 

 else. 



The political canvass was opened with the 

 assembling of the State Eeform Convention in 

 St. Paul, on June 16th. In the call for this 

 convention it was declared that " the time has 

 come for the formation of a political party, in- 

 cluding among other reformatory measures in 

 its platform the suppression of the liquor-traffic, 

 with its burden of taxation, the adjustment of 

 the relations existing between capital and la- 

 bor, and the honest and economical adminis- 

 tration of government." 



The following platform of principles was 

 adopted : 



1. We recognize the existence, power, and provi- 

 dence of Almighty God, and that without his bless- 

 ing they who build dp labor in vain. We would 

 therefore be radically right in everything pertaining 

 to good government, that we may consistently in- 

 voke and may confidently expect his blessing upon 

 our endeavors. 



2. In calling upon all good citizens to forsake 

 their present political affiliations, and unite in a 

 movement for the putting away of corruption and 

 wrong, we would herein distinctly set forth the ob- 

 jects to be attained and the evils to be overcome. 



3. History teaches us that corrupt political parties 

 are never reformed, but must die, and make way for 

 new parties with new issues, who can justly appeal 

 to the moral conscience of the people for support. 



4. In making this issue we demand competency, 

 honesty, and sobriety, as indispensable qualifications 

 for holding public office, and' believe that rewards 

 from public service for men of difference of political 

 opinion is a practice opposed to sound policy and 

 just principles. 



5. That fixed and moderate salaries should take 

 the place of official fees and perquisites, and every 

 possible means be employed to prevent corruption 

 and venality in office, and that the utmost economy 

 should be practised and enforced in every depart- 

 ment of the Government, to the material reduction 

 of the expense of the same. 



6. That we favor the election of President, Vice- 

 President, and U. S. Senator, by direct vote of the 

 people. 



7. That we are in favor of a sound national cur- 

 rency adequate to the demands of business, and con- 

 vertible into gold and silver at the will of the holder ; 

 and the adoption of every measure, compatible with 

 justice and public safety, to appreciate our present 

 currency to the gold standard. 



8. That the producing, commercial, and industrial 

 interests of the country should have the best and 

 cheapest modes of transportation possible ; and 

 while capital invested in such means of transit, 

 whether by railroad or otherwise } should be permit- 

 ted the right of reasonable and just compensation, 

 all abuse in management, excessive rates of toll, ana 

 all unjust discriminations against localities, persons, 

 or interests, practised by them, should be prohibited 

 by law, and the people should be protected from the 

 improper and arbitrary use of the vast powers pos- 

 sessed by railroad and other transportation compa- 

 nies. 



9. That an adequate public revenue being neces- 

 sary, it may be properly raised by import duties 

 and an equitable assessment upon the property and 

 legitimate business of the country; nevertheless we 

 are opposed to any discrimination of capital against 

 labor, as well as to all monopoly and class legisla- 

 tion, and to the policy of sustaining the Government 

 by a tax upon the sorrow, shame, misery, and crime 

 of our people, resulting from the licensed sale of in- 

 toxicating liquors for that purpose. 



10. Believing that the Sabbath is not only of di- 

 vine origin, but also eminently beneficial to man, 

 having a great power to restrain and to morally edu- 

 cate the people, it is therefore the duty of the Gov- 

 ernment to see that on that day quiet and good order 

 are maintained. 



11. We believe the enactment and execution of 

 laws against the importation, manufacture, sale, and 

 use of poisoned and intoxicating liquors, are distinc- 

 tively the work of the Government in its organized 

 capacity. 



12. That the only consistent attitude for all tem- 

 perance people to maintain toward this destructive 

 business is that of a thoroughly organized and per- 

 petual hostility. 



A democratic or republican form of government 

 necessarily involves the agency of political parties. 



A political party is either strong or weak for han- 

 dling a radical question according as its members are 

 united or divided on such question. 



ARGUMENT. 



1. When members of the same political party are 

 radically divided on any question it becomes impos- 

 sible for that party to give positive and effective leg- 

 islation on that question. 



2. The members of the Republican and Democratic 

 parties are radically divided on all questions con- 

 cerning the liquor-traffic. 



3. Therefore it is impossible for these parties to 

 give positive and effective legislation on that ques- 

 tion. 



We therefore reach this 



CONCLUSION. 



That whereas, The allowed public traffic in alco- 

 holic beverages sustains the relation of an efficient 

 cause to intemperance, and all its direful concomi- 

 tants, acting as a powerful counter-educating force 

 to all temperance agencies, the entire business being 

 not only intolerably immoral, producing ignorance, 

 idleness, debauchery, and crime, but is also a political 

 wrong of unequaled enormity, in violation of the 

 bound principles of political economy, as it represents 

 only fictitious wealth, and supplies no real demand 

 of society, and hence is prejudicial to every object 

 of good government ; and 



Whereas, Complete legal prohibition of the afore- 

 said useless and harmful branch of trade is the only 

 proper and adequate remedy for the manifold and 

 serious evils which it inflicts upon society, and to 

 secure such legislation and to render it effective in- 



