Waseca County, Minnesota - Chapter 6: Political, 1887

about an election in a country where the will of the people is the supreme law of the land ; where all are equal in the eyes of that law, and where the most lowly, be he rail-splitter, tanner or driver of the team that hauls the canal boat, may aspire to the highest office. Merit, and that alone, must win. Many of our ablest men in the halls of Congress, on the bench or elsewhere, are bright and living examples of it, and hold out briglit beacons to guide the rising generation to fortune and fame. The policy of our nation justly encourages ))olitical ambition and fosters its children in their attempt to scale the ladder of preference. Nearly every man has some aspirations to a higher position, and each feels that if he does not reach its highest pinnacles, his children may. It is for this reason that a political campaign yields an excitement pleasurable to nearly all, and although jJersonalities are indulged in. yet, as a general thing, all yield gracefully to the verdict of the people when it is pronounced, by the majority vote, and submit quietly. In tJiis ciuipter it is proposed to sketch a synopsis of the issues as far as possible, and the local complexion of the various campaigns since the organization of the county.

Waseca came into existence as a separate county in 1857, as has already been stated. The first election in Waseca County was the special one for perfecting the organization of the same and the selection of a county-seat, and was held on the first Monday in June, 1857. The vital issue of the campaign was the question of county -seat, and this seemed to swallow up every other consideration. Wilton, St. Mary and Empire each aspired to be the seat of county government, and each had its partisans. Men fi'om other parts of the territory came here just before election, to become citizens of one of the three rival towns, and money and promises were lavishly expended by the champions of each to carry their point. The county gained rapidly in population, to lose it again after election, but for the time excitement ran riot. Speculation was rife and towns on paper sprang into existence full fledged. Had the fate of the nation hung upon the result of an election, the feeling could not iiave reached a more feverish state. But the appointed day came round, and the friends of Wilton being the most numerous, carried their point, and thus that town became the seat of government for Waseca County. The following is an abstract of the vote : Whole number of votes cast, fi65, of which Wilton received 332, St. Mary 207, and Empire 126. Elysian cast 29 votes; 23 for Wilton, i for St. Mary and 2 for Empire. Empire in a total vote of 160, polled 11 for Wilton, 49 for St. Mary and 100 for Empire. Swaversey had 107 votes, of which Wilton received 51, St. Mary 33 and Empire 23. Wilton polled 309 votes, 189 of them for Wilton, 119 for St. Mary and one for Empire. In Otisco Wilton liad 58 votes and St. Mary 2.

In the fall campaign of 1857 considerable excitement was displayed over the choice of county officers. Both Republican and Democratic parties worked hard for the ascendency in the new county. The Democrats elected E. A. Rice register of deeds, and H. P. Norton, clerk of the courts; the Republicans E. B. Stearns, L. C. Wood and John Bailey, county commissioners ; N. Garland, sheriff ; A. E. Smith, surveyor ; Jesse I. Stewart, treasurer; James E. Child, county attorney ; J. A. Canfield, judge of probate, and W. S. Baker, assessor. Neither party had a very large majority.

In 1858 the election had but local features, and but little interest seems to have been found outside of the particular friends of the candidates, and strong party adherents.

The election which was held in October, 1859, was one of intense excitement. The question of Ijond and anti-bond disturbed the current of political strife, and bade fair to break up both great parties. The State Republican Convention nominated Alexander Ramsey for governor, and the Democratic party was headed by George L. Becker, candidate for the same office. The Republicans succeeded in carrying the State by a small majority.

In this, as in nearly all cases for many years, the Republicans were in the majority in this county, but in many cases the county offices were given to the best men irrespective of party; that is, although both parties had tickets in the field, only the better part of each Avere chosen, none being tied to party.

The questions which were the forerunners of the great campaign of 1860 were such as have never stiri'ed the popular heart before. Ever since the repeal of the Missouri compromise the conflict in Kansas had roused all the feelings of the Northern people, and John Brown, in his futile attempt at Harper's Ferry, had skillfully enlisted Northern S3'mpathy, and roused the anger of the South. A large part of the population of the northern States were sternly determined that the territories should never be defiled with the curse of slavery, and that the boundaries of that " peculiar institution" should not be extended any further. On the other hand, the South, seeking to perpetuate their institution and enlarge their political power, determined that they should have their share of the territories in which to extend, not to restrict, themselves. The questions dividing parties were chiefly sectional, and pointed directly to war. The Republican party met in national convention, at Chicago, to place m the field candidates for the offices of President and Vice-President. The names of Seward, Chase, Blair and Lincoln were in the mouths of all, for the first place. But three ballots were taken. On the last Abraham Lincoln, having received a majority of all votes cast, was made the unanimous choice of the convention. Hannibal Hamlin, of Maine, was nominated for the second place on the ticket.

The Democratic National Convention met at Charleston, S. C, April 23, 1860, but the claims of Stephen A. Douglas and his northern partisans being stoutly contested by the southern faction of the party, after a ten days' session the convention broke up without making any choice. July 19 the convention again met, but this time at Baltimore, but no agreement between the factions could be made. After six days spent in useless endeavor to heal the breach, Stephen A. Douglas and Herschel V. Johnson, of Georgia, were chosen standard-bearers in the approaching conflict.

That portion of this convention which had not concurred in this choice had seceded, and holding a convention of their own, nominated John C. Breckenridge, of Kentucky, and Joseph Lane, of Oregon, for the offices of President and Vice-President, respectively.

A union conservative convention was also held, at which John Bell, of Tennessee, was nominated for the presidency, and Edward Everett, of Massachusetts, for the vice-presidency.

With four presidential candidates in the field, the exciting questions growing out of slavery, and the threats of secession made by the South, in the event of Lincoln's elec- tion, tended to make the campaign one of intense excitement. Large and enthusiastic meetings were held in all the cities and towns of our wide-spread land, and small indeed was the village which did not have its share in the enthusiasm. The people of Minnesota, having no gubernatorial candidates in the field, calmly walked to the polls and gave a majority for the Republican nominee. In Waseca County the Republicans elected their whole ticket, including State senator, representatives, auditor, attorney, court commissioner, etc.

1861 brought with it another contest for the governorship which resulted in the reelection of Alexander Ramsey, the Republican candidate for that office. In this count}'^ the regular nominees of the Republican party captured all the offices, altiiough a determined effort was made to defeat the candidate for reo:ister of deeds.

was, as usual, decided in favor of the Republicans. In the county H. P. Norton, Democratic nominee for the office of register of deeds was elected by a majority of but seven, the only one on that ticket.

In 1864 and 1865, tlie election was simply a repetition of those going before, the Re- ])ublicans carrying nearly everything before them with larger or smaller majorities.

In 1866 the Democrats succeeded by a hard effort in electing one candidate, William Brisbane, to the Legislature by a majority of but five, although that gentleman ran about fift}'^ ahead of his ticket.

The year 1868 brought with it another presidential campaign. The Republican National Convention met in Chicago and placed in nomination Ulysses S. Grant and Schuyler Colfax for President and Vice- President. The Democrats placed in nomination, Horatio Seymour and Francis P. Blair Jr., for the same offices. The financial question began to be a leading issue, especially with reference to the payment of tiie bonds, the Republicans favoring their being redeemed in gold, the Democrats in greenbacks. In Waseca County excitement ran high, as several local questions were to be solved; member of Congress, State Senator, member of Legislature, besides county officers were to be chosen. After a hard conflict the Republicans carried their point on all questions except on several of the commissoiners.

The year 1869 was another gubernatorial election, which was carried by the Republicans. In this county that party had a majority ranging from lOd to 150 on the State ticket. On the county ticket they swept the field.

In 1870 party lines seemed to have been badly broken up, C. F. Buck, the Democratic nominee for member of Congress, receiving a majority in Waseca County of 63, while on State senator the Republican nominee had a majority of 402. The Democrats captured the offices of member of Legislature, county auditor and court commissioner.

In 1871 party spirit again ran high, the Republicans of the State nominating Horace Austin for governor, and the Democrats, Winthrop Young. In Waseca County a full ticket was placed in the field, and after the contest it was found that although the Repul)licans carried most of the offices, still the vote showed some demoralization in that party.

In 1872, being again a presidential campaign, considerable excitement was infused into politics. At the election on the 5th of November, U. S. Grant received a majority of 274 votes in the count\'. The Republicans elected two members of the Legislature, but the Democrats captured the offices of State senator and county auditor.

In 1873 the Republicans seemed to make a rally and succeeded in electing nearly all their candidates, Peter McGovern, the Democratic nominee for county attorney, taking

The election of 1874 was a surprise to most people, the Democrats of Waseca County taking the offices of county auditor. State senator and one representative for their share.

With the election of 1875 a new party came upon the stage of action, and became quite a factor in the politics of this county ; this was the Prohibition, or people's reform party. This had a large following in Waseca County, and this campaign, being a gubernatorial one, was quite an animated one. The Republicans managed to carry the county on State ticket by very small pluralities, that of governor being but one, and all less than a hundred. On the county ticket Kelsey Curtis, being endorsed by the new party and the Democrats, was elected with Robert Earl, a Republican, to the Legislature. Warren Smith, the candidate of the Republicans and Reform party for county treasurer, was also elected. The Republicans carried all the other offices except that of clerk of the court.

The year 1876 was again that of a presidential campaign. The Republicans, on national and State questions were in the majority, but the Democratic nominees for the offices of auditor and court commissioner and one representative, were successful.

In 1877 four parties were in the field, Republican, Democratic, Prohibition and Greenback. James E. Child was this year the candidate for attorney general on the reform ticket. The Democratic party came to the front and elected their nominees to the office of members of the Legislature, county attorney, sheriff and coroner, besides giving a handsome majority for the State ticket.

The Republicans of Waseca County regained their ascendency in the campaign of 1878, giving small majorities on the State ticket. On the congressional ticket William Meighen, the Democratic candidate, had a majority in this county of 1:^7. S. B. Williams, the Prohibition candidate for State senator, and John S. Abell for the House of Representatives, were both elected. Politics from this time out were somewhat mixed. In 1879 the Democrats having a majority on their State ticket, elected all their candidates for county offices, by fair majorities in most cases. In 1880, the Repubhcans had large majorities in favor of all their candidates. In 1881 on State ticket they were again successful, but for the offices of treasurer, register of deeds, su])erintendent of schools and coroner the Democratic nominees wei-e successful, and thus it fluctuates from year to j'ear. On questions of State or national politics the county of Waseca has about 300 majority on the side of the Republican pai'ty, but in county affairs local causes disturb the certainty of an election, as will be seen by a close perusal of the following summary of the official vote of the county from 1860 to the present. It was found impossible to obtain the official record of any returns prior to those given, and in one or two instances of complete ones for those of later date, although no pains have been spared to procure them.