Lord, how Minnesotans love their state–since asking for sight-seeing advice yesterday morning, I’ve received something like 50 emails. It turns out that I won’t have this morning to visit both Minneapolis and St. Paul–I’d always thought they were in effect two halves of one city, like Buda and Pest, when in fact they lie about nine miles apart–and since my hotel is in St. Paul, that’s where I’ll see the sights. If I can manage it, I’ll make not one stop but two.

First up, the rotunda of the state capitol, where I hope to look upon the battle flag of the First Minnesota Infantry Regiment, the suggestion of Scott Johnson, a board member of American Experiment. “The regiment,” according to materials Scott sent along, “is best known for the dramatic charge at the battle of Gettysburg…The First Minnesota crossed over 200 yards of open ground and charged the Confederates in spite of odds of five to one. The rebels recovered and in five minutes killed or wounded over 170 of the 300 plus men. The survivors did not panic but fell back to thier original position and ralled around the remnant of the flag….”

From the capitol, if time permits, I’ll go to St. Paul’s cathedral at the suggestion of both Fr. George Rutler, a sometime contributor to this happy Corner, and of Hugh Hewitt, who broadcasts each year from the Minnesota state fair. I’ll light a candle for Hugh, of course. Anyone who could remain unmoved by my arguments on behalf of Tom McClintock stands in need of a little prayer.l