Daily press and Dakotaian. [volume] (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1875-1880, 1878-05-08
"A BASIS FOR HARMONY.


AlBAsIs FOR HARMONY.
The DeadWood Times of the 2i list pub
fishes our article of the 25th of April In
which we suggested the propriety of har
montous action betw cen the republicans OF
the Black Hills and the republicans of othel
portions of the territory upon the delegate
subject. and deprecated the tendency tow,
ards a sectional contes, during the coming
political campaign. The Times heartily
agrees with us that a combination of the re-
publican forces of all sections will give tc
the party sweeping majority November
next, and says it is "a truth that should mol
be ignored IN next falls election ofa dele
gate to congress without good and sufficient
cause" The Times further expresses 9
desire to avoid everything tending towards
sectionalism in the discussion of political
matters pertaining TO the territory at large
The Times then says:
The Press & Dakotaian in its issue of the
3d of April last, in discussing The
proposition for our separate territorial ex.
istence upon the basis of the bill before con.
2ress. among other things used the follow.
ing language:
We have repeatedly indicated our earnest de-
sire that the Black Hills should have separate
territorial existence. 1t is better for them. and
no opposition in southeastern Dako,a. s "''' ''''u
Its objection was principally and almost
solely to the proposed dividing line on the
100,h meridian, but it asserted that if we
would consent to make the division on the
lO2d meridian and run north to the 10th de-
gree OF latitude and then make detour to
the right and running on in northeasterly
direction so as to include Bismarck in our
new territory. the people of southeastern
Dakota would cease all opposition to our
territorial scheme and unite with US in se-
curing it. This is the position assumed by
the Press and Dakotaian in its issue of April
the Sd ult., as we distinctly remember and
if we are correct, we have no hesitation in
saying that upon this basis the republicans
of the territory can harmonize and agree in
uniting upon candidate for congress in
next falls election.
To accomplish this result. however, to
satisfy the republicans of the Hills of the
good faith and honest intention of the re-
republicans Of the southeast, In the calling
an organization of the territorial conven-
tion to oninate candidate for congress,
and in the selection of the candidate, and
in the platform of principles upon which
the canvass should be made before the peo.
pie, the separate territorial existence of the
Black LtVs mast be conceded, guaranteed and
zeedged.
The convention then should exhibit no
hesitancy in declaring emphatically and in
clear and positive terms, without qualifica-
tion or reservation, for separate territor.
ial organization for the people of the Black
Hills. with the dividing lire between cas-
tern and western Dakota upon the 1920
and instructing and pledging the
delegate then and there nominated that if
elected, to carry out such instructions and
pledges. II this is done we apprehend that
the republicans Of the Hills and of the
DOrthero part can have no difficulty in CO.
operating and combining with those of the
southeast, in the congressional contest.
Speaking as the representative of what We
believe to. be almost the universal sentiment |
IF the people of southeastern Dakota we
nave no hesitancy in stating that the guar.
'ntee proposed by the Times will be forth
:oming. In the minus of the residents of
itorial existence Of the Black Hills is not
'nly conceded. guaranteed and pledged"
'ut is ardently hoped for, while anxiety
Prevails lest it may not occur. The propo-
itionY we opposed SO strenuously was a
ivlsion upon the Tooth meridian, which
vould destroy half the usefulness of our
1ture state and indefinitely postpone the
az of our admission to the union. We
60 no reason why the coming republican
convention should not pledge its
andidate to the division Of Dakota upon
,e 1O2 meridian, and so far as newspaper
IN make promises for the people we have
. hesitancy in assuring the voters of the {
ills that this will be done.
The Times further asks that in making t
e eapportionment for delegates to represent I
. Hills in the convention, representation
based upon the election of 1877, instead :
that of 1876. We can see nothing un- a
in this request, and as we. know O
e disposition exists to accord the fullest il
stice TO the republicans of the Hills, this
after will doubtless he arranged to the sat :,
action Of all concerned. The suggestion :,
the Times that twenty-five per cent be s
ded TO the vote of 1877 in making the r.
ills apportionment, TO correspond with a a.
4 increase OF population tince the last :
ction, We meet with counter proposition:
it at least twenty-five per cent be also q
led to the representation of essiern Da-
ia The Times probably does not realize