Daily press and Dakotaian. [volume] (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1875-1880, 1879-03-18
can do them no injury and may bring grsa.

can DO them no INJURY anu may OflnG gteat
satisfaction.
Under such circumstances of1cisl life iu
the territories becomes . personal warfare,
which is neither pleasant to the officer nor
beneficial 10 the people. The reason 10 ap-
parent. Tho trouble lies at the root Of the
system itself. Certainty OF official tenure
would remedy the evil, but not rcmoye 1t,
Local selEgovernment would heal the
wounds, cur the jealousies, and bring satis.
faction. This kind of home government Is
what the people have been educated 10
revere and respect it forms . part of their
life 1t is cherished in their homes; it is
the basis of all their political and social
ideas; they believe it the birthright Of
every American citizen, and so long as the
right is infrtnged or invaded they will not
be satisfied. Only children may be placed
upon an equality with other citizens by
having their territory admitted into the nn
ion as Q state, prevents open revolution and
rebellion against q system that robs them
OF the right of self-government.
Why should there be this amazing diff
ference between the citizens. when it Is not
q crime to live In a territory, and when
there is no constitutional or other objec.
lion to congress giving to the people of the
territories the same rights to local self
government as are enjoyed by the people
of the states.
The population of the territories is al
ready more than sufficient for four states &C.
c0rdlng to the present ratio of representa-
ton, and it would be infinitely better to
abolish the present territorial organizations
and divide the territory into states and ad-
NIT them into the union at once, than to
deprive this large and deserving class
of our countrymen of any of the rights
which the constitution provides for oil.
to be no reason why the territories should
not be given the right to elect their own
local officers and to make their local laws
without interference from congress.
The appointing power of the president is
already to extensive for the welfare of the
public. In it are the seeds of weak
ness, discomfort. and revolution, and this
power ought to be restricted rather than ex-
banded. The prize is too great. 1t dazzles
the ambition. 1t INVITES fraud and col.
ruption IN order to obtain it. Here is the
danger In the distance. But 1t can be easily
avoided. Reduce the prize. Cut of some
of the unnecessary branches of tine presi-
The territories seem to be an inviting field
~ WHICH " Apply lue PIuiiihS Aullo' OuA
people do not like the exercise of arbitrary
power, and the area in which it can be ex-
erted by the president and congress ought
to be diminished rather than ex banded.
The hardy pioneers who have reclaimed
our territorial empire and planted and
nurtured therein young commonwealth
amidst storm and peril; these men who
have caused the desert to bud and bloom,
and the mountain to yield up its treasure;
who have pushed American. civilization
across the continent ought to be entitled to
all the privileges of free men in a free coun.
try. They have bnilt homes within sight
Of the wigwam and s%calping-knife they
have embarked fortunes in developing the
resources and in increasing the industries
Of the country they have added wealth to
the nation, increased its revenues, enlarged
its field of taxation, added to to its income.
and multiplied its power. Why, then,
should they not be clothed with citizenship
in the young states their enterprise has
founded