Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1881-03-24
DAKOTA.

DAKOTA.
1t is the avowed purpose of the Repub-
licans in Congress to move at an early
day in the matter of the admission of the
Territory of Dakota into the union as
State. The agitation in that direction
has already begun, and it is hoped that
before the present Congress shall close
the act will have been contaminated.
The object of this plan is apparent.
Dakota, being Republican, will send two
Republican Senators to Washington, and
thus give that party small working ma
jority, and end the tie that at present ex-
lists in the Senate. No other reason is
urged, and none other can be urged, in
favorvof the act.
Dakota is one of the largest Territories
in the country, comprising an area of
nearly hundred and forty mine thousand
square miles. 1t is more than twice the
size of the whole of New England, and
more than three times the size of New
York State. 1t is being rapidly settled,
and the population at the last census was
about $4,000. Within five years this
population will be more than doubled,
and the resources of the territory largely
increased. There are, notwithstand-
ing these facts, some serious
objections to the admission of this
territory as State. In the first place,
the people are not homogeneous. The
northern and the southern parts of the
territory have interests totally distinct
from one another. They are reached by
entirely different systems of railways,
and intercourse between the sections is
only had through long and circuitous
journeys. twenty-five years at least
must elapse before communication be-
tween the north and the south parts of
the territory will be convenient. In the
meantime, the people will be growing
apart. One section will have business re-
lations with ST.. Paul, the other section
with St. Louis or Chicago. People from
the north will seldom meet people from
the south, but they will continue to be
two distinct territorial divisions-as dis
tinct as are Wisconsin and Minnesota.
There is territory enough in Dakota
for two States, each larger than New En-
gland. Divided at the forty sixth par
allel the States would be symmetrical
geographically and of nearly equal size.
The natural capital of the northern
half is al Bismarck; of the southern
half near Fort Pierre, on the Missouri
river. Both are or soon will be easily
accessible to the people residing in the
respective divisions indicated. At pres
ent the people of the northern division
having business at Yankton, the capital,
are compelled to travel distance of fully
a thousand miles to reach that point, and
an equal distance home again, involving
an enormous outlay Of both time and
money.
The people Of Dakota do not desire adj
mission to the union unless the Territory
is divided as above indicated. It would
prove positive injury rather that ben.
eft to them. A few politicians who
hope to reach the Senate in the event of
admission, are loud-mouthed in favor of
it, but these can be counted on ones
| fingers and toes. If the interests of the
people arc to be consulted, the territory
will first be divided at the forty-sixth
parallel of latitude. Then in five years
the rapid access of population, attracted
to the north by the splendid farming
lands, and to the south by the rich
mineral deposits, will entitle
two Territories in the
northwest to admission as States. North
and south Dakota can never be one State.
Business interests as well as political
considerations will forever keep them
apart. This fact is recognized by the
people of the territory, who have no
sympathy with the movement to invest
them with State powers and responsible
ties before they are ready to exercise
them. They will have to rely upon the
Democrats in Congress to prevent the
success of this forcing process that will
be nothing short of public calamity
calculated to impede the growth of the
section and perpetuate the existing in
congruities, geographical and political,
from which the people are suffering.
No politi cal advantage that can accrue
will compensate for the injustice that
will be done by such an act.
Meetinr of Committee on NIarIet uouse