The semi-weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1882-1886, 1882-04-15
ADMISSION on DAKOTA.

Some time ago, the bin, to enable the
people Of the Territory Of Dakota to
form State constitution and for thead-
mission Of the State into the Union WA
recOmmitted to the committee o0 Terri
tories accompanied by . protest against
the admission Of the State from certain
parties who held unpaid bonds issued by
the county of Yankton. After considering
the protest . majority Of the commit
tee reported the bill back to the Senate
with a recommendation that the bill do
pass. As to the protest referred to the
committee, the majority are Of the opin-
ion that the case is one for the courts to
settle rather than Congress, and deem it
impolitic, if not unwise for Congress to
legisiate or even express an opinion on
the subject. In this report majority OF
the committee composed entirely OF
Republicans-have abandoned the high
moral grounds that partv took in the
consideration Of the China bill and have
permitted political considerations t" out
weigh their sense Of justice and propri-
ETY.. They have no hesitancy in admit
ting as State Territory tainted with
reputation. They do not deny that the
protest is founded on facts, that Yankton
county rapudiates its bonds, and that
tine Territory through its legislature has
aided that county in escaping the man.
dates Ut the courts to compel it to pay
them. They ignore these facts and re-
lieve themselves of all responsibility in
the matter by declaring it Is . case for
the courts and not for Congress. This is
true in one sense. But the courts have
passed upon it. They have declared
that Yankton county should pay its
debts and Judgment has been entered
against it. The Territory stepped in and
opened q door by which the count
could escape the payment. 1t did it
knowing the whole facts of the case and
thus became party to the reputation.
And now this Territory asks to be cloth
ed with the roles Of Statehood.
1t will not do tor Congress to say it
can take no ct,gnizance Of the protest
and the facts it sets forth, and that it
can only deal with the question Of pop
ulation Of the Territory and II found to
he sufficient 1t must admit it ~ State.
Utah has larger population than Da-
kOta and yet We all know It has no
chance Of being admitted as State dur
ing this session. Utah has her courts,
yet Congress recognizes the fact Of the
existence Of polygamy in that Territory
aud very properly refuses her admission
rs State until she appears before that
body cleansed Of her impurity. Dakota
has her courts which have tried to en-
firce justice, yet Congress, in this in
Stance, refuses to recognise the fact that
the Territory he's intcrposed her power
to intei r,ipt the course Of Justice, and is
prepared To admit her Us State cOv-
cred with impurity. 1t refuses to adj
NIT the one because 4 m;jOrity of the
people hold that polygamy issanctioned
by the word Of God. 1t desires to adj
nit the other. although she comes r.
putliatOr Of her honest debts. 1t would
take to its lx,som the man who denies
his just obligations, hut would spurn
the one who divides his love between
two wives. TO disinterested observer
there is sonnet hing ludicrously inconsist-
ent il, all this.
The Republican party claims to be the
champion Of exalted moral ideas. 1t
would not support the Chinese bill w.
cause that measure would shut out OfOur
country, ior time, the heather and
thu. deny to him the great benefits of
our Higher civilization, and yet it will
not listen to the prayers OF white men
and women who are swind'ed out Of
their just dues. 1t presses to its breast
the polygamous, opiun,-eating. de-
graded, pagan coolie ami boasts that
it la, eman:ilsstcsl three millions
slaves. 1t welcomes to our shores; a race
Of people st.cled in viee-moral lclcrs
who degrade labor, who take the
bread from the n,ou. i,s Oi white women
and children, who drive young girls in
to lives u shame, who delauch the
youth Of the country and who scatter
ruin and dSsOlation in their train. 1t
does this in the maine Oi the ''tatllcr!,Oo,i
" God and brotherhood Of mail" while
the protests of u million and hall OF
lc"i,lr are ringing in lis ears. surely
it is II party Of exalted moral itlc:as-so
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