The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1882-12-21
A Republican Plan to Gain Political
Strength.


The Republicans, even the best of
them, feel that their opportunity to re-
trieve the ground that has been lost is
limited, and unless an energetic, if not
heroic, use is made OF it, there is small
probability that it will soon come back 10
them. We are not surprised. there ore.
to see a good many plans advanced
with the plea of urgencr behind them,
that under more auspicious circum-
stances CT uld afford to wait till more
appropriate season. Among these is the
scheme to admit Dakota to the Union
as a State. Even the 44ibanY J0arnat,
which has ta' en- commendable con-
sentative course w tn ra pect to many
partisan schemes, says that, 'tOne OF
the first me lsures to demand the con-
sideration of the next session of Con-
gress, will be the admission of Da .ota
Territory as State into the Union. Its
rapid growth in population and cultiva-.
tion fairly entities it to Il full voice
heneeiorth in National councils. As a
matter of party policy, too. it will be
/ advisable for the present Congress to
act promptly on the subject. Dakota
is overwhelm; ;ngly Republican, and her
elevation to the dignity of State would
secure two additional Republican Sena-
tors. and Republican Congressman,
besides adding three Republican votes
to the Electoral lollege in 1851" We
are glad TO see that it is honest enough
to give the real reason for urging this
step uron its party. hat party needs
all the Senators and Congressman that
it can get. aud it must obtain them
even if The proprieties have To be forced
a little. here ought. ON general prin-
es, to be no haste about bringing
Dakota into the ssterhood of States.
1t may be true, as our 'ntempor-
airy aims, that Dakota has arger
population than ! elaware OF Nevada.
But we do not think Nevada is a
fortunate illus ration for political pur-
! poses, and when we consider that the
| p:gmy of the Union in area is taken for
comparison with political division,
] that in the number of SOU re miles ranks
next to California, which. in turn. is
next to Texas, we can hardly ac>nowl:
ed : the comparison to be logic al o.
| Just. Delaware has the compactness
that jnstifes her Statehood. Gould
Dakota's population be compressed into
a territory the. size OF Delaware. its
claims would actually be better than
now, though in the admission o; new
States, no such dwarish territorial pro-
portions have been allowed. 1t would
| be much better to divide Dakota into
two territories than tormake it one
State, for a division will have 10 come
at some not remote time in the future,
and it can be accomplished better now
than when the Government becomes
more complex. The political complex
| ion Of the General government at the
time territory is admitted. determines
that of its first Congressional delegat on.
Hence it is to be used as recru ting
field for the party rather than granted
the standing of a free and independent
State on its own merits. The Jour7l IL is
so frank in the matter that it evidently
does not regard push ng States for po-
litical purposes as YER, great sin. and
perhaps it is not the worst. but to make
that leading motive. as it appears to
be in this instance, doesn't take us by
many milestones toward the m llennium.
E-Boston Statesman.