Custer chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, Black Hills, D.T. [S.D.]) 1880-1890, 1883-06-16
Capitol Gossip.

The Pioneer Press Of the 4th in an
nouncing the decision Of the capita
commission had dispatches from tht
leading towns in the territory which ex
pressed satisfaction at the choice of Bis
marck, among which was one from
Yankton, but the following from tn,
Press & Dakotian would seem to indi
cate contrary state of things at the de
funct capital:
The decision Of the capital commits
| sion in favor Of Bismarck as the seat q
government is a fitting sequel to the dis
graceful plot which had its origin dur
ing the recent legislative session. II
completely justities every word that has
been spoken or written iu Genunciatior
of the fraud, and vindicates every asser
ton and prediction that the scheme was
solely speculative, designed to enrich q
few individuals, and that the future
would so disclose it, Every promise
and every argument nsed in justification
of it by the governor and other pro-
moters of the scheme during its penden-
cy in the legislature is broken and falsi-
fed by the final Outcome-the villainy
has been stamped by its authors with
the seal of fvi.lainy--they have corrobor-
ated the worst that has been predi,ted-
they have been recreant to every prom
ise by which they induced the peoples
representatives to clothe them with the
power they have exercised, and have
finally cheated and betrayed friend as
well as foe.
Iankton's inaccessibility was urged as
IA potent reason in favor of fremoval-the
incinccrity of this is exemplfied in the
selection of a point still moro inaccessi-
ble-a thousand miles practically from
the center Of population-at least an
average of five hundred miles more re-
mote from the center of settlement for
the next five years, than Gankton, and
on the border line between civilization
and the terra incognita beyond.
But the inconsistency and sham Of
every claim that has been put forth bv
the schemers is too apparent to need
mention. The whole affair is piece of
the most audacious, shameless efrOntery
in the guise of law that has ever been
concOcted and perpetrated in the history
of the country. 1t is scandal and re-
proach to civilization-a foul blot upon
the fair name Of Dakota.
The question will be asked whether
Gov. Ordway is in the scheme, and a
party to the fraud. His excellency has
been near the commission for several
days and was at Fargo during the ballot
ing. He is very important factor in
the success of the speculation. If he
should fail TO give it his hearty support
it would be shorn of some of its most
attractive features, hence we infer that
Manager Mckenzie, who has proved to
be more skillful mrnipulator of men
and legislators than both roailroad com
panies in south Dakota, with a half
dozen town companies and possibly the
governor thrown in, has taken such pre-
caution rs will ensure such essential CO.
operation as the governor only can fur
nish. Mckenzie has proven himself
general of rare abilities. His maneuvers
have been conducted with admirable
Bismarck could have secured
only one vote from the legislature in IA
race for the capital. BY Mckenzie's
tactics she gets full two-thirds. Inas-
much as the affair is exclusively specu-
lative and mercenary Mckenzie de-
serves credit for the adroit manner in
which he secured a triumph. The game
was doubtless estimated to be worth Il
half million dollars-it has rot cost half
this amount to win, and a quarter mil
lion will give fair profit for shor sea-
sons work
Chicago Times The statement that
men representing millions of capital
have been waiting the decision Of the
commissioners to place it in the capital
city must be received with allowance.
There are no more forelooking and
shrewd men than capitalists, and there
are none who understand better than
they do that seat Of government does
not make city, nor the loss Of it des-
troy one. Washington, Lansing in
Michigan, Springfield in Illinois, Madi-
son in Wisconsin, are examples oftowns
that have been made by fixing in those
places seats of government. Each Of
them is rendezvous of professional
politicians and characters who depend
on government for support: not one Of
them is or ever will be city in the
sense Of a seat Of commerce and industry
on which government depends for sup
port. The conditions of city making
have no relation whatever to politics or
politicians, and aside from necessary
public buildings, and boarding houses
for officeholders, the establishment of
seat of government in any town will not
create demand for the placing Of one
building stone upon another. The
notion that the location of the Dokota
capital will be the making Of city is