Jamestown weekly alert. [volume] (Jamestown, Stutsman County, D.T. [N.D.]) 1882-1925, 1883-12-21
The Division Question.

If the editor of the Alert had read up
on the history Of the attempted division
of Dakota. he would have discovered
that the measure has been before con-
gress at every session since 1872. That
when the republicans had absolute power
in both branches of congress the bill was
killed session after session, because the
east was unwilling to lay the foundation
for another western state. That when the
democrats gained possession and fought
the bill because unwilling to admit one
republican state and lay the foundation
for another, they were joined by this
same element, and all who have been ac-
tive in working for this measure IN con-
gress for the past ten years then gave up
all hope of dlvislon.-Bismarck Tribune.
We grant the above is both far and
true statement of the historical facts of
the case, though we.do not agree with the
conclusion of the Tribune that all active
workers for division gave up hope Of the
success OF the measure with its failure
last winter. But is the failure of last
year, or of the last ten years. valid ar
gument against further demand for di-
visioni If there ever any merits
in the demands for admission
when and by what means has
the question been divested of them' The
argument that the territory is 50 large
that it would be unwieldy as state gov
ernment still remains. The advantage Of
two additional representatives in the
United States senate holds good. The
same with every other reason which has
been urged in favor of division, except
perhaps the want of communication be-
tween the two sections and the location
of the capital In the extreme southern
part, and the two latter never had any
substantial merit because they were tenn.
porary and would be remedied by the de-
velopmenent of the country and change
in the centre of population.
Because of the supreme seltishness of
tie eastern members of congress in deny
ing US equal or even approximately pro-
portionate representation in the legisla-
tive and executive departments of the
federal government shall we cease to ap
pt al to their sense OF justice for our rights
retire from the field and submit TO being
counter balanced IN our senatorial intu-
euce by such state as Rhode Island,
wichhin areawould hardly make respect
able school district in Dakota? Because re.
publican congresses have repeatedly ig.
uored our future rights in this respec t
may we not even the more hope to obtain
them at the hands of democratic con.
gress which, by granting them, would
put to shame their political opponents
aud elevate themselves in the honest,
fsir.minded sentiment of the whole coun.
try.
We believe the sentiment Of the terri
tory in favor of division is proporti on :
ately larger to .uay than ever before, ami
the fact Of the opposition to the me ,sure
being transferred from Yankton to Bis
marck makes no material difference.
The vote of South Dakota on the state-
hood scheme was In no sense an express
sion of the people of that section upon the
question of DIVISION 1t was merely a
conflict of politicians and contest of the
people with the railroad interests. Divi-
sion May fail but If it does 1t will not be
with the consent OF even considerable
niaority Of the citizeas Of the territory.