The Canton advocate. [volume] (Canton, D.T. [S.D.]) 1877-1897, 1883-06-28

ing it to be desirable for the publisher.
CARTER BROS, Publishers.
A.. L. CARTER, G.. E. CARTER
The harmony that prevailed at the con-
vention at Huron is an indication that the
people are in earnest about division and
statehood. Ever since the call was made
by the committee who were empowered
so to do at the Canton convention, many
prominent men in the territory have en-
deavored to treat the matter with indiffcr-
ence, and to discourage the people from
sending representatives to Huron. North
ern Dakota, as was illustrated sent no
delegations, and Alex Mckenzie was the
only representative person there from the
north. and he took no part in thc conven~
ton but expressed extreme anxiety that
any step tax en- by the convention should
be of a character that would initiate
against the prospects or boom of Bismarck,
but the delegates seemingly went about
their work as if such place was not in
existence, and consummated plan that
cannot fail to meet the hearty endorse
ment and approval of all reasonable and
public spirited men of southern Dakota
Whether We shall be able to secure the
division and admission of separate terri
tory at the hands of democratic congress
is yet to be seen, and admits of doubt
the coming session at least, but until an
expression from the many thousands is
made and in manner that the world and
the public cannot fail to know our wants,
needs and rights, we will remain as we are,
voi,eless in congress- virtually isolated from
national consideration, powerless to ex-
press and make our own choice of rulers
and subjected to the humiliation of bowine
submission and obseience to the exacting
arbitrary and schcming politician, sent from
an over-crowdel political played out a,
home herd
Congress to come will not invite lis int
the Union. by any means, but will do al
in its power to suppress facts as to oul
true condition and fitness for statehood
and not till the record is made and showl
declaring our rights, can we look for any
recognition from the party in power The
Huron convention was the first step and
has been taken none too soon. If south
ern Dakota, with its large superiority il
population, its pre-emInence in wealth and
growth, its natural facilities for an indie
pendent sovereignty from that Of the
northern portion, is to assume its II shts
and maintain them. it is high time tC
commence. We have already witnessed
the humilating scene of Il minority COB
bling a majority representation and secur-
ing the hOnOrs of a capital location, with
its attendant advantages. A hitherto OBJ
scure man, as far as general notoriety OF
public prominence goes, is suddenly her
aided through the press as the shrewdes.
man in Dakota, man who through his
keeness planned the scheme, manipulated
Legislators and capital commissioners, and
doomed far off town into almost nation
al prominence. With this follows, as a
matter of course, a general diversion from
the richest and most desirable portion of
this mammoth territory to the Northern
Pacific region. We of the southern and
middle and south of the forty-sixth para
alell for our own interests. not necessarily
selfish but in turtherance of what is our
ri ght and duty toward developing the
abundant resources at command, can now
in no other way accomplish commendable
results than by asserting through the
voice Of the people our legitimate claims
and demanding admission. The plan
suggested by the convention and the ad-
dress of the committee certainly merits a
unanimous approval.
This is by no means an isolated case,
nor without numerous precedents. We
do not yet approve of the policy of setting
up ii state form of government in antago-
nism to the general government, but We
feel that an exercise of what the supreme
court of the United States has declared tC
be an inherent right, is by no means re-
volt. If so then Vermont, Kentucky,
Tennessee, Maine, Michigan, Arkansas
Florida, Iowa, Wisconsin, California,
Kansas, Oregon and Nevada have been
guilty of revolt, for these thirteen states
formed their state governments independ
ent of any enabling act of Congress, anC
the highest court OF the land recognized
the right of the people so to do. declaring
that they at all times had the indefeasiblt
right to reform their government in sucl
manner as they may think proper.
No! do not wait for an antagonisti(
Congress to pass an enabling act, as Ord
way claims should be done, for he O.
course is interested in having our terrific
rial existence prolonged Notwithstanding
his pratings about aiding us to secure
statehood at an early day. Our last legis
lature, as is well known, passed Il bill pro
viding for the calling of a constitutional
convention, but the executive in the exer
else of his high prerogatiye would not sigr
the bill, and his excuse now when he sees
the people reused and indignant is toe
thin and patent for any man of intelli
gence to accept. The two. hundred anc
fifty thousand people south of the forty
sixth parallel, whose numbers are daily
increasing and bid fair to before a veal
elapses reach hundred thousand more
doubling the number of any people VIII,
have been admitted heretofore, vii
through the convention at Sioux Falls for
themselves, despite the interference O
carpet bagger jnterlopers, demand ,h,
separate and independent government o
a state for the $4,000 square miles that sis
within the proposed new state boundaries
Let Lincoln county be represented in tina
convention by able and reliable men; ther,
are plenty of them here, and we believ,
our people are sufficiently alive to thei
( own interests and to the advancement O
the great resources of the land they hav,
chosen for their homes, to unanimousl,
| aid the state proiect