Press and daily Dakotaian. (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1880-1889, 1883-04-26


Deadwood Times
Contempt will pierce through the
shell Of tortoise" says the old proverb.
The iron has at length entered, not
the soul, for that would be granting too
much, but the hide of our phenominal
executive. The pressure of public indig-
nation and contempt is greater than
even his excellency can bear, and he is
an executive of wonderful endurance.
The governor now appears in the char
acter of territorial whitewasher and ksl.
somlner, renovator of dirty character.
and public rag man.
Supplied with large tank of white.
wash, all of which he needs, and more
with it. to renovate his own record, after
adorning himself in full suit of kalso-
mine, with the little remaining he under.
takes the herculean task of covering up
the indelible blots and stains upon the
probity and intelligence of that portion
of the late legislature which became the
servile instruments of his ambition.
His excellency, realizing the solemn
fact that he has heated his enemies and
cooled his remaining friends, by his recent
assumption OF the capitalship, not to
mention other unjustified acta, issues q
Eronunciamento which he facetiously
denominates q "Vindication." If the
outrageous assumption of power illegally
conferred by servile Legislature, ad-
mits explantion or apology, than this 90.
called "vindication," in some small de.
gree answers this end. But that this
special plea, reeking with sophistry,
teaming with inaccuracies, to use mild
phrase where only harsh term would
describe the truth, can impose on lany
one acquainted with the fact, we do not
for one moment believe. No man can
successfully defend the indefensible, and
although in this case it is labor of love,
still it is toll and affection wasted.
The entire capital scheme is an famous
act, and neither "vindication," eloquence
nor apology can make 1t otherwise.
Even the plant funkies of his excel.
lency who have 90 often eaten dirt and
swallowed nauseous doses, gag at this
Anything they hesitate to stomach must
be vile beyond expression. The free,
peoples press Of the territory one and
all denounced the capital act in un.
measured terms, even the ineffective
parasites who disgrace mankind damn
the act with faint praise.
That the executive should endeavor to
smirch the character of those who have
the manly courage to oppose him, Is to be
expected. 1t is the only resourse he has
at his command. He therefore empties
the Sials of his wrath upon all who dare
to question his conduct.
This dirty shower, although it may
make todies tremble, produces no more
serious effect on those for whom it wal
intended, than his terrible official thun
derbolt, the veto. To be sure, portion
OF the last legislature imagined that an
earthquake, tidal wave, an inversion O.
the laws of nature, and veto, means
one and the same thing, but men who
retain their independence have different
ideas. This "vindication" has not beer
followed by tue political chaos which
would result from veto, it has moi
silenced the "venal press" On the con
trary, it has stimulated that object o
executive wrath to greater exertions ii
the cause of right. The press can not b,
suppressed by "vindicatlon" more thar
the seams and cracks in the governor
conduct can be covered by kalsomine.
Over fcur columns in large journa
are occupied by his excellency's "vindi
cation" in endeavorlng to befog th,
reader and avoid explanation. Four hun
dred columns on the same subject treate,
in the Same luminous manner, wuull
yield the same absurd result. The gov
ernor is not vindicated, nor can he be
He has committed himself in name
which proves beyond controversy tina
bad as his case was, his plea in his owl
defense has made it infinitely worsessW
shall therefore avoid the spscious quick
sands of sophistry where his excellenc,
invites the press to follow him, and com
at once to the solid ground of fact
which his excellency has 80 religiousl
avoided. 10 attempt to reconcile the cor
| duct of the last legislature with the ord
, nary rules Of common decency and mora
ity, would be as hopeless task as to al
tempt mixing oil aud water. Althoug
lye will change the conditions Of th
: above mentioned substances and max
{ soap, not even executive lye, nor white
, wash could change the nature of tbs
legislature and make it respectable. T
i be sure Official kalsomine may thinl
J. veneer this body and give it . differer
4 appearance, but the essential nature {
:. the thing still remains.
His excellency rests his case on I'll
J; fact that two-thirds of each house lacl
Q ing one, supported and defended the &C
. which the people of the territory d
I nounce as outraGes. This but prov,
what We have asserted that one-third
. that body did their duty, and that tyr
n thirds including the executive ha'