Press and daily Dakotaian. (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1880-1889, 1883-04-02

NUN OA I Il
PUsLic OPINION
Regarding the Acts OF the Legislature and
Executive Freely Expressed.
Grand Eorks Herald.
To the average congressional mind .
territory is big, irresponsible boy, with
depraved tastes and unholy desires, who,
without the check oi the maternal apron
string. would go the bad and not stand
upon the order Of his going. Congress
j. made the tenitOfy's guardian. It
doles out cash to sustain tbs larger part
OF the local government. It scrutinizes
oil expenditures and weighs them with
rigid exsctness. The territory is strictly
accountable to congress tor all its way.
ward pranks, iniudicious expenditure
and follies Of youth generally. It has
power to work the territory any amount
Of harm. undsr the guise Of discipline.
There is no sppeal. The territory Il not
bigger man than old congress. Wheth.
er 1t is right or not does not matter.
That is not the question at issue. The
simple fact exists, and it stands the terri
tory OF Dakota in hand TO- do nothing
to destroy what little confidence
IN it which may have q place in the
minds OF the administration. 1t is upon
that confidence that our hopes of
future favor rest. When congress
grants division or admission, if
II ever does. it will be because
the territory merits it, but because al
objections to those measures are remov-
ed and there can be no logical fight
made against them by the democrats
and protective tariff republicans. Az
long % the latter clssses disguise the
true object Of their opposition they will
gain majority following. As proof Of
this, witness Hale's fight against Dkko.
to in the last congress. By the cry Of
reputation he set congress wholly
against the territory. Had he admitted
he was afraid of the growing power of
the young giantean northwest, and that
the protectionist New EngIanders would
elect HIM to stay at home If he allowed
anymore free trade congressman and SEN
ators to share in national counsels with.
out desperate fight on his part, he
would have found his following consid-
erably thinned. The free trade congress
would have espoused Dakota's cause
Az it was on the issue of reputation she
had not . single defender. Thus it will
be seen the necessity for circumspect
and temperate conduct in all things and
especially in financial matters. The ut.
ter disregard of the position of the terri
tory in this respect by the members of
the late Legislature and the governor is
one of the most regretablo of the mapy
deplorable things they did.
Councilman Nickeus, of jamestown,
having been classed with other leading
north Dakota members of the legisla-
ture, as opposed to any further effort in
foyor of the division OF the territory, has
authorized the jamestown Capital to put
in o disclaimer, 30 far as he is concerned
The Capital says:
"While we know nothing of the opin.
ions of Messrs. Walsh and Williams, VIC
have the assurance of Mr.. Nickeus him
self that not only does he feel about the
division OF the territory as he has alwayl
done-that it should take place-but has
always 80 expressed himself upon all oc.
casions whenever the matter was under
discussion. He has labored to the end
that north Dakota should be made sep.
arate territory, and all legislation at the
last session looked in that direction"
This takes Mr.. Nickeus ont of the cat.
egory Of those who have ayowed theiI
willingness to accept the Bismarck Tn
bune's dogma that "Division is dead.
But some of his utterances, which have
very close relstions to that topic, are
still open to criticism. It will be OBJ
served that he says that "all Legislation
last session looked in the direction" o.
making north Dakota "a separate terri
tory;" and in previous interview will
Capital reporter, speaking o
the capital removal scheme, hi
said, in substance, the new site would b,
Iequally appropriate whether the terr,
tory is divided or remains as it is. Nov
with all Difference to the superior acute
ness of Mr.. Nickeus, and while entirel
willing to make every reasonable cor
cession as to his candor, We are still ur
able to endorse the soundness Of his pe
sitlon. Whatever may. be true as {
other legislation. We submit that th
capital removal law, so far as the publ
can Judge, cannot be said to look in til
direction Of making north Dakota ser
arate territory. The power of locatlo
is committed to nine men, five of whol
are a majority, and the presumption
) that it will 60 wherever I've shall agre
to place it. If intended to fave
division 1t will be centrally Il
Gated IN either north {
south Dakota; il the purpose Is to pr
vent division, it will be placed near th
! proposed line Of division. Nor do We sc
!, how there can be any escape from thi
conclusion, except upon the theory tbs
the whole business is a job, in which th
!. commissioners are to participate, j
(which case it will 60 where the mo-
. money can be made out of it, and whei
! it will not be expected to stay any long,
t than is necessary for the managers
!. make their pile. IT Mr.. Nlckeus ca
make it appear that the capital remov,
Law, so far as it can be understood b
j outsiders, looks in the direction of sci
aration between north and south Dakot
he will do away with one of the mo-
serious objections to the measure. Jp
!, Hutchinson County News
I The question that is going the round
j in the leading papers Of the territory,
regard TO the capital, is receiving 90,
siderable opposition and ridicule, 1
which it is we'll worthy, and that it
another scheme, by which our "Chi
3 Mogul" and few OF his constituent
t can fill their pockets, and all those wi
: have had experience in Dakota politi,
for the last three or fonr years, can req.