Press and daily Dakotaian. (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1880-1889, 1884-12-03

su0A AoSnglv0 VUUlGlOuot u0 HuWlu1oLt4s
tion and opposition, Dakota will again
demand the attention of congress and
the people Of tho United States.
1t seems to be growing impression
that with the change Of admins tratiop,
from republican to democratic, and from
Arthur to Cleveland instead Of Blaine,
Dakota will stand very little show Of
at Washington for several
years to come. Now, do not wholly
share that opinion. Looking back over
the last three years, cannot distin.
guish the time when it was anything |
else but uphill work for Dakota at the
national capital .'Pity 'tis," but it 10
too true, nevertheless, that the great |
Dakota northwest, the womb of whose |
condition is about, or at least |
ready, to give birth to two vigorous
states, has been as much the object of
republican indifference as of democratic
jealousy and hostility. But for this
there would have been two Dakotas, and
one of them safe within the union, be.
fore the democrats had again come into
possession OF the house of representa-
tives.
Facing the present, il may be granted
that the democratic victory will make it
the more difficult for Dakota to obtain
her rights.
Yet it does not follow either that Da-
kota should cease for one moment 70
assert her rights and push her claims to
immediate recognition, or thst, because
Of Cleveland and the democratic sweep,
it is altogether hopeless case for Da-
kota, at Washington, this winter. Ger
ta1nly there should be no less an effort
made to place Dakota right before q
democratic house and administration
than there would have been with the
prospect of q republican house next
March and Blame the president.elect.
1t ought not to be Dakota's misfortune
that, north and south, she 10 strongly re-
publican. This is free country. aud
Dakota is "a young mans country"
Dakota's claims for division, and the
creation, ultimately, OF two states, are
not the partisan considerations Of q
political body, but the rights OF an
American population under the
guarantees of the Louisiana. purchase
and the constitution, of, the United
States.
Every movement for separate state
hood on this soil has been OF non par
tisan character. In the Huron and Sioux
Falls constitutional conventions OF last
year democrats occupied the presiding
Offices and were equally prominent with
republicans. The basis OF every effort
towards statehood has been the soundest
and plainest of good old democrats
doctrine"
Dakota should not cease to present her
claims to congress and before the coun-
try. Flushed with success, democracy
in power may be generous to the fault,
from q political point OF view, of admit.
ting two stalwart republican states.
Dakota cap hardly forget that some Of
her worst enemies have been, and are to.
day, republican politicians and papers
Among that class let me brand. right
here, the Chicago Tribune, that insist
upon the admission Of Dakota as
whole, and stigmatizes those of her peo
pie, who desire division as lot Of office
seeking, selfish and corrupt politica
bosses.
The right Of people to define tn,
boundaries of the state of their ownrmak
| ing is the very foundation and corner
stone OF the fabric Of popular, local sci
government, and is proposition .tha
any broad minded man, be he democra
or republican, will be reluctant to deny
Ia the case of Dakota, moreover! th,
right was earned by the. courage and en-
terprise of people who found thin terri
tory a vast wilderness, out of which il
the space of but 9 few years they hav,
erected two great commonwealths Shal
any fair minded democrat follow the ex
ample Of q guerrilla republican pape
and say that this people shall not b
permitted to enjoy the just fruits Q
their own labors, especially when their
has been the work of civilization itseli
redounding to the credit and benefit q
the whole country?
The people of Dakota desire division
for the many excellent reasons whicl
have been enlarged upon more than ono
in these columne and by the Inter Ocean
With all due respect for the editor o.
the Chicago Tribune, submit that tn
people OF this territory ought to kuo,
their own business best, and I should
: judge, further, that from knowing wha
they really want they can be depended O
{ to insist upon having just that, in eve
and exact justice.
: matter Of honorable compromise sout
) Dakota will gladly waive her rights {
n statehood for the present, could she bu
secure q separation from north Dskot
in the territorial condition. The scr
, arate territory would be the primar.
. stop toward the separate statehood fo
each Of the two Dakotas, winch is 9
earnestly desired by the people Of boil
The democratic house could not do {
. wiser thing than to satisfy Dakota Il
!. the time being BY making two terr