The Canton advocate. [volume] (Canton, D.T. [S.D.]) 1877-1897, 1884-12-18

The fngid icicles of winters peculiari
ties have wrapt in crystalized solidity the
very air and substance of the meteorolog-
ical system, and in the quiet of the home,
with a temporary lull in the ascendancy Of
our building interests, there comes ample
food for reflective study Of our present
status. To the question as to whether the
progressive spirit during the short twelve
month has been productive of material ad-
vancement we must answer affirmatlvely,
but there arises at the same time a feeling
of semi-disappointmeut dimming to a
marked extent an otherwise luminous ho
rizon. And what constitutes this diss;.tis-
faction. Its origin is well grounded, and
its conditional existence absolute, because
right here, when fairly prosperous year
is becoming volatile by Limitation, when
.futurial aspirations should be harbored by
unifcation, there looms up against clear
sky that insurmountable barrier of home
contention, a strife that has in the past
tended tofhamperFeven the specific out
growth of natural gravitation In this
beautiful and Incompatible Sioux valley,
where corn is king and the COW is queen,
where the cream of the grasses is trans.
formed into general condition Of gilt
edgeness and the flowers of the forest
peep forth their greenness in full mid
winter, there is gradual growth culmi
mating unasked and oft-times urexepect-
ed, while had the people who we're par
ticipating in this iuexcusable Micawber
farce exerted desire for discretionary
progression, the ultimatum might seem al
most phenomenal. The point now to be
made is, do the citizens of Canton itend to
await the snail-like and unreliable result Of
gravitation, or will they crush this con-
territorial barrier that has dominated over
everything since its establishment fifteen
years ago. Common intelligence if. not
expensive experience demonstrates to our
citizens the absolute and utter folly of at
tempting success in any particular while in
the throes of divided house era, and
the sooner united future shall swallow
the CONVENTIONAL past the better for the
city and county. Socially and politically
harmonization issue will meet with but
little success, but in every phase Of bust
ness development there is no alternative
but unity. There is probably not town
or city in Dakota territory SO badly divid-
&c into imaginary factional lines as is the
city of Canton, and the phenomenal result
of its history is really surprising It is an
open secret that every single feature prop
agated or eventually materialized for the
city interest has been successful only by
untiring efforts a certain class standing al
ways ready to lend aid to an opposition to
every progressive. e.movement. Were this
element in majority there rs hardly a
country town in Dakota but would lay over
in every particular the shire town of Lin
coin county The unfavorable point that
arises is, will a remedial gravitation toward
uniGcation ever establish a solid footing.
No sooner do the enterprising citizens OF
the city unite upon certain plan OF act
ion, than some e;indiyidual ma!content will
in pursuance of his kicking proclivities at
tempt to defeat the issue. Or, in other
cases, a fiat refusal by some interested
property holder to assist in certain meas
ure, will cause those who would otherwise
advance the cause to make themselves
conspicuous by participation. AND
in this way concilaitory unification Of ths
property owners directly interested seem:
by the history of the past almost unat
tainable 1t is decidedly foolish and in
excusable. With al its political differenc
es and bitterness of newspaper controyer
sizes the people Of this city never saw th'
press divided on a public measure. N
matter what the pecuniary less suffered
because of some factional disafection, tn
News and ADVOCATE have always beer
found united and contributing 6nancia
and moral support to any measure Q
probable benefit. Newspaper wars ar
generally as hard fought and personal i
their nature as are developed in any Sc
ries Of individual differences, but by thei
immediate uni6cation on all beneficiary is
) sues an example is established that shoul
certainly be followed by those who ar
wrangling over matters Of no general I'm
portance whatever.
But We hope to see change in tn
minds Of men, and the very feature cor
duciye to an ultimate reconciliation WI
be undergone the next three months
The business men have settled down I
the conviction Of a dull winter, and Will
experiencing the unfaYorableness Of sue
i condition will become aware Of the N
cessity for ID immediate extension of u
business that can be made tributar,