The Canton advocate. [volume] (Canton, D.T. [S.D.]) 1877-1897, 1884-08-07

The campaign in Lincoln county has as
sumed steady but unswayable progress,
and the probabilities assume a tangible
form that his home county will unanimous
ly endorse the candidacy of Judge Clifford
tor congress.
Take the history of Dakota way back
when the first hardy pioneers entered the
territory, and it can readily be proven
that Lincoln has always furnished SOL
idifed spirit of republicanism, not once
having wandered from the column of
large republican mGorities. Eighteen
years ago about all the tillable lands, set
tied farms, and in fact tokens of actual
civilization, were confined within the en-
circle of counties known as Yanton, Clay,
Union, Lincoln and Minnehaha, sort of
circumscribed boundary comprising south
eastern Dakota. Within that time these
counties, excepting Lincoln, have each had
their delegate in congress. The wealthy
and densely populated county Of Lincoln
stood quietly back and helped to secure
the election of the Missouri valley candi
dates as they were successfully nominated
Then came the Black Hills with Bennett
as their standard bearer, and with coun-
ties all around us giving adverse strength
to the republican ticket, Lincoln came up
with the usual demonstrative favoritism
to the will of the convention. Later on
Minnehaha showed a disposition to de-
mand recognition in the territorial con-
vention, and Lincoln went in and assisted
in the nomination and election of Petit
grew; and two years ago when the strength
and growth of North Dakota became ap-
parent, the delegates from Lincoln county
conceded the identity of that section by
casting their votes for Raymond. This
matter is introduced simply to make gen
orally known the fact that the county in
which Judge Clifford resides and is inter-
ested in to the extent Of the rewards OF
twelve years residence, as yet never re-
ceived formal acknowledgment of its ex-
istence. When there were but four
newspapers in the whole territory, outside
of Yankton, there were two papers in
Canton pounding away at the eastern peo-
pie about our productiveness and unexcel-
led possibilities When there were but
five organized counties in the whole terri
tory, the county of Lincoln was paying
over one-6fth of the total tax for the sus-
tenance af the territorial government.
Long before the advent of the Northern
Pacific, the Northwestern or the Milwau-
kee roads, the county of Lincoln was pro-
duclng crops of grain and shipping the
same by wagon trains, sending east sam
pies of our produce that in time turned
the attention of the westward home seek
ers from Kansas and Nebraska to the
grassy fields of the then grosshopper in
ficted Dakota. 1t was only through the
indomitably disposed determination of the
enthusiastically endowed southeastern Da-
kotians that the tide Of immigration was
turned Dakotaward, and not unit. the
farmers and business men of Lincoln coun-
ty had gone deep into their pockets to Sc
cure the extension OF the Milwaukee road
| into Dakota did the demonstrating de-
velopmental ascendency assume any no.
ticeable proportions in Dakota, south OF
the forty sixth parallel. Just as soon as
the Milwaukee entered the territory at
this city the other great lines of railway
saw the importance Of occupying the yam
tage ground, and ever since 1879 the terri.
tory of Dakota has been enjoying a de.
veloping boom of the most fattering quail
ity. This progressive era was opened by
southeastern Dakota, and it is southeastern
Daktoa that is now asking for recognition
in return for her long years of patien
and untiring waiting.
We believe that all true citizens OF Da
kota will allot to Lincoln county the fai
share of recognition her former equitabl
actions has certainly entitled her to, anc
when one of the oldest inhabitants and on
of acknowledged eminencein in political abi]
tiles is presented for delegate in congress
there should exist unanimity Of spirit i
regard to his support as against the polit
cal hacks of carpet-bag origin and chroni
ofice-seeking propensities. The honesty
moral soundness and unbroken freedol
from corruptiveness of Judge Clifford cor
stitutes the high moral ground taken in th
advocacy of his name, while his capabil
ties of Intellectual comprehension ha,
made his success almost phenomenal i
the legal line. His research into the il
ternal matters of equitable governmel
has enabled him to become quali6edly an
undeniably posted on matters that col
stantly demand attention in the halls
congress, and his unbiased position in Il
factional disturbances of the past fo'