Hand County press. (Miller, Dakota [S.D.]) 1882-1893, 1884-11-27
DIVISION OR NOTHING

1t has been generally understood that
the dearest wish of the people living south
of the 46 parallel was for division and ad-
mission. This wish has been expressed
so strongly that there has been very little
opposition to it by the north. from whence
we might naturally expect opposition.
The fact becoming so firmly established in
the minds OF the people of the south
that therew was no opposition to division,
but universal cry in both sections
for admission, it is fast becoming the
custom to consider division as a matter of
course in connection with admission, con-
sequently the former earnest advocacy of
and desire FOR division, is being lost sight
of in the united demand for admission.
III all probability this is the state of affairs
most desired By the north, when results
beneficial to that section will neces-
sarily follow. We firmly believe the north,
notwithstanding its quies and tacit agree
ment for division, fervently hopes the
territory will not be divided. 1t is to their
ta, because ii tl ere were division, it fol-
lows as a matter of course South Dakota
would be admitted and the north left
out for number of years, and the South
is hardly in a position to say the people of
the north ever failed to work for their own
interests. There is general demand, not
only here but in the states, for the Demo
crntic administration o recognize in some
practical way the vast population and
boundless resources Of Dakota, and the
first thing to present itself to the people of
people who are discussing this question,
haven't TIC remotest idea of the dissimi-
lnrity OF Interests between the section 50
farnilliarly known by our own people as
north AM, .auth Dakota, and We scarcely
expect sikfh TO readily see the desire and
necessity for division so ardently hoped
for by the 100000 people os South
Dakota. And ii the Democrats are forced
TO answer this popular, universal cry
for q recognition of Dakota it is reasona-
bic to expect they will do SO in a manner
to best subserve their own interest. They
are well aware that Dakota is Republican
all over, and if the Territory was divided
and the south half admitted, there would
yet remain another Republican territory
| TO some time in the neiG future clamor for
admission, thus making two states with
Republican Senators and Congressman.
The natural consequence of this view is
to believe the Democrats will endeavor to
appease the popular demand, and stop the
chmor for Dakotu by accepting the lesser
of two evils, and admitting the Territory
as a whole Especially is this to be ex-
pected if they have the assistance of
North Dakota to that end. And viewing
! the matter thus we believe the people OF
South Dakota should first devote them
selves to DIVISION, with an energy bora of
the fact that in the past whenever our in
terests have clasbed with the north, the
matter was settled by about two rounds.
1t would be superfuous to add in favor of
whom. It is the duty of every newspaper
and citizen south OF the 4sth parallel to
howl for division, talk about it, dream of
it, and write about it. Roll up your pants
and wade in with yoar uattle cry "Divis-
ion or Nothing" or Division or blud."