Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1884-12-12
United for Division.

Sioux falls Leader:-It is an undeni-
able fact that the people of Dakota will
under no circumstances consent to the
admission ofthe territory as a whole.
Rather than consent to this, the peopl"
would remlin in their present condition
of vassalage for an indefinite number
of years. Since congress cannot coerce
us into becoming a state, it will he well
for that fody to recognize the true sit
uation Of affaiis before settling pom
any line of action or inaction with ref
renee to Dakota. Both North and
South Dakota insist upon division. ard
so long us they are in their present
frame of mind, congress has only one
If two things to do: either to divide
The territory as the people want it di-
vided, or to continueto deprive the peo-
pie of their rights. TRUE, congress can
Tx territorial boundary lines as it chooS-
rs, regardless Of the wishes of the in
habitants; but the security which the
people have against manifest injustice.
is the fact that congress cannot compel
the territory to become a state in def
ance Of the popular will; and right now
is a very appropriate time to give ex-
preston to the clearly defined determi-
nation Of the people of Dakota that di-
vision must precede admission, as a
most positive term under which is alone
admission either to he desired or ac-
cepted. Omitted for division" is tbs
w%atchword both north and south of the
18th parallel today. This oeing tn,
situation it is Obvious that the great
objective point for all Dakota workers
ut home or in Washington this winter.
is to secure the passage Of a bill for di-
vision. A bill for that purpose. intro
duced by Senator Harrison, is on the
senate calendar, and ought to be reach
ed and passed by both houses Before
the expiration Of the present congress.
So far from seeing any cause for DIS
enlargement in this connection, by rea-
son of C%leveland's election to the presi-
dency,, The Leader thinks it sees posi-
tive advantages. Democrats Of such
prominence as Abram S. Hewitt of New
York and COBB of Indiana gave assur-
ances last winter that they would sup
port the Measure during the present
session. Indeed, the evidences of dem
ocratic approval to be made manifest
after the presidential election, were
much more general last winter than is
commonly supposed. Randall, OF Penn
sylvania was the principal stumbling
block, and it is by no means ilnproba-
bic that Mr.. Randall's objections will
be overcome long before the 4th of next
March. AS the Use now stands, the
,npublicans and democrats Of Dakota
are heartily united in pNshing forward
the movement for division. If consid-
erations of office enter more or less
largely into this happy. unison, it is on
lv because it is very natural that they
should. OF course, it Is well enough
understood that the republicans must,
under the Incoming administration.
eliminate from their programme ambi-
ton of that kind; but the republican
p lrty is cordially committed to division.
and because its members would not BE-
called upon to fill the Offices in the two
territories created out of one is no rea-
son why they should not be well enough
pleased to see these places occupied by
their very hungry and thirsty brethren
on the other side. Meanwhile, it is
sufficient to recognize that as the terri
tory is at present Constitute there will
net under the new dispensation be Off
ces to go round. With these interest
ing phases of probabilities revolving
at the end of.the political Kaleidoscope.
even the most unimaglnative eye must
see the added incentives FOR effective
work at Washington. The only source
from within, whence any opposition
could come, it is the well known and
peculiar Bismarck source; but as the
newspapers of Bismarck have. put
themselves On record in favor of divis-
ion, and as expressions to the same eff
feet from that quarter have been well
nigh Unanimous, it is hardly probable
that there will be open opposition
particularly when it is borne in mind
that the territorial Legislature will be
in session at Bismarck up to the fourth
Of next March, and the power being in
herent therein, if the added impetus of
the disposition be given by treacherous
or unfriendly acts a very sudden and
| effective illustration will be had to the
effect that the way to move a;territori.
al capital is to move it. We think it
more than likely that Bismarck will
behaves No; doubt many ,prominent
democrats will go from Dakota to
Washington to witness Cleveland's in
auguration, and a number OF them will
! go some time beforehand tc do what
they can to aid division. We have in
MIND such democrats as Wilson Of the