Press and daily Dakotaian. (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1880-1889, 1885-09-30

oC CenUSs pST year, SlUsuUs
Office on Third Street, Press and Dakotainn
block.
BOWEN KINGsBURY. Prop'ts.
Even the open and active enemies of
Dakota's constitutional convention are
now silenced. Tue convention has met
and adjourned leaving behind it con-
stitution containing an array OF sound
principles and dignifed declarations
relative to the rights of our people. The
deliberations of the convention fully
demonstrated the wisdom and ability OF
its members and their high standing
before the reading public, now that their
work is done, is emphasized by the ex-
cellence of the document they have
produced. They have succeeded in
silenoing all cavil and in securing from
the unwilling statesmen of the states
favorable interest in the proposition to
admit the south half of Dakota. By
their acts and their words they have de-
olared that south Dakota will accept no
other solution of the statehood problem
and they have driven home this conclu-
sion with such force that it is now we'll
understood.
1t is idle to talk-this mounting of
the old threadbare idea that congress
will pay no attention to the demands of
south Dakota as expressed through Its
constitutional convention. Congress is
not an arbitrary body in the sense that
it may dictate the continued disfran-
chisement of a quarter of million peo-
pie. It exists by the will of the people
and when public opinion sets strongly
in given direction congress is nothing
more than tho servant of that opinion
and must bow to its will.
The proceedings of our constitution.
al convention have been widely publish
ed and the result of its work is known
over the broad area Of states. Even the
most active and virnlent enemy of
separate statehood. the st. Paul Pioneer
Press, is forced to admit the justice OF
our claims and 1t now comes forward in
a manly editorial containing utterances
like these:
The Sioux Falls convention has grown
upon popular appreciation from the day
when 1t came together. y
Before, the justice of Dakota's aspiration
for statehood was not understood as it
is to-day throughout the whole country.
Unfair and untrue as the assumption
was, there were not wanting those who
diligently gave ont the impression that
the convention was called only at the in.
stigation of band Of rapacious Office
hunters, and that the people were in.
different. Now no one dares to hint at
such thing. The vote of last fall and
the census of this summer have told
their story. by distinct but corrobora.
tive evidence they have proved that the
population of South Dakota is far above
any reasonable requirement for ad-
the most rapid opponents OF
division and admission had been
forced to admit Dakota's claim, with
the experience of previous conven.
ton to guide it, and with the represen.
work, the convention has not only satis-
factorily consummated the object fol
which it was called, but, by the dignity
breadth and calmness of its delibera
tione, has given political measure oil
| the territory corresponding with the ma
terial measure furnished by the censut
returns. The impression made upon the
public mind is very favorable.
After this who can say that the con.
| vention has not fastened conviction
most lasting upon the minds of those
who did not care to be converted to thu
favorite theory of the south, The worlc
moves, and since the gavel was first lifted
over the representatives of Dakota il
convention assembled it has taken ,
long stride in our direction.
| The convention has done some thing!
we might wish it had left undone. L
has coquetted with few hazardous ex
periments when it would have been bet
ter to have deferred the pleasurabl
sensation until some more auspiciou
period of our existence. It isa pleas
ant theory in the minds of many tina
this coming empire should enter th
union with prohibition" inscribe,
upon its constitutional shield. Bu
this idea must encounter the cold prac
ticability of our unsentimental public
But the convention was wise enough
while possessing the power 10 orde
otherwise, to submit this propo
sltlon as o separate claus
SO it can be voted upo
independently and aside from the const
tuition itself. The woman's suffrage es
pertinent has been referred to the stat
legislature and the people for future sci
element and this, too, also comes in q
an independent proposition.
The constitution proper will stand tn
test of the most rigid criticism. 1t
liberal to the people in all things an
affords certaion protection agains
their common enemies.
| DELEGATE Clifford is to 60 to Washing
ton next month, there to labor in th