Emmons County record. [volume] (Williamsport, D.T. [i.e. N.D.]) 1884-current, 1885-12-23
IDLEsIDE PAPERS.
BY DEACON DooL1rrLE.

The subject of Dakota's admission as
State will likely receive some attention
from Congress. this winter under the
head of Important Business" A Dem.
ocratic administration has in this an op.
portunity to cover itself with glory by
admitting Republican State. The party
is sadly in need of one bright Landmark,
at least, to. demonstrate its ability to act
justly, though indirectly, against its sell
fish interests. The time has come when
the dominant party must make q, record
for justice or seltishness-when it must
tardily follow the precedents of a quarter
OF century, or, rather than augment o
Republican Senate, disfrauchise indefi-
nitcly, half a million people.
That a large portion of the South is
disfranchised and practically unrepre.
sentcd in both houses of Congress is IN
undeniablc fact and if the same effect is
produced in Dakota--though through diff
fcrcnt agencies, yet by the same party
then it is time for the American people
to awaken to the fact that party suprem-
acy, and not the public good is the end
| anu AIIIl Ol democracy.
Is it or is 1t not the party of the people?
party that will disfanchise and with
hold the full benefits of the general gov
ernmcnt from any portion of the coun-
try, for purely political advantage, Is not
the peoples party; and had it the
power it would annihilatc all opposition
to its complete domination.
The grandeur of any party consists IN
holding supremacy of power upon merit,
instead of force or corruption. When-
ever it resorts to the latter methods it be-
comes humiliating confession of non
merit.
The admission of Dakota has bccomca
national question. There is neither rca-
son nor precedent for Withholding state
hood from her, and If admission is de-
MED it must be solely because Demo
cratic majority in Congress will not act
justly toward a Republican Territory.
Ii statehood is worth anything, it is as
dear to the intelligent and industrious
sons of Dakota as to the citizens of any
other portion of the Union. If the Amer
lcan government was worthy the blood
ana sufterlngs of our fathers to found it,
and at Il later period the lives OF all the
patriotic dead OF the civil war to sustain
it, why should we be denied its adyan-
tagcs, and why should it be denied the
benefits of our company?
Has political spirit become SO prosti-
tutcd and common equity so abandoned
that over half amillion pcoplc-who have
by their thrift, toll and loyal energy con
vcrtcd barren waste into fruitful gar.
den. and made the most remarkable rec
ord for progressive achievements in the
country's history-in the hour when na-
tional sympathy has been earned, can
be snubbed because of their political SEN
timcnts? A party that will do this is un-
worthy the peoples trust.
republican, form of government can
not exist long where inequality and in
justice are forced upon any portion of
It's area. 1t is un- American and contrary
to tho spirit and object of the founders
OF our government.
Ii it were not that many Territories
vastly inferior in population, wealth and
public institutions have been admitted,
and that many States to-day (somc of
them among the oldest in the Union) are
far behind Dakota IN all these things, our
claims would be less forciblc. AS is.
we have fulfilled all traditions relative
to statehood. and have knocked for ad-
missiGn. and still knock.
That the Democratic party will do
common justice to worthy Territory.
and prove itself unselfish when legislation
for the general welfare is needed, is the
hope and earnest desire of
DEACON DooL1TTLE.