The semi-weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1882-1886, 1885-12-23
THE NEW STATES.

ISb6s ny 1OAOIAA ~A~ ASF~@
ing constitutions containing their organic
laws, and are now knocking at the doors
of the National Capitol seeking admission
into the Federal Union as sovereign States
The first owes her speedy growth from an
uninhabited wilderness to a large. thriving
and prosperous community, to her incom.
parable mineral resources, and the latter
to her matchless productive prairies OF the
finest arabic lands in the world. Twenty
five years ago an almost unbroken soil
tude prevailed throughout the vast area
covered by these Territories. Thu tread oil
the white man, except that OF q few gov
eminent troops and hardy trappers, was
scarcely heard, and the death like silence
was only occasionally broken by the
believing OF the buffalo, yelping OF wolves,
whistling of elks, screech of the eagle and
war whoop of the Indian. But now these
are scarcely ever heard. The buffalo has
fallen before the well aimed shot oil the
hunter; the wolf and elk have found safety
in the mountains; the eagle has moved her
nest to the highest peak and the Indian has
| zone to search for better hunting grounds,
or is pining away on the reservations. In
| the places Of these are now to be seen popu-
lous cities, productive mines, prolific
J farms and hundreds OF thousands OF
| whites employed in the various vocations
OF civilized life.
Dakota previously applied for admission
to the Union, and vas SO far encouraged in
her efforts as to receive favorable action
by the Senate at the last session OF Con-
gress, but as the bill failed to receive the
sanction of the House OF Representatives,
she is compelled once more to renew her APP
plication. Her failure before was not
owing to an insufficiency Of population, for
she at that time not only claimed but
proved beyond a doubt that her popula-
ton exceeded 300, 600 souls, or more than
twice as many as the act OF Congress re-
uuired. What then al the cause OF her
inability to secure recognition? 1t was
urged that the area OF territory proposed
to be embraced within the new State, was
sufficiently large for two or more common
wealths. When this became generally
known among the citizens OF that Terri
tory, a proposition was made to carve a
new State out of the southern portion.
This proposition met with some favor at
Washington, but it was bitterly opposed by
those in the northern portion OF the Terri
tory, who were either envious of the pro-
spective success OF the other section, or
were dissatisfied with the thought of being
left out in the cold and thereby compelled
- o~.,; -, , - :~ohoo%o condition Thoco
fact }, together with the bitter ancor oc-
casioned by the selection OF the capital for
the proposed State, doubtless contributed
very much to strengthen the hands OF the
opposition in the House OF Representatives,
at Washington, in their successful efforts
to defeat the bill.
Thefact, however, cannot be denied that
the principal reason for denying admission
to Dakota was one OF a political nature.
The political complexion Of Dakota is
s~eventy-ive per cent. Republican, hence her
admission would add two more members to
that party's majority in the United States
Senate. The House OF Representatives at
that time was largely composed of Demo-
Gratis, and they were looking forward hope
fully to success in the ensuing Pr dental
election, and to victories in a sufficient
number OF States to overcome the Repub-
lican majority in the Senate. Dakota
stood between two fires. II she had come
up to Congress offering two Democratic Sen
and II Congressman. her application
aStihd have been granted by the House, but
only to be rejected by the Senate. Such a
disagreement was not novel in Congress
upon questions for the admission OF new
States, for ever since 1898, when Mississippi
aspjred to statehood, such conflicts be-
tween sections or parties have happened.
Before the abolition Of slavery they were
principally confined to the sections, and
consequently the struggles were between
representatives of the free and slave States.
The latter laboring to enlarge their repre-
sentation and the former to restrict it.
Iowa made application for admission in
1916. Her claim was ~strenuously resisted
by a united South, assisted by some Dem
ocrats from the North. Finally a COM
promise was effected by which Florida, Il
slave State, was admitted side by side with |
her.
The political status of Congress is about
the sam as it was during the last session.
The Senate is Republican and the House !
Democratic. A bill for the admission OF
Dakota has already been introduced in the
Senate and appropriately referred. Hon.
Joseph K. Toole, delegate from this Terri
tory, has in his possession a bill for the
admission of Montana which he will pre-
sent to the House as soon Us the new rules
are adopted, when it will be at once re-
|erred and considered in committee. Mon.
claims to State sovereignty will
nave an able and fearless advocate in the
familiar with the resources,
population and requirements. Organized
as a Territory in 1865, with a population
Of less than five thousand permanent resi-
dents, she now can support her right to adj
by showing that there are over
one hundred and fifty thousand white men,
women and children living within her
borders. This number is considerably in
excess of that required by the act of Con-
,ress, prescribing the qualifications of a
Territory for admission into the Union as
1 sovereign State.
Dakota, with her Republican political
sentiment, will pass through the Senate,
Ind Montana, m%arshaling her Democratic
majority, will capture the House; but they
will both be brought to a halt when only
half way through Congress. The former
will be backed blythe Senate, and the latter
~ the House and the Administration.
What course, under the circumstances, can
Congress pursue in order to escape the
lilemma in which it will be placed? Both
Territories nave equal claims to r~ecogni-
ion. Each OF them has the population to
,ntitle it to admission. Both lave pre-
pared Constitutions, and complied with all
other preliminary requirements. Under
such circumstances can Congress afford, or
would it be justified in turning them away?
not by any means. The eyes of the people
Ill over the land have been turned to-
ward Washington, and they are eagerly
atching the course OF their representatives,
md anxiously awaiting their favorable
lction upon the question OF admitting these
:wo full grown Territories into the sister
rood Of States. Partisan prejudice is no
OnUor q bo rrior in tho wav nj DakOfo. no.