The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1885-05-08

tick in the worlds long march of ages.
hundreds of fourishing cities and towns
have sprung, like magic exhalations,
from the wild prairie grass. Electric
lights send forth their radiance where.
but rs yesterday, UNEMPLOYED darkness
reigned supreme. Long trains Of pal
ace cars fly laundering and shrieking
across golden harvest burdened plains.
where but few moons ago the buffalo
pastured and the grey wolf trailed his
prey. Churches. schools. banks, street
railways and daily papers are sown
broadcast all over the feeding.places Of
yesterdays antelope and red deer. All
the wild and gorgeous romances of the
orient dwindle into nothingness beside
the everyday realities of Dakota's
progress.
From o population of IA, $50 in 1870,
and of 135, 900 in 1880, the Territory
rose to $50, 900 in 1882, to $50, 900 in
1883. and over 400, 900 in 1884; and the
tide of immigration still rolls in with
ceaseless surge to its free lands and
free homes, so that the close of the
present year will undoubtedly find it
with upward of half million people.
In the four years from June 30, 1880.
to June 30, 1884, its taxable valuation
increased nearly l, 300 per cent; ITS pos
tai revenues, over 300 per cent; its bank.
ing facilities, 1900 per cent Its church.
es, l, 100 per cent; it's schools, over q.
zoo per cent; its daily newspapers, L.
500; its weekly newspapers, 600 per
cent it railroad mileage, 500 per cent.
and the amount of land taken ND by
actual settlers for actual cultivation.
over | 300 per cent.
Dakota has more population than
New Hampshire, and nearly as much "a
two Vermonts, two Floridas, two Colo.
radios. two Oregons, three Rhode Is
lands, thee Delawares or eight Neva-
das. 1t produced last year, %, $50 900
bushels of wheat, or more than thirty
three of the states and all the other
Territories. 1t has more miles of rail.
road than fifteen of the States and all
the Territories. 1t has more daily pa
pers than any one of the Southern
States, or any two of them, excluding
Texas; and more than six of tile North.
ern States. 1t has more schools, and
better school-buildings than any South
ern State, or any one of six Northern
States. 1t has more banks and bank
ing capital than five of the States and
oil the Territories. ana pays more inter-
nal revenue than four of the States or any
two OF the other Territories combined.
1t has more presidential postoffices than
any southern state except Texas, and
more than six of the northern states:
and in every other element of qualiti.
cation for reputable statehood it's pro-
gress has been mexampled in human
annals. Remembering what it was ten
short years ago an unexplored, savage
infested wilderness: and contemplating
what it is now rs manifested in this SUI.
perb display, which, occupying as it
does more space than those of thirty
two of the other states and territories,
is admittedly one of the browning ylor.
les ofthe Worlds Exposition, L challenge
all Gods creation to beat Dakota or Da-
kota's record.
And yet, this majestic territory, with
all its wealth Of soil. climate and pro.
ductions. all its intelligence and tireless
enterprise of population, and all it's
magnificent rush of development, is,
for basest partisan reasons, kept out of
the Union, and it's nearly half million
people denied all rights of self govern.
ment: The great principle of ''No
taxation without representation, for
which the fathers OF the Republic went
to war at the tap of that hallowed old
bell that hangs, crowned with flowers
and immortal glory, in the building
Just beyond, is set ut naught whenever
the borders of the Territory are crossed.
Nearly 100000 frce-born American
citizens are virtually disfrancllise,l
because they live in Dakota. They
are treated little better than y
band of unruly Sioux or Kicka-
poos Oh u doubtful reservation. They
have no voice or vote in the selection
OF the men WHO are togovern them, and
all the evils of carpet-bag rule, of which
Southern people so bitterly and SO lust
ly complained, are in full force among
them to-day. A Roman proconsulate
or Turkish pashalic would be fully as
Republican, fully as Democratic, fully
American. as the domination of ex-
ported officials, the sway of appointed
strangers and aliens, to which they are
subjected.
Men of Louisiana! Sons of the Mis-.
sissippi Valley! In the name of Da.
kota's almost halfmillion long wronged
people, appeal to you for aid in Sc
curing our rights in the Union. God
ard Nature have decreed that, while
the waters of earth's grandest river roll
from the snow-fed fountains of
Itasca where the beloved sunshine
of the Mexican Gulf chants
its mighty anthem to shores
of everlasting green and gold, this glori-
GUS valley and its people shall lie one
and inseperable. Through me, as an
humble representative, the head OF the
Mississippi salutes it's mouth, the snow
drifts and wheat fields wave cordial rec
to the orange and magnolia
groves, Dakota sends sisterly greeting
to Louisiana. We are one in interest
and in nationality; let us be one in heart.
We of Dakota have shown our friendly
spirit by pouring out our treasures to
grace your grand Exposition. Give us
the chance, and we will infinitely in
crease the proofs of Our regard. Our
ideas are large. We fence our farms
with the horizon and roof them with
the sky. Help us into the union,
and We will be with you and for you
IN every measure, movement and
endeavor that tends to promote orr
common veal. Nothing will be too
big Or too liberal for us. We will vote
with you for an appropriation of $780,
600, 600, if necessary, to improve the
navigation of the majestic river that
binds Dakota and Louisiana forever to-
gether. We will stand by you and
with You in securing all the men, mon.
ey and machinery to scoop it out, ocean
deep, from the Jetties to st.
Paul, and then by canal through the
Red River of the North, Lake Winni-
peg and Nelson's River, open up IL
Iuid highway from the Arctic ocean to
The gulf, and ship you live whales, po-
ar bears, icebergs and aurora borealises
n exchange for your cotton, sugar and
bananas Thera ic nofbi,cr ,,n,l1 80