The Warner sun. (Warner, Brown Co., Dakota [S.D.]) 1885-1???, 1885-10-30
Gov. Mellette at Warner.

good ground. The honorable gentle
mans speech was replete with the very
best arguments we have heard in favor
of dividing the territory, and it win not
be owing to any lack of eloquence or
| zeal on his part if Brown county does
not help swell the majority in favor of
! the constitution. He dwelt at consider
able length upon the disadvantages
arising from the present size of the ter
ritory, citing the example of Texas, the
largest state in the union, where the
legislature wrangled whole year over
the passage of eight bills. He said that
where, as in this instance, a legislature
represented a variety of interests, there
was sure to be a large amount of strife
and the legislation enacted was gener-
! ally of the bargain and sale variety
| ''you give us what we want or we won't
| give you what you want"-a citation de-
cidedly applicable to the sixteenth leg
islative assembly of the territory of Da-
kota. After picturing the Northern
Pacific railroad in an unenviable light,
| he passed on to show how twelve New
England states, all combined being
smaller than Dakota by 11,000 square
miles, had a representation of twenty in
the United States senate, while we, adj
mitted as whole, would have but two
senators to cope with them in tariff and
other reforms sadly needed by the agri-
cultural west. To us this was the
strongest argument advanced in favor
of division, and when we consider that
the senators from these same little states
make it point to oppose almost every
thing eminating from the west, it adds
strength to the argument. The action
of the democratic convention at Mitchell
was scored mercilessly. The speaker
stated that two years ago nine-tenths of
these same democrats were the very
loudest in their demands for division,
but now, with the federal offices looming
up in the dim distance, they were will
ing to sacrifice everything at the beck
of selfish administration. The idea,
he said, of fellows ike w. H. Becker,
whose name was appended to the dem.
ocratic address, daring to characterize
any set of men as designing politi-
Clans was simply ludicrous The
speaker then pictured in glowing terms
the maly advantages which would ac-
crue from statehood. He showed how
we were now at the mercy of such men
as composed the last legislature, men
whose legislative action was Controlled
only by their own sweet will. The value
of-the school lands waiting to come into
our possession was computed and the
calculation went to show that with these
lands at the disposal of the state our
taxes would be reduced about one half.
But almost in the same breath the nom
orable gentleman made statement
that seemed incongrho,is to not . few.
He said that without division we should
remain a territory until the old flag
(which had previously been hoisted to
the mast-head should have its red and
blue absorbed by the noon-day sun, its
fabric kissed to tatters by the breeze
and the remnants waited to the four
corners of the earth, fitting emblems of
mans inhumanity to man. For our part
we fail to see why, if we cannot have
admission with division, we should not
accept admission without division. In
our opinion the benefits which will ac-
crue from admission are paramount to
those which accrue from division, and
if our neighbors in the south will only
assure us that they will not oppose adj
mission OF the whole, if division cannot
be obtained in reasonable time, we will
join heart and hand with them IN this
present movement, To longer remain
territory, however, suffering existing
grievances, is too much to ask of the
people, and it is for this very reason
that Central Dakota voted for an adj
iournment OF the constitutional conyen-
ton.
Mr.. Mellette closed his remarks by
heartily lauding the constitution draft
ed at Sioux Falls, declaring it far supe-
rior to the one prepared two years ago,
and he defied its worst enemies to criti-
else it successfully At the conclusion
the speaker was almostuproarously APP
plauded and received such a hearty vote
Of thanks from the eaudiencethat hemay
rest fully assured that his evening spent
at Warner made him many warm persI
sonal friends, and some converts to his
way Of thinking. Mr.. MeIlette delivered
the best political speech we have listen
ed to- in theterritory, withoutexception,
and the republican party has reason 10