Press and daily Dakotaian. (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1880-1889, 1885-09-02

x
The language of the law is plain. 1t
will be the duty Of the convention to
form constitution, to provide for an
election at which the constitution shall
be submitted, "and at which election the
state officers, -, ETC., provided for in said
constitution, "shall be elected"
The convention is given the power to
provide for the assembling of a state
legislature, and for carrying into effect
all the purposes of the constitution.
The Legislature IN its wisdom, and in
obedience to the popular will, has pre-.
pared the way for statehood move
ment of an imposing character that will
enable the people of the proposed state
to erect provisional state government
and appear before congress, and in the
sight OF the country, through their
legally chosen representatives, whose
right TO speak for the state of Dakota
| can not successfully be questioned.
1t Will afford Dakota an opportunity
| not to be lost of following mp the cen.
| sus taken this year, under authority of
| congress, by a loud knock at the door
| for admission which will be heard
throughout the length and the breadth
Of the land.
If only the division of Dakota into
two territories could be secured this
| winter as the result of the Sioux FalIe
convention, the gain to ell Dakota and
to each Dakota, Nou!d richly repay the
people of the territory for the effort
made IN support of their rights.
THE DIVISION OF DAKOTA.
And now q word about division. 1t
may be said that there are those among
the people OF Dakota who favor divis.
ion on the Missouri river, instead of an
east and west line near the forty-sixth
parallel.
So there are. There are others, again,
| who favor admission as whole.
| 1t would be surprising indeed, ii in o
| new country like this, or for that mat
ter in any state or territory of the
| American republic, there should not be
found individual differences OF opinion
on any number OF theories respecting g
its happy solution.
The conditions in Dakota are especial.
IL favorable to the constant birth of new
and conflicting ideas regarding all mat.
ters OF public policy. On this generous
soil the citizens of twenty years and of
less than that number of months are
placed on on equal footing.
| 1t would be strange if that were not
the case in country relying SO largely
upon immigration TO populate thes pa.
riries and develop the agriculture and
resources which are to make the Dakots
northwest power in the nation and q
greater and safer power, VIII en- divided
into two states than if kept intact as
| whole.
Allowing for all the difference of opin
ion that may exist the fact still re-
mains. An lncontrovertlble fact that
the great majority of the people of eacl
section of Dakota desire division on al
east and west line corresponding witt
the county boundary line between
the two. sections of the territory
east of the Missouri river, AM
With the 46th parallel west of the river
The wisdom of this popular sentimen,
proceeding from the profound and un
alterable conviction that such division
!. is demanded in the common interest q
both sections, ought not to be doubte,
any moro than the fact itself, which ca
not be disputed.
"a Citizen of Dakota" in the remark
J able letter published in the Inter Ocea
+. short time since, has dohe more wit
his pen than any writer. ever even s
much as attempted before in making th
condition of Dakota known in its tru
light, and toward emphasizing thgpopr
lar demand for separate statehood il
, each Dakota. But little could be adde
to his mastery p!ea-an intellectual e
fort breathing the highest spirit of pa
rlotism and devoid of all selfish motiy
, and sectional feeling.
The man who attempts to array OF
, section of the territory against NOV.
ment which proceeds from purpose /
advance the general welfare is not to /
trusted.
8 In the discussion Of great questio
t like this all sectionalism should /
eschewed.
. THE POLITICIANS AND DIVISION.
= The division of north and south d
t kota is desirable for the whole, for bot
!. sections, or it is not desirable at all,
for one moment wanted.
Q That is the position of the writer, ar
q as he believes Of every public man wi
8 has been prominent in the state hoe
: movement.
? What the people OF Dakota sEou
Q have IN view and what the statehos