Press and daily Dakotaian. (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1880-1889, 1885-01-12

Is there much real solid horse sense in
the following' It is the utterance of
the Washington correspondent of the
New York World:
None of these Observation-Disclosures es-
pecialfS-have ever shown themselves
tit for self government, and I suggest that
it would be nearer their just deserts to
tack them on their Indian reservation
and put them under military rule.
: This refers to half million people,
who have never been given an oppor-
tunity to demonstrate their fitness for
self government. We seem to be expect.
ed to perform the impossible-to organ.
ize and sustain stable local government
without q constitution OF
anything approaching the dimen
sions OF fundamental law as basis fol
legislative enactmente. We would lik.
to enquire how long the state of New
York, or any other state, would remain
outside condition of absolute anarchy
with nothing upon which to build {
statutory structure. Our Legislators ar,
restricted in nothing, excepting 80 for q
their judgments may control them. The,
bave nothing to guide them in thei
efforts towards the creation of laws fol
the people-ho starting point, no place
of ending-no instrument which defines
the limits of legislation and makes il
clear to the public understanding tha
this thing may be done or that thinl
may not be done. True there is an en-
actment called the organic act. 1t is
few pages of congressional law made t
fit all the territories, regardless of popu
lation, latitude, longitude, resource,
capabilities or conditions Of society.
covers all the great uncrganized north
west and when stretched over this i'm
mense area becomes 90 thin that it vii
not bear its own weight. It might d
passably we'll for au undeveloped regio
of twenty. or forty Thousand people, bu
when on effort is made TO substitute
for the constitutional bulwark of a grea
territory like Dakota, with all its varie
industries in high state Of perfection
with its schools, its churches, its ia.
tories, its railroads, its cities and its ha
a million inhabitants-well, an attemE
to argue that it is adequate is simply 81
surd. Under these deplorable condition
this World newspaper writer charges tbs
Dakota has never demonstrated its fitne,
for self government and should therefor
be kept in a condition of vassalage an
be forever subjected to the rule of in
portations from down east states.
So far as lawlessness is concerne,
Dakota has proportionately less Of
than the great state represented b
the Washington scribe, or the Nilsson
annex to the union which produce
Jameses and Youngers and Vests. W
would watch with much interest {
experiment like this: Take away I'll
constitution of tue state Of New York ar
the constitution of the state of Nilsson
and give to each instead the organic o
of the territory Of Dakota as the basis
all law and order and moral and soci
regulation. Pandemonium would asse
itself and hades on earth wou
speedily ensue. In spite Of the fact th
Dakota has no facilities for self.gover
ment, il does govern itself tolerably v,
and this is because its people q
ardently desirous Of good governme
and refuse to take advantage of th,
extensive opportunities for overturni
the customs established BY bo
which, for want Of some title I'll
would better explain it's character q
scope, il called o Legislature.
The suggestion that Dakota be plac
under military rule is used ~ expressi
: Of the contempt Of the Washiugt
writer for the halt million Dakotaia
who are asking only for the bl
sings Of government. Mikt,
rule would be better ID
the pressnt existing chaotic arfangem,
49,. -