Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1885-12-24
DAILY -INTElLlGeNCtR
THR AcfIes eF DAKOTA.

sompie,sd BY tie osgasszasiOn a tue
Legislature At Huron, The nsSiF selected
capital. Bosh houses wsre called &
order by the chairman Of tie Executive
Committee, sho immediately svors tho
msmbers In. On the day f0ll0ving
baIlo.ine for United States Senators
took place. and resulted in the election
Of q. G. Moody and A. J. Edgersan.
The message Of Governor Ailiesse Nss
devoted 10 q vigorous statement Of TIE
claims Of Dakota for admission into
the Union. After hesriBR II and pas
ing q fex resolutions Of ons kind and
another. both houses adjourned subjsci
10 the call Of the Governor.
All this sounds very seii, and 10
reading It one would scarcely imagine
tina. the Governor and the Legislators
were really doing little mere than play
ins At government Such ia the case,
however. The State government: u not
government de fsefo. although It may
be a government DE- jars. Ii Is a gov
eminent with . qualification. ~ Con
sress approves the proceedings, the
Senators will take their seats, the Gov
amor will be a real Governor, and the
Legislature viii pass laws which viii be
enforced. II, however. Congress Is OBJ
darass and refuses to admit the new
State 10 the Uaisn. the government viii
remain the shsdoxy thing that II "a
until, by the grace Of Congress and The
Democratic Leaders, the just demands
of Dakota are complied With. For the
present, hoxevef, it, animation Is sus-
pended. IL is like an Intricate MACHINE.
every par, OF which IL in position and
nicely adjusted, bat With which ne
motor IL connected. The wheels are
there. bu. they do BOT turn.
The wisdom OF the action taken by
the people Of Dakota Is being much
discussed. That the action IL iastitiabie
10 not to be dsnisd, bot whether IL 10
wise, only the event can determine.
Although the whole proceeding seems Al.
firs 20 be rather irregular, there Is
ample precedent for IL. Avery similar
courss was pursred by the people OF
Michigan, as we'll a. by those Of Mime
sofa, California, Oregon and Kansas.
Ia former eases Congress has invariably
yielded to the demands Of ths Territory
Applying for admission, and the State
Governments sat no in this manner
have gone into regular operation. 10
the case OF Dakota, however. the Dem
ooratio party arrsyed itself firmly
against the admission of the Territory
and as that party controls the executiv,
branch OF the Government a. well a.
one house OF Congress, 1t may De infer
red that the chances for the success o
the present attempt are not the best.
The preteuse made by the Demoerati
leaders for their opposition 10 the sd
mission of Dakota is the irreRularity o
the organization OF State government
before an enabling act IL passes
This, however. IN known TO be only
pretense. In the pas, the Democrati
party has made no opposition 60 th
admission of States In similar man
ner. The real reason for the oppositio
of the Democratic senators and Repre-
sentatives to Dskota's demands lies |
their reluctance to have another relis
bly, Republican State In the UaioI
with the consequent Republican gai
Of two votes in the senate. one in th
House Of Representatives and three
the Electoral College. They evidentl
intend 10 allow this party considerable
10 control sheir action, regardless {
justice or angh, else that should init
enoe the minds Of legislators.
As between the two great parties, hos
ever, hsnors are easy a. regards the
treatment Of the Territories. While
10 ths Democratic party which is pu
sains an unjust and shortsiRhted oour'
al present. the courss pursued by d
Republican party In past years h'
been little better. The Republica
party 10 the only party which at 40
time since the war has possessed d
power 10 admit state, but 1t has show
the Territories little favor in their a
tsmpss TO secure their rights. Its pre-
ent ZEAL In behalf OF Dakota 10 strangel
Ia contrast With the ma inner In which
ignored the demands of the same lei
ritory only three years age. With
Republican President and Republics
naioritics In both branches of Congress
the Republican party then neglected a
oppostaniiy 10 do justice to Dakota IN
Washington which may net OCCUR soo
again.
Az 10 The advisability Of washinsso,
following the example Of Dakota an,
organizing State government withou
awaiting the passage of an enabling 40,
there Is q serious difference Of opiuion
II such seosrse Is 10 be pursued. Their
10 no necessity Tor the exercise OF haste
Tho people Of Washington do no, desir,
10 take any action which. without ad
vaneing tie chances OF their own Terri
cory fet admission. would AZURE thos'
Of Dakota II sesisn precisely simila
30 that taken by Dakota we're 30 be takes
n present By washlngson. Montana OF
New Mexico, IL weald ansaestioashl,
weaken she force % the DAKOTA move
What chance the people % Dakc,s nov
have for gaining their point would prob
ably b toss while The position OF Oh,
other Territories woala be In no ga,
improved. II the present Terr,soria
Legislature decides to call Constita
tienal Convention. ss has been proposed
its time Of meeting should be sci q
least a year In the future. Ry that tim
the Dakota movement wiii be either
success or failaFe. In either event III
actien of Washington esnnos ipseffer
With Il. II II he failure. the taking O
similar aolion hy the peopae Of Wash
k.s.s-. Lii ~. a.. Al. ~ al,