Press and daily Dakotaian. (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1880-1889, 1885-12-29

A communication from John A. Owen,
of De Smet, relative to the senatorial
issue. Since becoming resident of
Dakota Mr.. Owen has kept himself well
abreast of the times and has watched
the drift of public affairs with sagacious
interest and has fearlessly spoken his
opinions whenever 1T seemed to him
that the right time for the right word
had arrived. Through such utterances
we have became familiar with Mr.. Owen
and have learned to look upon him as
man of courageous convictions and cafe
judgment.
His recital of the patriotic manner in
which Judge Campbell met defeat at
Huron only deepens regret over the
course finally taken in the choice of
senatorial timber. The man who, in
such an hour, reasserts his fidelity to the
principles for which he had long
striven, and who SO earnestly
urges his friends to once
more close up the ranks solidly
and push forward to victory, is made OF
better material than the average polite
ian who ruthlessly destroys that he may
climb to exalted position over the ruins
of better aspirations than his Own.
We are so familiar with the methods
employed to secure the defeat of the
man who had gathered about hum the
honest preference of the people that it is
difficult to view the result with patient
forbearance. 1t had been hoped that
Dakota, in it's strong movement for re-
generation, might cast aside the advice
and influence of demagogues. Perhaps
IN another effort it will succeed, for
there seems to be an honest intention to
reach the goal. But in this case the old
worn out charges, voiced at every cross
roads, and covertly whispered on the
highways and in the by ways. turned
the Judgment Of men from the course
the moment made them the creatures oi
political conspirators of the not ovel
scrupulous school. 1t is to the credit o
these men that they saw their error thu
moment they had committed themselve
TO it and their true manhood ASSERTED
itself in every possible manifestation o
regret and confidence. Mr.. Owen tell
the story. We might embeIlish Thereon
but the time for that is in the future
4 -ss-s.ss--s---s.--s--s---s.-s--@
Judge Campbell's open letter to Sena
tor Vest, published in this issue, revive
the utterances of the senator from Mis-
souri, upon the floor of the senate som
: ten days ago. It was then and there tina
Mr.. Vest charged the people of DakotI
with revolution, and 1T was then an'
there that Senators Harrison, Logan Nc
his arguments and forced the lie dow
his throat. Lett with nothing substan
tial upon which to place his feet, Sena
tor Vest gave his attention to Judg
? Campbell personally and voiced th
Louisiana SANDER against that gentle
man. This brings oul Judge Campbe
in reply and his published letter is proc
conclusive that Senator Vest not onl
lied about the people of Dakota collee
j lively, but that he commenced lyin
about them III detail when he picked u
Campbelrs case and spread it befor
=, the United States senate.
The general revolutionary propt
= sition advanced by Mr.. Vest wa
controverted by his fellow senator
e before his words had grown cold. ant
now his specific allegations again
q the chairman of Dakota's stat
s. executive committee is turne
- over into the mre of his own fol
reasoning by the object of his unwa
ranted attack. Senator Vest gave pull
licity to his Ignorance relative to the a.
mission of territories as stat
when he said there was bl
. one obscure precedent for Dakota
. action, and was silenced on the spot /
half dozen senators who cited
many we'll defined precedents for his i
formation. Floundering out of his u
tenable position he struck straia
from the shoulder blow at Judge Cam
nd bell, aud hit the empty air. After I
holiday recess Mr.. Vest may again
IA, heard from. He has thus far won
laurels, the victory belonging to L
20 kota and to Judge Campbell.
--.-s-----..--------
The business men of Yankton in th
oa vigorous movement to organize 10
. board of trade have taken step viii
NJ in its earnestness promises excellent
ms suits. Time was when communit
would become towns apd towns
. come cities and citias become imp
tant manufacturing and commerc
centers by the force of what appeared
be natural laws of growth and tire
intercourse. Rut this condition of
man affairs seems now to belong to
past, and only the &C
, munity, town or C
reaches the coveted position which
expressive commercial parlance} "rus
for itself" This being the acknowle
ed price of success, let us 'rustle."