Press and daily Dakotaian. (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1880-1889, 1886-06-23
FOR STATEHOOD.
An Address Delivered by
Judge John A. Owen,
of DeSmet.
The State League and the Movement
to Secure Division and
Admission.
[Concluded.1 |

presented to congress. Able representa-
tives made each house and the president
acquainted with the facts and the law
Before the constitutional convention
met, our enc mics, aided by federal ap
pointe In office in Dakota, either
through ignorance or malice, pronounced
our methods to be in violation of Ian
and raised the cry Of revolution" In
Difference to the sentiment of the e1
tremely conservative and for the purpose
OF forever silencing the taunt that We
were revolutionary, the convention
agreed to place in the schedule of the
constitution declaration Of intentions
and section thirtyetwo was adopted
tying the hands of the people until con.
gress should admit Dakota to the union
When we read the ordinance Of 1887
Whose provisions you do not need to be
told have since been extended to Dakota)
and ssee that it is there written
Whenever any of the raid states shall
have 60 900 free inhabitants therein, such
state shall be admitted by its delegates,
into the congress of the United States,
on on equal footing with the original
states in ali respects whatever, and shall
be at liberty to form permanent con-
stitution and state government" When
we know that the treaty with France,
ono of the supreme laws OF the land,
which ceded Dakota to tine United
States in 1903 declared in Art. that
"the Inhabitants of the csded terri
tory shall be incorporated IN
the union of the United States
and admitted as soon as possible,
according to the prIacipls OF the federal
constitution, to the enjoyment of all the
rights, advantages and immunities of
citizens of the United States"
When we know that no complaint can
be made that 1900 square miles Is not
sufficient area for state, and we know
that by an official census taken in pursn-
ence of law of the United States, as
well as Of the territory OF Dakota, we
had, june l, 1885, more than four times
10000 people, all of whom were bona fiae
residents, law-abiding people, citizens
Of the United States when
Notwithstanding every fact and every
provision of Jaw is in our favor, we see
congress deliberately disregard it's own
faith, ignore SOLEMN treaty
and trample upon us that Dakota may
still longer be kept as an asylum for the
shelter of politicians who come from
other states to control us and to use
their influence to perpetuate our vassal-
age, is it remarkable that Dakota men
are taroused and q dis
position is manifested to bring
on an issue which the people of the
United States shall decide by declaring
at the ballot box whether such q
house of representatives shall continue
in power? do not wonder that thous-
ands of men desire to start the govern
ment. The wonder is there are not
more. The forbearance of the American
people is remarkable. They know their
strength and they know their rights,
but they are patient. 1t is not coward.
ice or indifference. 1t is simply mag
unanimous patience. There lis however,
danger in this very patience. There lis
time to be silent and time to speak.
When The tendency on the part OF the
general government to usurpation is sc
manifest, it Is dangerous to be quiet
The liberties of men are never swept
away by bold stroke, until they are
first gradually undermined and the peo-
pie are by inseusible gradations made
familiar with the exercise Of despotic
power, which, liks vice, is Y
monster Of SO frightful mien
That to be hated needs but to be seen,
But seen too oft, familiar with her face,
We may first endure, then pity, then embrace
/ was startled at the May session ol
the constitutional convention at an illus.
tratlon OF the effects of long submission
to the denial OF the ordinary rights oi
citizenship which we endure under q
territorial government. A most worthy
and respected member OF that convention
as he ross tc reply to some i'm.
passianed CRY for fhe rights OF manhood
from previous speaker, stated that be
had lived twenty-eiRht years in Dakota
and his observation was that "there is
not much love Of liberty in the coun.
try" the people ara prosperous. they
have enough to eat Gnd to wear and dc
not care which way We are drifting!
Does O long residence il, a terri tory 80