Press and daily Dakotaian. (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1880-1889, 1886-01-09

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1t does not now appear that the dem
ocratlc administration is disposed to
give ear to the complaints which fill the
atmosphere of the new west relative to
the disastrous rulings of Commissioners
Sparkle, of the general land office. The
disposition is rather to encourage his
vagafies and to permit him to infict
destruction upon the pioneers who break
the sod and people the plains of the west
and cause two blades to grow where
none e'er grew before. 1t begins to
look as though it was the studied
policy of the administration to retard
the growth of the west and keep in a
condition of incipiency the common
weaths which threaten to outgrow the
institutions OF the conservative east
Ihls theory is applicable to the purely
germs OF speedy development. Wher.
ever territory or state is organized
with agriculture as the basis of It's
pro perlty, republicanism speedily be-
comes the dominant political factor.
THIS IS u rule with almost no
exception. And we are prepared to be-
lleye that democratic administration
will use the full strength of its Official
power to check the development of the
agricultural divisions of the west and
the accompanying development of re-.
pabicanisn, which goes hand in hand
with the growth of this great industry.
The liberal land laws of to-day. through
which labor dispossossed of capital can
acquire ownership of productive acres,
are the creation of the republican party
The records will show that these law J,
were constructed and adopted by the
republican party during the period
when ii represented majorities
in the legislative and execu-
tive departments of our govern
ment. The records will also show that
the creation of these laws was stubborn
ly opposed by the representatives of the
democratic party. 1t is clearly estab,
lished that democracy opposed the dis
tribution of the public domain among
those who would apply their muscle to
Its development and that only through
the more liberal policy Of the republican
party was it made possible for the poor
man to become possessed of farm. For
the first time since these
generous laws became operative, dem
ocratic party is in power. Among its
first acts are the acts of Com
missioner Sparks. All his
rulings are IN opposition to the bene
ticent laws created by the republican
party for the development of the new
west and for the improvement of the
condition of poor but industrious Ameri-
can citizens. The land laws, obnoxious to
the democracy as party. are upon the
statutes. Their enforcement, how
ever, devolyes upon the agents of the
party which opposed their creation
and opposes their existence. 1t is pos
sible for the democratic party to SO
hedge them about with rulings and
constructions" that they will remain
in effect imperative. This Mr.. Sparks
seems to be striving, and with very good
success, to accomplish. 1t is now prac-
tlcally impossible for the settler to Sc.
cure possession of that which the law
says shall be his upon compliance with
certain conditions, and it is left to pow.
erful government to deny that he hos full.
filled the intent of the law. Against
this mandate the individual settler is 8
weak element in the contest. Mr.
Sparks is merely the agent OF an ad
mlnistration opposed to the land lawe
opposed to the interests of settlers, op
posed to the development of the inc y
vest opposed to the agricultural labor
ers upon the public domain. Of wha
effect will be an appeal from his rulings
Such appeal will go to the source of his
instructions and will there find place il
the oblivion of an official pigeon hole
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