Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1886-01-12
DAILY POST-INTELLIeENcE
TaE TrxsrTesIss aNp rnE uxIes.


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TEE TExRITeRIEs AND TEE Tkfos.
The proposition 20 divide Dakota os
q line drawn east and west through she
middle Of the Territory. has been met
By q counter proposition To DIVIDE
into Eastern and Western sections
With the Missouri river a. The diEldInR
line. This proposition 10 said W Dc
favored By the Democrats, a. they
count upon the western portion being
Democratic and might thus secnrs two
Democratic Senatsrs from Dakota after
all. The eastern portion. according TO
the new scheme, will retain the name OF
Dakota, while the remaining part VIII
be known as Lincoln. II II difficnlt TO
see how the Democrats can persuade
themselves that Lincoln. II thus set
apart, would return Democratic ma
iority. At the last election every county
In the Territory went Republican, and
IL that vas q fair test Of party strength,
every fraction into which Dakota could
possibly be divided, would be kepubli-
can. no matter where the division lines
might be, or In what direction they
might run.
Indeed, IL IL not easy to see Why Da-
kota should be divided at all The d.
versity Of interests between the north
srn and southsrn portions Of the Terri
terry are more imaginary than real.
There 10 not nearly 50 grea. difference
between them a. between the I've sec
lions Of Pennsylvania, Tennessee or
California, yet a proposal to divide any
one of those States would be received
With the greatest disfavor by its inhab-
itan.s. Both Texas and California have
areas greater than that OF Dakota. yet
In both Of those States the machinery
of government runs smoothly and salts
facterily, and no unusual friction be-
tseep the different sections can be de-
tscted. II Congress should pass an
enabling act for the whole OF Dakota,
II 10 difiioult 10 see how the people OF
that Territory would be aeRrieved. ~
they chose to take advantane OF the
opportunity Of entering the Union thus
accorded them, all right. IL, on the
contrary, they preferred to sulk and
insist upon division before admission,
the fault would be thsirs alone. There
ate other Territories which are eager 10
get into the Union. and II Dakota does
not wish 70 lead the procession. she can
stand aside and let the others pass on.
Another proposition which Is nov be-
ing discussed cannot DO too severely
condemned. This Is 10 admit Dakota
without division, and as an Offset to the
conss quent increase OF Republican
strength In the senate and the Eleetor-
al College. to admit Montana, which
has for many years been Democratic.
There IL really nothing TO recommend
such q plan. The old practice Of ad
hitting the States In pairs so that the
balance Of power between the political
parties would not be disturbed Is wrong
and demoralizing. II revolationizes
the entire theory upon which States
should be admitted to the Union, max
ing the politics Of Territory rather
than Its resources and population the
criterion for admission. Only the ne
eeasities OF the conflict bet ween slavery
and freedom made this pairing Of pro
cess iustinable 10 the past. Their
would be absolutely no justificatioa fo
10 now. Besides, 1t would be mos
uncertain bargain for both parties
While Dakota IL Republican and Mon
tans Democratic just nov. no prophe
woald dare to predict What their poll
tics will be Ave or ten years from now
Montana may then be Republican o.
Dakota may be Democratic. There Il
no unchaneeable line dividing tb,
states, az there was when tho slav,
States we're ranged In solid mas
against the free. The Republican Stat,
Of this year may be the Democrati,
state OF the next, and In another yea
II may be Republican once more.
Independent of these considerations
however, tterc are grave reasons VII,
Montana should not be admitted q
present. To allow that Territory d
enter the Union while Washington re
NAMED outside would be absurd. 10 "a,
the least. In no way is Montana 81
well prepared for statehood as Wash
ineton. Her population 10 not nearly
% large. and IL 10 essentially . frontieI
population. The great industries arr
mining and grazing. Tho former OF
these is liable 10 collapse at almost any
time. and the latter is not such a. "a
support . great and stable population.
Indeed. Montana does not possess q
single qualification for statehood which
Washington does not possess In Q
greater degree. Washington. On the
other hand. possesses many quAliaca-
tiens which Montana does no, possess
at all.
Washington admits the right Of Da-
kots TO entsr the Unien before her, bat
there must be no others. This Territory
must come second in the line Mon
tana's turn may come later. bat at pres
ent she should be modest and stand
Made for Applinanfa Nhnaa rannpn-