Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1886-04-29
IT WILL NOT DOWN.

Since the passage by the senate Of the
Harrison bill for the division and admis-
sion of Dakota, the question has sunk out
of sight in the reports ofproceedings at
Washington. But the democratic party
need not hope that the issue win down.
1t Is one too grave, too intimately connect
ed with popular rights and liberties, too
well marked by partisan injustice with
out apology or excuse, to be carelessly set
aside or permanently secreted in COM
mittee room p;geon-hole. Even in the
house the Dakota question willnot be al
lowed to slumber. Something must be
done, and the nearest approach to doing
nothing that can be done is TO report
some other bill than that passed by the
senate. Two measures are proposed in
its stead for house action. as best EN-
bodying the art of how not to do it. The
Fredericks bill, apparently, has gone to
the limbo from which it emerged for a
purpose. Having utterly failed 10 secure
an expression from the people favorable
to division on the line of the Missouri
river, it is quite probable that it will
never be heard ofagain. The house will
now consider the propriety, first, of divi-
ding the territory by an east and west
line, either on the forty-sixth parallel or
the seventh standard parallel; and, Sec
ond. of passing bill TO admit the terri
tory as whole. The latter being the
thing of all which the people of Dakota
do not want, against which they havede-
clared at every opportunity with a
unanimity rarely seen, is the one most
likely to meet with democratic favor.
If it should happen that division were
permitted, the senate would without
much doubt promptly approve and thus
one step would be gained. But there will
be no enabling act. Come what may,
Dakota must be kept out of the union
until after another presidential election.
1t rs not the habit of the people to ac-
cept or to submit to tyranny and inius-
tice. The Dakota question is very quiet
now, when so many others engage at
tention from day to day. But it is full of
life and power, and it will be heard from
in political contention at later day. 1t
might be well for democrats to remem-
Der that congressional election is APP
preaching rapidly. The fight next fall
will be hard and close one. A gain
of tweRty-three representatives would
transfer the control of the house from
democratic to republican hands. Almost
exactly such gain as that was made in
1884, in an election when democratic
president was chosen. This congress
needs to commend itself to the public by
something else than refusing to consider
any item of business legislation, and turn
ing its attention to grabs innumerable il
it would not see its majority melt away
next November. In that election we may
rest assured that Dakota will not be for.
gotten. Never since our government ex.
listed was there more fragrant political
outrage than that ofkeeping DISTINGUISHED
half a million of people, inhabiting re,
gion of resources greater than those Of
many of our states, provided with re,
publican form of government, and again
and again found as petitioners for admis-
sion Hitherto the people have pardoned
some thing to party anxiety. In the face
of an imminent presidential election il
was felt to be human nature, although
very far from justice, to keep Dakota out
until that question was settled. But if il
is doomed to perpetual ostracism for par
tisian purposes, that is another issue. Il
Dakota is not admitted at this session, il
is equivalent to saying that it never car
be admitted until there is a republican
majority in the lower house. 1.-THE matter
takes the shape we believe that the issue
of justice to Dakota is competent in itsel
to give such majority. The people love
fair play in politics as elsewhere, They
see that any further rejection of Dakota,
claims is simply the insoleDt tyranny o.
power. If admission is not granted this
summer, Dakota will be heard ofin many
state, and will decide the majority in
many a closely contested district nexi
fall.-Pioneer Press.