Daily Yellowstone journal., 1886-02-14
Sunday, February "a, 1886.
WHAT DAKOTANs THINK.


always been consistent i'm its advo-
caey of the division and statehood
movement, now sees the stone wall,
and steers shy Of it in the following
editorial: when a man finds that
he cannot do exactly what he would
like to do, the wise course to follow is
to do the next best thing. What is
true of individuals Is also true of COM
munities and commonwealtLs. At
this distance from Washington it
looks very much as If the admission of
Dakota at this session, and possibly
by this Congress, Is out Of the ques-
ton. The bill has passed the Senate,
to lie sure, but IL was opposed by every
Democratic senator besides Mr.. Voor-
hees, who, doubtless, was induced TO
favor it largely through personal
friendship toward Judge Moody. IL
has been made a party issue. and as
such, judging from the light at hand,
IL is a doomed measure. 1t is not
worth while at this time to argue on
the equities In the case. The argu-
ments are simple and unanswerable.
But the opposition of the many north
Dakotans, and Of number of Demo-
Gratis OF the south, have given pre-
text to the national Democratic party
In Congress assembled to refuse to
strengthen the Republican party by
the admission of "a new Republican
state. The Press sees all this very
clearly, AID sorrowfully and indig-
nantly deprecates that it is true. An
enabling act for the whole territory Is
not wanted and will not be accepted.
Having the welfare of south Dakota
pre-eminently at heart, ThesPress de-
sires to make to Delegate Clifford
suggestion which will, doubtless, re-
ceive cordial second from all loyal
south DakotaEs. IL is this, that with
out an undue loss OF time we have the
Senate bill taken up In the House, and
that he prepare himself TO substitute
bill providing for the division of the
territory, and for that alone. This
will not repudiate our state govern
ment which has already been SO ably
and periodically prepared; but it will
simply hold il in allegiance until some
future time. We want statehood. but
the one great want is division. Hav-
ing received this we can afford to be
patient for year or two longer. The
Democratic party will scarcely dare to
reject such bill. Indeed as COM
promise they will gladly accept it, as
the best way of disposing of what is to
them bad case. At any rate, it will
place them on record, and compel
them to face the American people as
unfaithful servants"
And the Sioux Falls Argus Dem.
takes the following philosophical view
OF the matter: "The bill TO divide our
territory and admit the southern half
to the memorial of the south Dakota
legislature, having passed the Senate,
will now go to the house, where it is
likely to be amended to admit the
whole territory. Those who look for
the bill to pass the House in a hurry
are deceiving themselves. 1t has
taken two months to bring the matter
to vote In the Senate, and the House
has more than four times as many
members, who are quite as much
given to talking and procrastination It
will at the same rate take until next
fall to settle the matter there.
The convincing argument for the for
mer convention was that we would
get $4,000 worth of advertising for
$4,000. and this argument would be
just as strong for the next one. In
deed, it may be doubted II the obstin.
acy of Congress and the publicity IL
gives IN Dakota statistics will not
prove quite a. advantageous to US a.
immediate statehood. There ia sort
of eternal justice running through the
whole contest, and what we lose in
one direction we more than make W
in another. Let US, therefore, keeE
Congress pounding away at Dakot,
tor n few month";. aud the Associated
Press dispatches and the editorial col
umns OF all the newspapers in thu
land will TEEN with facts relative :,
our coming state. We will have nc
such opportunity again, aud 1t Ia tn,
part Of wisdom TO make the most OF IL
Division will come when the advertis
ing season Is over"