Press and daily Dakotaian. (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1880-1889, 1886-06-18

u. N. Gross,
- -
The st. Paul Pioneer Press, IN an
elaborate editorial endorsement of the
position assumed by judge Edgerton
relative to Dakota's admission, admits
our unqusstioned right to statehood
under the constitution and the laws and
chsrges revolution upon the congress
sionai majority which denies us our
rights. Discussing this branch of the
snbiect the Pioneer Press says;
So astounding in its barefaced denial
| of the first rights OF frsemen has been
the action of tie house of representa-
tivea, that We, who are not wont to sit
patiently submissive under tryauny, turn
naturally TO resistance. On theSne hand,
the ordinance of 1887 points clearly to
the right to admission as one that cannot
be denied the people. To admit, when
the requisites of statehood are present,
is obligatory on congress. And what is
there said of the northwest territory is
applicable, by implication, to all terri
| tories within the United States. On the
other hand, it may be said that this
ordinance does not apply directly in
terms to Dakota, and that the absolute
will OF congress is har supreme and only
law. 1t is certainly true that the setting
up of an active state government, evith-
| out an enabling act for admission, would
be revolutionary in character. 1t is alse
true that the course pursued by the
democrats in congress- is revolutionary,
as applied to our institutions. 1t is as
clearly an outrageous and tyrannous
abuse of power as if democratic major
lty in congress should vote to exclude
the whole Minnesota delegation, no
question being raised as to their quail
| hcations or election, simply because all
of them are republican in politics. Fer
whatever Dakota might do, congress has
furnished a precedent and an apology.
And there is no more fundamental poll
teal right in an American common
wealth than that of government.
In the face of these declarations the
Pioneer Press next proceeds to counsel
submission to the will of what it terms q
revolutionary body and promises that
the republican party will 60 to the
country upon the issue and right the
wrong OF tho ballot box. This ia cool,
conservative advice, but it is not forgot.
ten that it comes-not from the sufferer
but from one in the full possession OF
constitutional rights and privileges. 1t
ia an easy duty for an outsider
to counsel conservatism among
q peopie snsrting under wrongs long
endured and made more unendurabls by
this cold rejection of their we'll establish
ed claims through the dictum Of partisan
expectancy.
We have gone so far into this sxpsrl.
encs that we.have learned to doubt the
| ability or the willingness of the repub.
| lican party to mete out justice either at
| the ballot box or in the halls of congress-
| We have seen q republican congress re-
iect our petitions with as much cold
| blooded nonchalance as has been more
recently exhibited by the democratic
house. We have tried upon both political
parties the effect Of fair end Just pre-
sentation of our case and from each
have received the same soornful rebuke
At the end Of these several attempts and
several failures Dakota ID asked to
still possess herself in patience and &c
70 the country for vindicatiop, trust
ing to the valor of its champions in the
states to- break the lance of oppositier
and to crown a long suffering but finally
victorious people with the chaplet OF
triumph. Dakota may possess th.
humility of hope to back yet while in
the sunlight of promises often broken
and it may again partake Of the apple
of Sodom and again crawl upon its bell,
and fill tho air with maledictions upol
its own stupidity. 1t may do this ono
more, but it will not achieve any self 70
speot when tie hour Of humilatio,
once more danns upon its blasted ex
psctations.
The Pioneer Press advises us not t.
follow the plan which it comedies to b
right, arguing that it 1s impolitit
Having SO long experimental with th
politic expedient variation from th
stereotyped conrss would at least poases
, the charm of novslty, while holding on
the certainty of success. 1t is time tha
thers was something new under the su
out here in Dakota.