Press and daily Dakotaian. (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1880-1889, 1888-02-25
"
THE DAKOTA QUESTION.
Republican ana Democratic Ideas-It
has RecoRac National Assce,

Republican ana Democratic Ideas-It
has RecoRae National Assce,
Chicago Inter-0cean, 23d: The
Dakota admission question fur
nlshes striking illustration of the diff
ference between the democratic and the
republican idea. The democratic major
ity of Congressman Springer's commit
tee on territories have submitted re-
port which is in direct opposition to the
oft repeated and well understood views
of Dakota and the overwhelming
majority OF the people OF the country |;
the republican minority make report
in entire harmony with public sentiment
in Dakota and the states.
The congressional committee on terri-
tories numbers fourteen members,
Congressman Springer, OF Illinois, is
chairman. The members are nine demo-.
crats and five republicans. Eight OF the
nine democrats sre active men, the ninth
is active enough, but being delegate
in congress Qrom New Mex1col
he has no vote in the house
but counts one on the committee. The
political complexion OF She committee is
mentioned in order that there may be no
misunderstanding among the people in
regard TO the report made by Chairman
Springer's majority OF his committee"
against the division and admission of
the territory of Dakota. The republican
minority are Congressman StrubIe, of
Iowa, Barker of New York, Synes Of
Colorado, Dorsey of Nebraska, and
Warner OF Missouri. Five OF the nine
democratic members are from she south,
The position takes by the republican
members OF Congressman Springer's
committee on territories in regard to she
division and admission OF Dakota is the
only tensble one. 1t lie right and Just fair
and reasonable. Uakota'H cage is now
before the people. Ii has assumed the
form and character of o national issue, !,
There is no more evading it than there
was the Kansas Nebraska question
or the annexation OF Texas. The
country will be satisfied With no
evasion, and this great ques-
tion must be met direct without auihbie
or quirk. The eight other democrats
on the committee my be gathered in by
Congressman Springer to be for his re-
port. which they have signed, but the
vote finally in the house must make O
show OF hands that can not fail to be
profitable reading for the people OF the
entire United States.
| Nothing is asked for south Dakota
| which has not all along been petitioned
for. Congress and the people are fami-
liar with the case in ell its bearings.
The discussion is confined to north
Dakota. Its claims are urged on con.
gress by united and prosperous peo-
pie. irrespective OF party. Its area will
be "a 900 square miles, which is exceed.
/ ed by only eight OF the thirfy-eighi
states. 1t is no gigantic guess to state
that the population is above that OF
of the most consistently democrs.
4 tic states in tho union. The
federal census OF 1885 showed there
were 152 900 permanent settlers in thcss
counties in the northern part OF the ter.
ritory which it is proposed TO set off OF
the north state. There are now moi
fewer than Sz5 900 persons residing
there. No etate now in the union eve
had such o population upon its admis
sion. Ali the public institutions arr
located in the territory with view tc
adhesion after division. Each part
the south and the north, is an entity
complets, distinct, and has for yeari
been building up with division in yieq
as certain as the progress of time.
This is no time for cunning congres
! sional work. The people want the di.
vision and admission question fairly an.
fully discussed, They desire TO hesr th
objections to BIB raised against it. The,
arc waiting for somHthing more truthful
fair ssatesman-iikes and logical thal