Emmons County record. [volume] (Williamsport, D.T. [i.e. N.D.]) 1884-current, 1888-06-01

Ir would require the possession of re-
markable hlndslght and foresight to keep
track Of the movements Of some NORTH
Dakota politicians aud newspapers as
they skip back aud forth between the iii.
vision and one-state propositions. MOI
long ago an election was held on this
question in Dakota, and, while the voters
both north and south paid little attention
to the matter, north of the forty-sixtll
parallel there was majority of ten
thousand against division. The Bis
marck Tribune up to recent date had
either openly opposed or ridiculed the
idea Of division, and in this we believe it
truly represented the views held by nine
tenths of the voters of the Missouri Slope.
But recently that paper has Topped over
to division, ard one would think from
reading its editorials on the subject tina,
they were always Guilt that way" We
are not among those who believe that IN
opinion once formed and expressed sheu Id
never be amended, even under the influ
ence of new light; but the Tribune has
not had enough regard for consistency
and the intelligence of Its readers to
make public the source from which this
new light is beaming. The Tribune is a
prominent journal of North Dakota. II
aspires 10 be a principal factor in mold
ing public opinlon and leading it. But
how can 1t hope TO retain the respect
and confidence of the public without even
giving explanation OF excuse for its radi-
cal changes Of base--for its 'tlops?" AT
the jamestown convention, too, the North
Dakota leaders rushed like sheep to SUP:
port the program of the southern politi,
Clans who wish 10 carve this magnificent
territory in spite of the wishes of the peS.
pie There has been no new argument
advanced--nothing to show that it is now
more desirable to divide than it was d
few months ago. But the southern poll.
ticians were in the majority at James.
town, and no northman consistent enough
to raise bis voice in favor of one great
state could have the privilege of going ID
Chicago as a delegate or alternate. Print
ciple gave way before the feshopots, and
the northern statesmen who had hith,-
erto been pronounced one-statc men were
silent. But the most inconsistent action
has been that of the Bismarck Tribune.
The editor of that paper is fully aware
that IN this division matter he misrcpre.
sents public sentiment not only in Bur
leigh county, but of the whole Missouri
Slope. The people of Emmons county
are governed by the same feelings and
have interests identical with the hard.
working farmers of sister counties of the
Slope. There were nearly three hundred
votes cast here in '86; yet, last fall, onIv
seven men could be found who believed
that tbs Empire Territory should be reg1
in twain simply to make more holes fSr
office. seeking pegs. Careful inquiry
among citizens of this county fallsi to
show any change of sentiment Our peo-
pie are united in opposition to division,
and 1t is not strange that they view with
Indignation mingled with contempt the
efforts of the Tribune to stultify itself and
the people of the Slope. SO strong IS the
feeling in this county against division
that we have heard several good Repub
llcans assert that every effort should bc
made to elect out-and-out free.and-
above board anti ti-division members of the
legislature in the Twenty third district.
We are wiling to admit that certain
amount of political policy is good
thing--it it rs policy But we would call
the attention of the Tribune to the fact
that a grain of political honesty now
and then is also good thing. and that
the cloven foot exposed to view by its
latest handspring is visible all the way to
Yankton.