Devils Lake inter-ocean. (Devils Lake, Ramsey Co., Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1905, 1888-05-26
TiMElY NEDolNo.

TIMELY HEDGING.
Until the initials &c. a. p" disap.
psared from the Dakota edition" o.
the Pionser Press. the rsaders Of that
sheet were treated to an exhibition Of
one Of the most successful attempts a
straddling. an issue ever witnessed in
the territory. One week the edition
would favor division and the next week
would bring the most fulsome praise
for the leaders of the Democratic pro.
position to keep Dakota out Of the
Union at all hazards. Republicans Of
Dakota had 4 rightfto expect some thing
different from the territorial appendage
to the Minnesota daily, just as the Re-
publicans of Minnesota had reason to
expect something different on the ques-
ton of the tariff from the daily itself.
Upon the tariff and the Dakota ques.
tions, respectively, both the daily and the
edition" respectively are now passing
through the interesting process Of hedg-
ing which naturally forces itself upon
all weakened Journalists who blindly
follow of new gods aud are suddenly
awakened to a realizing sense Of public
duty and party obligation by the trum-
pet tones Of the people.
The change of front on the part Of
the edition" is the most pronounced.
With the disappearance ofthe "a. A. p"
initials, there were signs Of immediate
return to reason. These signs grew
stronger until now we find the edition"
actually chastising the Bismarck and
other nullifcationists for the part they
have taken in the so-callsd one state
movement; but it is much like satan
rebuking sin. The conversion of the
'edition" is so complete and the re-
buxe to the nulli6cationists go we'll meri-
ted that we herewith give space to an
extract:
Some Of the patriots doubt the good
faith of the Bismarck Republicans in
accepting. at this time, the two.state
idea. They think the election of leg
islature this fall, has something to do
with it. They forget that true states.
manship consists in finding the line Of
safe change, aud the Bismarck boys
nave just found the line. they are
ully CONVINCED tina, tho Republican
.,arty is committed, probably irr"vnc,
ably, to- two states. lhu D%eWovratc
party Is oppVsedsto two stittes. There
is no other alternative than to choose
between these two positions. Ii they
have been in doubt, heretofore, they
can see that it is Republican or
Democratic, pure and simple. a safe
change can be effected, and the position
Of the party in congress and IN the
coming CANVASS is enough to excuse the
change. Once committed, the. Missouri
slope Republicans cannot retreat. 1t is
immaterial what the cause is. They
cannot escape from the two.state plat.
form after they mount it. They must
work with tina Republicans of the
whole territory, and the Republicans of
the territory wust work with the Re-
publicans of the country at large. Any
other %doctorlne, active or tacit, is fatal
to their standing.
How much better for the Republic
can cause of division if these words had
been uttered o year agol How much
better for the Republican cause itself il
the "edition" and its qualification
friends at Bismarck had not become
contaminated with the Democratic ides
as expressed in the Springer letter read
at Aberdeen. Is it at all surprising
that the men who are ever ready to co
quette with issues Of easy political vir
tue should have been buried beneath
the genuine Republicanism that pre-
dominated ut jamestown? en-.
"True craftsmanship" does not co n
sist in "finding the line Of safe change
1t consists in the purpose and determl
nation Of all good Republicans to be
right instead of forsaking the principles
of the partyto appease a selfish desire
for temporary benefits.
.