The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1888-12-21
WHAT cox SAYS.
Good Republican Doctrine From
Democratic Source.

New Mexico brought in, and wants it
a good deal more than New Mexico
does. Nobody from New Mexico has
asked for statehood. Nobody but
Springer, of Springer, N. NJ. But not
withstanding the queer leadership
which has been affecting the demo-
cratic party we made some progress in
the caucus last night. l talked pretty
plain to them. The caucus met deter
mined to stick to the omnibus idea of
bringing in the southwestern territor-
les. 1t appears there are always plen-
ty of democrats willing to butt their
heads against a stone wall. The re-
publicans of the west want congress to
divide Dakota, admit Washington and
Montana and probably New Mexico,
too. That much is fixed. 1t is as sure
as fate. 1t is utter faulty in demo-
Gratis to shut our eyes to the fact.
Shutting our eyes would not prevent
it. The question is simply If we dem
ocrats have sense enough to feel the
inevitable. Now we have chance.to
spike one of the republican guns. 1
asked the caucus last night if we were
equal to the occasion. 1 told them if
we stand by Springer's omnibus bill,
which is sure to fail in the senate, and
which we know must fail, we not only
shall have no credit but add to the dis
credit which already exists. What hope
is there of getting democratic statesb by
sticking to the omnibus bill? In our
last caucus some clouds gathered over
the question whether Washington was
democratic? The election showed
there was lightning in that cloud, for
our friends over there were defeated
by 7,cGo majority, There is q republi-
can majority of 25 in the legislature.
In Montana the recent election has
given the democrats to understand
that they are relying on a future re-
publican congress for admission. She
elected republican delegate by 5000
majority and a republican legislature.
"Now, as to Dakota. That territory
fills me with amazement. 1t is one of
the maryels of the world. Her area is
monstrous for one state. In length
she is as far as from Memphis to Chi
cago and in breadth nearly as far as
from New York to Raleigh. But it is
not in the size of her state, geographi-
cally, but in her teeming condition at
present and her possibilities in the fu-
ture that beyond all the marvels of
progressive human growth, within fix
ed boundaries, she has been most mir
aculous. Her soil, her productions, es-
pecially in wheat, of which she has
grown one-seventh of all the wheat in
the United States, the character OF her
population, the exactions made upon
her people for interest on their loans,
the relation which her legislation has
borneto the people, having been all
in reference to a division north and
south, especially her population as to
numbers, justify the admission of two
states and no excuse can be offered
why it should not be done without de
lay.
No one will contend that the people
of Dakota are not in favor of division
All the sentiment there ever was IL
Dakota against division was based or
the fear that to ask for the two states
was to fail with both. The recent cleo
tion in Dakota shows us what the peo
= pie of the territory think of the demo
cratic territorial policy. They give
= republican majority of 10000 in a to
:; tai vote Of 114,00O. Springer knows a
= well as do that Dakota wants diyis
y ion now that the republicans hav
won the next congress, and he is act
ing on this knowledge when he ask
to resubmit the matter of division to
: vote Of the people. 1t is settled be
. yond doubt that at this time not on
IN 1000 is left in Dakota who does no
favor division. 1t is not merely mat
- ter of statehood, OF home rule, OF reE
Il resentation in state legislature Whic
would care for local interests, buv it
a matter that concerns public hbert.
% Why can't democrats have som
- sense? Since it is absolutely assure
~ that the senate Will not accept al
IL house bill for Dakota as a whole, e.
80 pecially when it is tackled on to a bi
as to other territories, there are col
siderations, party and patriotic, lool
~ ~ ing to the present or to democrat
ID congress in 1890 and democrat
u president in 1892, which demand {
this congress that we shall do all th;
we can to rescue the state and impre
u upon the people OF the northwest IL
=" sympathy and support which the d
mocracy gives to these people stru
Cling to be free from a federal domln
. tion. II it be a matter of populatie
,o ~ there are 100000 people of that teri
~ II, tory, and 114OOO voters are not to
- despised in considering our party i
- - ture. Their influence is not limited
- their frontier. Judge Macdonald to
~ us in the caucus last night that tt
~ democrats had lost their three membe
va of congress in Minnesota on accou
in of the sympathy of the people OF tn
~, state-a sympathy of sentiment,
-, - commercial relations-with the pc
VI VI nile of Dakota on this question. Ia
,d M three republicans from the next hou