Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-04-20
DAKOTA DISCUSSION.
SPIRITED SENATORIAL DEBATE ON THE
ADMISSION BILL.
The South Defended by Senators Butler
Vest, and others-rhe Talk Takes
Wide Range.


SM2d votes IN the southern States u,itl
the vote OF Dakota, aud said that ver,
few OF them had cast as many votes 81
any election within the last five wears a,
the Territory OF Dakota had cast IN lS96
lie contrastcd the tables of taxation
with the state OF Alabama to show tba,
the assessed value Of guns, pistols ana
dirkS were four times greater than tint
OF farming tools and agricultural imple
ments ana yet the Senator from Mis-
Souu did not object TO the representa-
hvcS Of Alabama in the Senate or House
OF Representatives, but was willing "a
meet them on the plane of equality.
Mr.. Allison said he agreed with the
senator from Missouri (NesD that the
question was political ono. It was a
pohucal and party question. The atti-
tude of the Democratic party in both
houses on this subject was an attitude
OF non-action. It's policy had been
clearly shown in Mr. Spinger's letter
read at the Aberdeen Convention. lie
believed South Dakota should now Toe
admitted as a State. and that North Da-
kota should also Ire now admitted. and
lie should be glad TO vote at tins session
Tor the admission of North Dakota.
Mr. Vest asked him il he would vote
now for a hill admitting to Statehood
the whole Territory. He Vest would.
Mr. Allison replied by asking MIR.
Vest and Mr.. Butler if the Democratic
party, as political organization. would
vote to-day for the admission of tho
state of Dakota As a whole.
Mr.. Vests response was that as mat
ter of course neither he nor Mr.. Butler
could speak for the Democratic party.
But he would SAY that with his Demo
cratic colleagues there was not one of
them who would not vote for the admis-
sion of the State Of Dakota as a whole at
any time.
Mr.. Allison suggested that political
parties were TO be judged by their gene
raj action not 10y individual statements.
and the action of tine Democratic party
as represented on the Senate Committee
ON Territories, AS well as the action Of
the House Committee. showed its policy
ON tins subject. The former had pro
posed substitute III the way of n
enabling act. and the latter had reported
an omnibus bill. This. IL LIS Judgment.
was political legerdemain. The idea was
o. tampcr with the question until the
presidential election OF lSSS shall have
passed and # the political cXigencies Of
tie future required It the Democratic
party would continue to play the same
game.
Nh. Allison sad be would not have
..-s n "a
mo-, that he desired 20 represent the
importance Of admitting South Dakota
ss state and North Dakota as well ;
and he wonld Join hands with the sena-
toys for the admission of Montana. Tho
question was one Of the most important
that could come mp for consideration,
because n related TO the exclusion of
600, OJl or 700, 900 people from participa-
tioa IN the affairs of the republic. That
was an unjust exclusion and should not
be tolerated moment longer than alb
soiutely necessary.
Mr.. Butler congratulated the Senate
that the discussion had got back TO the
real issue and be thanked the Sepator
from Iowa MIR. Allison) for having dis
cussed the question from the standpoint
Of d patriot aud statesman. He declared
that the Democratic senators were pre-
pared now and would he prepared in the
future 10 admit Dakota into the Union Of
States.
Mr. Plumb asked whether he would
also be willing TO incorporate IN the act
oi admission the same condition as IN
the State Of Texas authorizing new
States TO BIO formed out Of Dakota from
time 20 time.
Mr.. Butler: "Periectly, sir, perfectly ;
and have said over and over again that
the best solution Of this question was to
admit the Territory Of Dakota as whole
and leave the people free (after II became
ii State to determine thequestlon of geo
graphical area.
Mn Plumb: Are you willing to adj
nit Dakota with an enabling act
Nir Butler " NO. sir.
Ar Plumb: "Ihat Is that you will
vote 10 admit Dakota at some future
time
Mr. Butler: admit it as fast as can
be done according tothc prescribed con-
sututonal forms
Mr. Butter went on to say that he OPP
posed the so-calied South Dakota move
lnent because. III his judgment, it was a
political trick to get supremacy IN the
senate. Referring 70 Mr.. SpoOner's
quotation the other day from the speech
tv Lincoln that ono party could fool
all the people all the time, he said that
Ia this instance the Republican party
could not fool the youngest page on the
floor The thing was 30 transparent
hlmsy, fragrant IN Its pretenslons. that
even blind man could see It, For HIM
self p. never would consent 10 any party
g. ting by unemployment an unfair adj
vantage In a BODY where that partys
supremacy was rapidly waning. lie re-
terred o. the charges and asperhons
made hv senators against the southern
States 81. a descent into the very Quag-
u.r- and SHINE OF township politics
ald warl-meeting controversies. ' If
This. be said, were an occasion
O.. geo into ancient history he
could erect in those southern States
shameful parodies on the government
tat lad once been SGT up there. de-
LAUGHING the high places Of the stare
d.ag.ug into the very atmosphere tie
stencil of corruption and those govern
went. had been set up and sustained 10y
senators who were now denOuncing the
southern States. IL he could re-erect
those ds2raceml Republican govern
mcnts iu tie South, and could ask the
country % look on this picture and
then on that instead of seeing
Sal the evils and damnable heresies
Spo4on ~ by senators, they wonld want
peace and quiet and progress and deVo,
ton ~ iHe Institutional government ana
union OF i.s country. II he were TO
proceed 90 slow this the senators who
Aad spoken against the south would be
utterly c9rn,d and driven out 10y the
intelligent people, and would hang their
beads ia Shame for provoking the con-
tc;
referring 10 Mr.. Spooners statement
TIE other day that slavery received IT'S
oeaih-sryGC with the first gun fired at
For sumter. he said thst fact was 80
t1si the sound Of that gun bad rolled
and swei.ed ia magnitude and volume
until II sounded around the world. lie
fBUtlCrI rfioicgd in II but instead OF