St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1888-12-22
A Letter From Martin Ryan,
Chairman of the Democratic
Central Committee,
To Speaker Carlisle. Setting
Forth the Present Situa-
ton in Dakota.
And Why the Democrats Now
Are ALI in Favor Of the
Two States.
Reasons for Democrats TAX
ing the Lead in Pushing
On to Statehood.

Special to the Globe
FARGO, Dec. 21.-That the agitation
for immediate division of the territory
is as warmly advocated by the Demo-
Gratis as by the Republicans will appear
by the following letter. recently adj
dressed to Speaker Carlisle on the sub
ject by Martin Ryan, chairman of the
Democratic territorial committee:
Hon. j. &. Fairchild. Speaker, Wash
ington, ID. C.-Dear Sir: l notice you
are reported in the press dispatches as
expressing doubt as TO whether the peO-
pie of Dakota favor division of the
territory. In common with many others
L had such doubts until the last cam
palgn. happened to be chairman of
the last Democratic territorial coDven-
ton and know something of the circum-
stances under which the plank in our
platform for admission as one state was
adopted. 1t could only be carried by re-
serving the right to the people to divide
afterwards. Even with this compromise
it was only accepted through a desire of
many loyal Democrats not to embarrass
their national party by openly declaring
for a policy which seemed to be antag-
onistic.
The Republicans, both national and
territorial, declared for division. Their
campaign in both North and South Da-
kota was mainly conducted on that is
sue, and Notwithstanding the tariff is
sues, were all in our favor, the Repub-
licanS carried both sections of the terri
tory by about their usual majority. In
deed, the feeling on this question over
shadowed every other consideration.
As chairman of the campaign commit
tee, l had occasion to travel extensively
through the territory during the canvass,
and everywhere found the Republicans
and majority of the Democrats in
favor of division, except in one locality
in the center of the territory, where
they have hopes of securing the capital
in the event of admission as whole.
Even that locality gave large Republi-
can majority on the division issue be-
tween the candidates for delegate to
congress-.
Whatever other considerations may
influence the action of our national
party on this question, l feel convinced
that the sentiment among all parties
here is overwhelmingly in favor of
division and Immediate statehood,
especially so since the last election.
The Republicans admitted ten delegates
from Dakota to their national cOnven-
ton. A Republican senate passed
bill admitting South Dakota, and that
party proclaimed on the stump that
DEMOCRATIC HOUSE
refused to act on it. During the cam
paign down i'll Indiana the Republicans
had float in their parades, on which
young ladies were seated to represent
the several states of the Union. Be-
hind it were two young ladies dressed
in mourning. walking in the mud, to
represent the two Dak0tas. BY such
pantomiming as that the Democratic
party has been placed in the false posi-
ton as appearing to deny Dakota her
rights. In heavens name, let our
party do something while it has the
power, to give our girls a comfortable
seat on the band wagon in the next
procession.
j have a suspicion the Republicans, of
the East at least, are not acting in good
faith in this matter. If they are they
will soon have the power to prove it.
If they are not the Democratic house
can quickly unmask them and square
its record on this question by Immediate
action on the senate bill admitting
South Dakota.
Representatives from the East and
South can have no interest in denying
our people their conceded rights, ex-
cept from motives of maintaining what
may be termed ''the balance of power
between the East and West, or the
North and South. 1t must be obvious
that any effort of one section of the
country to retard the development or
deny the rights of another section will
surely react. A party cannot sustain
itself long on such policy. No section
should feel this more keenly than the
South.
If admission as one state were offered
now | feel quite certain our people
would not accept it. What then is the
use of wasting time on any omnibus
bills so far as Dakota is concerned? A
majority of our party here think that
the present Democratic congress should,
while it has the power, accept the situa-
ton, pass the senate bill for the adnliS
sion of South Dakota. an enabling act
for North Dakota. and thus relieve US
| here of the odium which will otherwise
rest on us for all time, of the charge
that our national party denied Dakota
its constitutional rights. If this action
is taken promptly, however strongly
Republican this territory may appear
at present. we have no fears for the
future on the issues made by our party
| in the last campaign. Yours respect
fully, MARTIN RYAN,
C,o;,p,ap liam Tor Com