Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1888-07-28
HARRISON TALks OF DAKOTA


Y
Izeus-His Remarks.
INDIANAPuIIs. Ind. July 2S-Ihe visit
ing delegation yesterday to greet Gen. Hsr
rlson came from Warsaw ana other towns in
kosciusko county, where the majority Is
largely Republican. 1t was delegation
representative Of the farming class and those
engaged in the mall industries which abound
in that section of the state. The excursion
was delayed en- route and did not get here
until late in the afternoon. A procession Of
the eXcurSIonsts, numbering abUut 1000
marched 10 University park, where, after
speech Of introduction by J. G. Briggs
Gen Harrison addressed the visit
Ors He referred first to state
Cerrymauicrs for partisan advantage.
and strongly disapproved of them as meas
ures that deprived many electors of their
proportinnate influence in affairs of state
government and also tended to decrease the
public respect for law. He then made the
application of this preliminary by referring
To Dakota. He SAID the population of that
territory was made up of the very elect Of our
citizens, among whom were many veterans,
and proceeded as follows:
When the territory Of Indiana took the census
which was the bass of its petition for admission
10 the union, we had less than 6Ipn people Wa
had only thirteen organized counties In the ter
rItory of South Dsko,a there are near a half mil
lion people For wears they have been knocking
for admission To the siSterhood OF states They
possessed of all the elements Of an organized
and stahle community II has more people more
miles of railroad more poStoffces, more churches
more banks. more wealth, than any territory
| ever possessed when it was admitted to the
union; 1t SURPRISES some Of the states in some of
| these particulars. Four years ago when pres
dent to be chosen the committee on terri
tories in the senate. 10 meet the objection Of our
| Democratic friends that the admission Of Dakota
| would add a disturbing element to the electoral
| college provided in the Dakota bill that lis or
| ganization should he postponed until after the
| election. Nov four years more have rolled
| around and our people are called again TO take
| part in presidential election and the intelligent
| and patriotic Dakota people are again TO be de
| prived of any participation.
| ask you why this IS sos Is not the answer oh
viousg lCrieS of Yes Il They are DISTINGUISHED
and deprived of their appropriate influence in the
| electoral college only because the prevailing sen
| timent in the territory is Republican. ICries Of
| That's right" That's the reason. II The case
| of Washington territory is more recent but not
more fragrant If we appropriately express sym
pathy with the cause of Irish home rule shall we
! not also demand home rule for Dakota and Wash
| ington. and insist that their disfranchisemeut
shall not be proloneedf lApplausel There is a
sense Of justice of fairness that will assert itself
| against these attempts TO coin party advantage
ont of public wrong The day when men can be
disfranchiSed or shom Of their political power for
opinions sake must have an end in our country.
| Cheers
The usual handshaking followed the close
of the speech, and the visitors after that spent
the time as pleased them best.