Press and daily Dakotaian. (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1880-1889, 1888-10-13
THE CASE OF DAKOTA.
1t is Ably Argued From the stand
point of Reason enG j ustiee.

point OF reason &nG u uSttce.
New York Independent: The great
political contest to be fought
out in the next thirty days is OF
supreme Importance TO the people of
Dakota not because of the tariff issue,
though they are deeply concerned in the
maintenance OF the principle OF protec-
ton, but because it means either the
dominance of party pledged to keep
Dakota 10 swaddnng clothes for four
years more, or the dominance Of party
which will admit two powerful statee
into the union, where they belong by
birth. age and suitable preparation.
/. Dakota is qualified to enter the
union as two states, by reason OF popu-
lation. A line drawn through the terri
tory east and west, along the forty-sixth
parallel of latitude, would make two
states almost equal In area, each of them
larger thaa Missouri; the southern state
with an actual population of 800 900,
the northern with q population Of 900, =
Gu. These people are qualified to goY-
ern themselves as states, by reason of
their Intelligence. There is less glitter
aey In Dakota than IN any New England
state. Dakota spent 500 900 more in
1887 for public schools than did Oon-
nectlc1t, The northern and southern
prospective states are already furnished
each with state university, agricultural
college, normal schools, and institutions
for the care OF the insane and the deaf
and dumb. There are as mapy news
papers in Dakota as in Maine, Connecti-
cut and Rhode Island combined. There
are nearly 200 Congregational churches,
as many Presbyterian, and an equal
| number of Methodist churches, and
other denominations swell the total of
600 churches in that territory. Surely
such people of schools and churches
are able to govern themselves. They
ought to be admitted to the union be-
| cause OF their commercial Importance
One seventh OF the entire wheat crop OF
| the United States is raised in Dakota
| Twenty states, including New York,
yield less corn shRn Dakota. Silver and
gold worth $33,T70.000 have been dug
out OF her mines; 100000 worth OF
live stock are fattened upon her native
grasses; 200 miles OF railroad track
traverse her prsirles. New York City
and Boston were both hundred years
old before they had as large popula-
tien as either Fargo, in north Dakota, OF
Sioux Falls, IN south Dakota.
| 2. But this population has been
gathered. this intelligence diffused, this
valuable property accumulated, in spite
of system OF government more despotic
than that against which the colonies re-
bellea. The governor is appointed
without regard to the wishes of the peo-
pie, by the president at Washington
The judiciary is appointed end assigned
in the same arbitrary manner. The leg.
| islature is left for the people to appoint
but ia often shaped and moulded by the
| governor to do his Will, because OF The
immense patronage OF his Office. To-day
in Dakota, the governor can dismiss
every officer IN every public institution
from the peniteptisry TO the normal
school, and put his own friends In thes,
important places, end in some instances
has done this very thing, while tine peo
pie are taxed to support them. In ma
tional afairs this imperial realm has on
representative in the lower house who i
allowed to speak on territorial matter
but not vote on any matter; 80 that, ii
fact. Dakota has as much to say abou
! the great national policies that AFFECT he
equally with other states as has tn
kingdom OF Portugal.
This territorial system deprlves Dako
to of the use of her millions OF acres o
school lands which cannot be used befor,
statehood, thus crushing her down will
the weight of school taxes. This terri
itorlsl system prevents the investment Q
much capital that would otherwise ente
this region, as capital Is timeroue, ant
will not 30 readily go where there is q
yet no permanent government. As
result rates of interest are enormous, an,
If free trade diminishes wages east
! territorial government keeps the Dakot
farmer slave TO the money lender.
At enormous cost and sacrifice tn
pioneers of this goodly land haYe mad
it what it is, and they have right to de
! mand that the American people Civ
: them the privilege of self goyernmen
and statehood. They have asked for sn
have been ready for it these ak year,
. and by large majority year ago vote
that they desireddi and immediat
admission. The demoeratio party, wit
its hand ct the throat of Dakota, says
shall not thus be admitted. The proki
bition party has not even heard the or,
, or ha5 paid no attention when it di
hear, though its platform embodies mu nc
sympathy for the wrongs of far ava
people. The republican party alone hf
thought OF Dakota and chsmpioned j
J. cause through it alone can Dakota hop
f. for liberty. Therefore its people, asiG
from the democratic garrison of Office
holders and office-seekers are republ
cans.