New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1888-02-01
DAKOTA NEWS ITEMS,
DAKOTA STATEHOOD.
me Bill TO Admit the Southern Half
and for Lincoln Territory Report
ed TO the Senate,

washington, Special Telegram, Jan. 90
senator Platt reported to the senate the
substitute for the Henderson bill adoDted
by the committee, which provides for the
admission OF South Dakota as a state and
6he organization of the territory OF Lin
coin He reprints entire Senator Harri-
: son report on the bill last session, and in
addition appenis lengthy advocacy of
the present bill. Alter recapitulating the
action OF Dakota looking to statehood as
set forth in the report of the com mittee
on territories OF the Forty-ninth congress.
the committee says:
since the adoption OF the report of the
committee and the passage OF the bill ad-
uniting the people OF the southern half TO
The privileges OF statehood nothing has
taken place in the opinion OF the commit.
tee which lustifies the reversal OF the ac-
ClOn OF the senate in res pect to the divis-
ION OF the territory and the admission in
70 the mon OF new state, with s1bstan-
italy the same boundaries as those pre-
8crlDed by the senate in the bill which is
approved. Indeed, the reason for the di-
vision Of the territory and the formation
thereirom OF two states rather
than the admission OF the whole as a
single state, becomes convincing and pat.
emit as the Justifiabe delay OF congress in
recognizing the rights OF Dakota Territory
Tor seIl-gOVerIlment continues. The people
OF North Dakota and South Dakota in the
interval since the former action OF the SEN
ate, nave becOmc,lf possible, N ore complete
ly two political units, until to-day they
are as distinct iii interests, character, as
sOClAtIOns and institutions as are the peo-
pie OF any two states. In everything ex-
Cept the compulsory union in territory,
North Dakota and South Dako-
ia are as separate political com.
munltles as MASSACHUSETTS, and Connecti-
cut. 70 insist upon their admission as
one state is as repugnant to the sense OF
justice and national propriety as would be
the enforced union OF the states named.
That this is absolutely true is shown by
the fact that the institutions usually found
in states have been duplicated in southern
and northern Dakota by the action OF the
territ Orial legislature
The report recapitulates the institutions
which have been located by the legislatu
with an even division between the two Sec
tiOns, the acts for their est ishment pro-
viding that if the territory should ever be
divided the portion in which each institu-
ton lies is to assume the Indebtedness
incurred i'll it's erection. The report con-
tinues:
A MATTER OF NAMES.
The completeness OF this political divis-
ion is still further shown by the TACT that
the names OF North Dakota and South
tiOnH OF the territory have the names
OF South Carolina and North Caro-
lima to those states. To admit
North Dakota and South Dakota as
states would add to their distinctive char
acter. To admit them as one state would
be to attempt to unite two people, hetero-
geneous in interests, associa tions, char
acteristics and aspirations. II the welfare
the harmony and the good OF the people OF
no to hoc +l,n
ment in favor OF two states instead OF one
state seems overwhelming and conclusive.
II the result OF the vote in the terri
tory seems to Indicate less unan-
imOUs sentiment in favor of division
than has been supposed to exist, the rea-
sons for it are quite obvious. The name
OF Dakota is dear to the people OF North
as OF south Dakota. The residents OF the
northern section Justly claim to have given
that name to one Of the principal produc-
lions OF the territory and to have made
'Dakota wheat" famous throughout the
world. There is merit in the claim that
they are as much entitled to the name Da-
lotn as the residents in the southern part
OF che territory and as division seemed to
imply loss. OF the cherished name many
were induced to vote against division.
However, the controlling factor
in determining whether Oak ota should be
admitted as one state or as two states
must always be the national interest and
welfare. And it seems to your committee
that states OF immense area OF great
wealth and power, and with population
which ent;tle them to abnormallv large
repres entatiOns In the house ofrepresenta-
tives are elements OF national weakness
rather than national strength, and may in
future prove a danger to the republic.
Every consideration, national as we'll as
local seems to point to the wisdom, pro-
priety and necessity OF division, and the
ultimate creation OF two states out OF the
present Territory OF Dakota.
A minority report will be presented.