St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1888-06-09
DAKOTA IN THE SENATE.

There is no objectionable eXtrava-
gance, at least in the year of the free
dom of the politician in national can
vass, in the statement that Dakota and
other territories in their varied measure
are for the time the footballs of party
needs, or supposed needs. An eXami-
nation of the party status OF the senate
will show why both Republicans and
Democrats are looking with an anxious
eye to the territories asking to be taken
into the Union. The senate now stands,
Republicans thirty-nine, Democrats
thirty-seyen. The terms of thirteen of
each party expire on the 4th of March
next. Several of the new senators have
been elected, and the Democrats have
gained the one from Virginia, electing
BARBOUR in place of RIDDLEBERGER
If they had hope of gaining another in
Oregon it has been disSipated by the
recent election. If each party holds its
ground in the other eleven states the
senate will be tie, with the vice preSi-
dent to hold the casting vote. Only one
of these states is regarded as in doubt.
New jersey has Democrat going out,
and the present legislature Is Republi
can. but does not elect the senator.
That state is regarded as quite certain
to 90 for Mr.. CLEVELAND, and a Demo-
cratic legislature is equally probable.
The political states then assume the
next senate to be equally diyided-and
here is where trouble comes in over the
addition of senators from new states.
II hrIn in
Dakota as two states, without regard to
other territories asking admission,
in order to secure four Republican sena-
tors and insure their control of the sem
ate all through the second term of Presi-
dent CLEVELAND. The Democrats are
willing to admit Dakota as one state.
although it would, as conceded, have
two Republican senators. They find
strong grounds for opposing diviS-
ion, in the fact that one of the proposed
states has voted emphatically against
separation frcm its sister of the south.
This looks fair and reasonable, as it
greatly endangers. if it does not give
away. the chance for the Democrats
to gain the senate. Senators and con-
gressmen are more politicians than
statesmen, and on both sides candor
compels the belief that they look at
party interests a. good deal more
intently than they do at the welfare
and wishes of the people of Da-
kota, or any territory. In this they do
not differ from their predecessors. In
the ante-bellum times the balance of
power between the sections was to be
preserved in the admission of states,
and there was a balancing of one new
state against another. AS the Northern
section was increasing most rapidly,
when Texas came in, there was pro-
vision for five states to draw upon when
needed. Territories have never cut
much figure at Washington, except as
conveniences for parties and the adj
ministration. The rights and needs OF
their people may figure in partisan
speeches, but very little in legislation.
The better course, perhaps the only
satisfactory one for the denizens of the
great territory, seems to be to kick Wig
orously and keep up all the racket posi-
ble-which will, at least, have advertis-
ing value-and seize the first reasonable
chance for statehood.