Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1889-01-23
Dakota A. Two states.

From the Chicago Times.
The effort of = territory to come into
the union with four United States sena-
tors is such an Effort as could only be
made 10 the name of political party
whose creed begins and ends: THE land
belongs TO the saints. We are the
saints"
In three great anvasses-1SS4, 1886.
1SS8-the national republicans have
worked the Dakota business 1t began
with the Sioux Falls convention of 1888.
which demanded the admission of the
southern half OF the territory with the
undiminished name of Dakota, leaving
congress TO provide u territorial form of
government and Il name for the northern
half. That proposition not being enter
tanned at Washington. the popular cry
went forth in the campaign of 1884 that
the democrats were keeping Dakota out
OF the union" Tie then Senator Harri
son, OF Indiana, was among the vigorous
ones to set it forth to the people that the
democrats were keeping Dakota out of
the union" Two ex-federal officials of
the United Ststes-Moody and Edgerton
appeared at Washington as titular sen
ators Of Dakota. According the prlvi-
leges of the floor by the United States
senate. they proceeded TO warm then-
selves on the senate sofas and 10 cool
their heels elsewhere In due time MOODY
and Edgerton tired of their job and re-
turned to the bosom of their constituents
The game OF Dakota for the southern
half of Dakota had not worked, and was
not apparently destined TO work.
Then convention was held ut Huron.
pretending to claim less but really claim
ing more. 1t dropped the whole of the
title of Dakota and would be content
that the name be divided between South
Dakota and North Dakota Upon this
modest pretense division and admis
sion was demanded ut once, and state
government for South Dakota was set up
under Gov. Melette, which for a time
threatened TO declare war upon the Unit
ed States. That war did not eventuate,
but still 1t was urged by every republican
orator tina: the democrats were keeping
Dakota out of the union"
That portion of Dakota which most
vigorously proclaims itself as being kept
out of the union South Dakota) is now
apparently the least populous. prosper
Gus. or progressive half of the territory
The north Dakotisns-they of Fargo, and
Grand Forks. aud Bismarck-are not
overwhelming in favor of division, but
are in favor of admission. Therefore the
remaining powder in the south Dakota
magazine must be used for all it is worth,
and is being used in final attempt to
keep up 4 show. The south Dakotians s,
who once claimed all, now only claim
precedent over north Dakota. The north
Dakotians, who were once TO re relegated
to the selection of some other name for
their puts'ive territory or state, are now
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS to CLAIM everything ;
The territorial bills will certainly fail at
this session of congress, and will DE
thorn in the side of the first congress to
assemble under President Harrison. The
two Dakotas have already become one
too many.
II is doubtless true that Vermont with
$50, 900 population. heartily seconds the
idea of four United States senators for
two states of Dakota, but that New York
with 5000, 900 and Pennsylvania with
4 100000 and Illinois with 500 900
should agree to such liberal spread of
senatorial honors is surprising strange
Neither the territorial area nor the popu>
lation nor the promise of population can
warrant the South Dakota claim for
division and admission" If its counter
part claim should be set up by the Pan
handle Of TeXas-the state of Farwell,
for instance-such a cry of pain would
be raised as would shake all the republi.
can presses and pulpits in the land from
Bangor to Yankton. and virtuous repu0-
lican senators would hasten to assure the
country that such division of Texas
must not be entertained.
And yet Texas is believed to have the
inherent right to create four additional
states within Itself by its treaty of annex
alton. The Texas politician, however,
who should seriously propose to divide
that great state would most likely be
killed on the spot and buried without a
monument.