Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1892-04-15
Gsrrymandsring Doe. Not Pay.

preme court, by which the Democratic
gcrrvmander of the Senate and Assem-
bly, districts in that state has been de-
clared unconstitutional and therefore
void, contains q lesson for the sharp
take by doubtful expedients and the
prostitution of power Temporarily
placed in their hands to fortify them
selves in permanent positions. The
Wisconsin Democrats thought, of course,
that they were making themselves i'm
pregnable when they cut up the state
into Senate and Assembly districts SO
arranged as to give them control of the
legislature thereafter. So utterly re-
gardless were they of the principles of
justice and right, and even of ordinary
common sense, that they OVERRIDE the
constitution, paying no heed to county
or town lines or any other consideration
except that of 30 carving up the state as
to make their own party supremacy se-
cure. They overdid it. The decision
OF the supreme court, consisting of
three Democrats and two Republicans,
has defeated their cunning scheme and
brought all their smartness to naught.
It 10 settled that though q political party
coming suddenly into control and de-
sirous above all things to make Its pos
session of power permanent may do
pretty much anything it pleases to in
trench and fortify itself, it must have
At least some slight regard for the
limitations and requirements Of the
organic act.
1t is not pretended that Democrats
are alone in the disposition to make an
unfair use of power in this way. 1t is
doubtless the selfish instinct Of all par
ties to reach out for such advantages
when opportunities occur. But expert
enc certainly proves this, that no party
ever exhibited such indecent precipi-
fancy, such ov%erpowering greed and
such absolute disregard of ever the ap-
pearance of justice and right on such
occasions as the Democratic. 1t is al
ways their first business, when by acct
rive at power, to devise some legislative
trick by which they can maintain their
hold. The history of the party shows
this to be their invariable rule. If self
preservation is the first law of nature,
seli-perpetuation il the first law, the
governing principle, the absorbing, all.
embracing thought and aspiration OF
the Democratic party. In M state
where it has had the opportunity 10
carry q g~errymander has it failed to
make that its first business and to do it
promptly; sometimes with q half way
pretence Of fairness, but usually with
brazen shamelessness and no attempt to
conceal the purpose.
The people in the main are honest
and square. They don't believe in
gerrynianders or in trickery and sharp
practices. In the end that sort OF busi-
ness does not pay. whoever undertakes
it. The Wisconsin gerrymander has un-
doubleday hurt the Democratic party
instead of helping it, and we believe
MIR. Hills smartness in this state, about
which he boasts 70 constantly, will have
the same effect in the end. -Nep York
Tribune.
Home Market Better for the Farmer.
Our farms produced in 1886 81, 700, 600,
06O worth of material farm values), OF
which We exported $50, OO0, 600 worth,
or just 10 per cent. The balance of 10
per cent. is more than double the tota:
imports of every kind IN Great Britain
in the same year. II we add to the
farm products the value of manu!ac.
tured goods cold and consumed =;
home, say $5.000,O 00, 900, to make q
low estimate, we have u total Of $780,.
OMl, 0OO, which is more than the total
imports of all the countries of Europe,
Asia, Africa, North and south America,
Australia, and the islands of the sea,
| which in the american Almanac" fol
1883 are given as ~, 569, 600, 900.
Ii We could take possession of th7
trade of the world. and furnish all the
goods imported by every country or
the face Of the globe, the value Of thit
trade would TALL short Of our home mar
ket by almost . 81 .0O0, COZ, 900. What
suicidal polic7 it would be for our farm
ers to favor any measure which would
in the least ~endanger such q market
for the slight chance which they would
lave of extending their exports or buy.
ing their supplies . little cheaper il
other markets.
In 1887 the farmers of this country,
in addition to their own consumption,
cold $590, 10000 worth Of butter, eggs,
milk, and cheese. This 10 more than
twice the value Of the cotton crop, aud
more than tho value Of any other single
crop except corr. The West and South
cannot sfford TO zee a change in the
tarid policy until they get the iuli bene.
III OF il ip the development Of their re.
sources. Fife south, with her adsan.
EtAge ~ climate, timber, water-pow 81,
eoEJ iron and minsrsls, hrs III ~ IL.