The morning call., 1893-02-27

When the two Dak0tas were admitted 10
the Union, it was taken for granted that
they would be staunch Republican States.
They were largely peopled from Iowa.
Minnesota, Wisconsin and Illinois. and ii
seemed natural that they should follow the
political lead of their mother States. a
few far-seeing men noted that colonies
sometimes struck out for themselves. land
we're indeed occasionally impatient of par
entail example; but the suggestion was un-
needed. The two Dakotas got into the
Union almost without opposition.
They have now passed through their first
Presidential election. In the electoral COL
lege North Dakota cast one vote for Har-
rison, one vote for Cleveland. and one vote
for Weaver. Ii was determined that which
ever candidate was successful it would have
some claim on the administration. The
Legislature consists of ninety-eight men,
bers. OF the members elected. ffty-three
were Republicans, thirty-One Democrats
and fourteen Populists. According to nor
mal probability the Republicans should
have had the Senator, as the two other par
ties could not muster equal strength even
by combining. But the Democrats have
elected their man. How they did it, people
probably know az Bismarck elsewhere it Is
a puzzle. II reminds one of the story Of the
Irish soldier who brought in two prisoners,
and being asked how he had done it. ex-
planned that he had surrounded 'em,
soTr."
The 1889 States have now chosen FIVE
Democratic Senators ont Of their ten
which is hardly what was expected when
the enabling acts were passed with such
haste. No one is surprised at the action of
Montana. but the selection Of Democratic
Senators by North and South Dakota, Wyo-
ming and Idaho-which were counted as
safely Republcan-is political phenome-
non which calls for explanation.
The secret probably is that all these new
States want something of the General Gov
eminent and that they thought they would
be more likely to get IL IL one oil their Sem
ators was in accord with the administration
than If both voted with the opposition. Like
many men, the politicians OF the new States
wanted to be on the winning side. Party
bonds press lightly upon their conscience
out in the snow-laden fields of North Da-
kota political issues are not burning; a
Democrat who can get an appropriation is
good deal better than a Republican who
cannot AS to the result when viewed from
the point of view OF party, it is merely an
other illustration of the danger OF oppor-
tunst politics 1t reminds one Of the his
tory of geTrymanders. There probably
never was a gerrymander which did not
ultimately result in injury to the party
which framed 1t.
When the cases Of Arizona and New Mex
leo and Utah and Oklahoma come up in the
next Congress, it may be well to consider
The fact. Three Of these Territories would
probably enter the Union as Democratic
States and the fourth as Republican. But
the Democrats will be sbortsig bted IL they
allow this consideration to sway their judg-
ment in opposition to reasons of more abd-
ing moment. If New Mexico and Oklahoma
have the requisite population, and if their
record proves their fitness for seh-govern-
ment, there seems TO be no reason 10 keep
them In a territorial condition. But Con-
gress should think twice about admitting
Utah--though its delegation would probably
be emocratic-unless it is prepared to give
aid and comfort to the Yankee Mahometan,
Mr.. Alexander Russell Webb, who is about
to visit this country as an apostle of polyg-
amy. The majority in favor of plural mar
riage in that Territory shows no signs of
diminutioD. 1t is as large, relatively, as it
was ten years ago. Neither the EdmuDds
law nor the other Congressional statutes on
the subject have had the slightest effect in
changing the minds OF the Mormons; 1t is
reasonably certain that the first act passed
by State Legislature In Utah would be to
legalize polygamy. and it is not as easy to
see bow Congress could interfere any more
than 1t can prevent Missouri from prescrib-
Ing thirteen causes for divorce while New
York only admits one.
Ii is not as If the territorial condition in
volyed hardship or suffering to those who