Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1903-04-24
INDIGNATION MEETING Of 1879.
"A Carpet Bag Report Of the
Meeting Which ls 4
FalseJ
The People Had just Cause
For That Celebrated
Meeting.
From the Union County Courier, April
:, 1873.
INDIGNANT soREHEADs.


All the friends Of the oficisl tribe.
Would hide out Of the way, u
Save us, the only h0nestsouls: sgt
In all the land OF Dakota.
We were astonished . week since ia
see q flaming poster in our town calling
for q meeting at Ysnkton. to express
the,indignati0n the people felt at the
re-appointment of Hon. John A. Bur.
bank, as Governor Of Dakota Territory,
and among other expressions, asking
Are we free men OF. are we slaves =
From the men who manipulated the
affair, we should say the latter, most
emphatically. These same men. prior
to the inauguration Of President Grant,
expressed the utmost confidence in the
honesty Of the President, and his desire
and ability to provide Dakota with
officials who would honor the positions
and prove acceptable to the people. We
believe he has done 80. and yet IN the
face Of the language used.to the Presi-
dent, these men are indignant at what?
We cannot conceive, unless 1t be that
Col Moody, who seems determined to
ruin the prospect Of the administration
party for all time and his friends are
indignant that he was not appreciated
any better ct Washington than he was
by the voters Of Dakota Territory, when
he desired to represent them In Con.
gress. Indignant that he was not ap.
pointed to a. seat on the Judicial bench
and clothed with the ermine of the
Judge. So this meeting was called to
satisfy the indignant Moody and few
of his friends. And we suppose after
singing the lines ct the head Of this
article and easing their pent up feelings
they feel . great deal better. The
whole thing was . farce from begin.
ming to end, and some Of the actors at
least are heartily ashamed Of the work
in which they were engaged. Indeed
we have it from und0ubted authority
that such was the revulsion Of feeling
on the part of some Of Moody's former
friends, at the righteousness Of the
whole proceedings, that they left the
city before night-not remaining to
participate in the meeting.
The men engaged in this matter will
live to regret their action. We care
not how unpopular Gov. Burbank may
have made himself, he has done nothing
to merit this treatment, and these men
have disgraced and dishonored them-
selves sAnd our Territory more in the
estimation of law abiding people at
home and abroad than could Gov. Bur-
bank, if he was a thousand times worse
and more unpopular than they claim he
is, and if they think to force the admin
istration to accept their terms they
will find that Gen. Grant understands
the state of affairs here about as we'll as
the people of Yankton.
The people of the Territory have &C.
cepted Yankton as the expression OF
public sentiment heretofore, but have
become disgusted with it. especially the
sore headed clique of Broadway, and
have determined to assert their rights
If we are to be governed, and the in
terests of the territory ruined by such
men, we of Union county are ready to
petition congress to disorganize Dakota.
and attach it to the states by which 1t
is partially bounded. Reprint from |
ELI Point Courier 1908.
When latter day Saint reads the
above bit of ancient history. and has
no personal knowledge of the events
to in the Courier article, he
would naturally presume that the
Courier was giving a truthful account
Of those stirring events at Yankton 80
years ago. The author of the above
article for the Courier was undoubtedly |
Elder Cain, and all the old timers in
Elk Point will remember him. The
Elder was q bright brainy fellow.
and sometimes stood in with the Bur-
leigh faction and at other times he lin.
cd up with the carpet baggers as the
government officials were termed.
The above article was written in de-
fense Of the most corrupt carpet bagger
that ever struck the territory, and 1t
was written to shield John A. Burbank,
who was appointed governor in 1859 by
General Grant to please Senator o. P.
Of Indiana. Morton was bad
enough in some ways. but Burbank
was worse. The governor in those
days had control of the Indian agencies
and Burbank was well posted in every
thing that would promote corruption
and rake off.
The people of Ysnkton knew Bur-
bank and his disreputable character.
The causes for the indignation meeting
we're many and ample. It is not neces.
,ary at this late day to enter upon de.
ails, but as the Courier article reflects
IN Col. Moody, and the writer, who
was then editor of the Dakotan at |
Yankton, 1t is only necessary to men.
lion one item. Burbank brought two
7oung and handsome women to Yank-
on and introduced them everywhere as
lis nieces from Indiana. Conditions |
developed so rapidly that the editor of
he Dakotan advised the governor to
end his nieces out Of the territory on
he first stage coach and the nieces
vent. This and other things Of an |
'qually disgusting nature turned every |
honest man and vir,uous woman |
lganist the governor. Before the in.
lignation meeting was held the writer
printed headed petitions and sent them
i'll over the territory asking the peonla |