OCR Text |
Show DAKOTA'S CASE. The Territory of Dakota is seeking admission ad-mission to the Union. To her admission there is much objection. Much . of the opposition to the admission of new States into the Union is based upon theories antagonistic an-tagonistic to the true genius of the American Ameri-can Government. Much of this opposition opposi-tion comes from the people of the older States who feel a jealousy of the power of the new States in the Senate. In that body the voice of Nevada is as potent as the voice of -New York, and this is so because of the Federal idea which underlies the x American Government. The Senators are represen tatives of the States and not of the people. In the East the papers are citing the cases of Oregon, Nevada and Colorado to show the impolicy of admitting new States with a meagre population. Dakota's case is entirely different in that respect from the others. Her population is estimated to be nearly half a million, and this estimate is probably no exaggeration. In 1880 her population numbered 135,177, while her present population is estimated upon the basis of the votes cast at the November election, 1884. In 1884 the vote was . 80,764, and as this j vote represented the male part of the I population who had attained to a majority, ma-jority, this vote, counting each vote as being 1 to 5 of the actual population, would show the actual number of' inhabitants inhab-itants to be 433,820. Such a population is perfectly able to support the burdens of Statehood, and there is no danger of that population growing less, for Dakota is pre-eminently an agricultural Territory, its chief element of wealth being its wheat j crop. To divide Dakota and admit her as two States would be un wise, and it is safe to say will not be done ; but as she is to-day she is entitled to admission to the Union. Dakota Da-kota is the only Territory in the Union whose Supreme Court is composed of six Judges. By the way, what has become of Utah's constitutional convention? Is it not about time for it o hold another semi-annual conference? |