Bismarck Tri Weekly Tribune

The Bismarck Tribune.

Bismarck, D. T., Dec. 5, 1877.

Governor Pennington.

Speaking of the Governor's candidacy for reappointment the Sioux City Journal says:

"The feeling in Dakota, if we can rightly judge from the expressions of the press, is constantly growing in favor of the reappointment of Gov. Pennington to another term. Our judgment is that the interests of the territory could not be better conserved than by continuing him. From our standpoint, it seems Dakota has never had a better governor. He is a man of broad views, of sound judgment possessing pride in the development of the territory, identified with its welfare, and a republican whose good service to his party renders him worthy of its attention. Gov. Pennington went to Dakota to stay, and this purpose on his part has been signified by the investment of all his means within the territory. No man with no greater capital than he possesses has done more, if as much, for the permanent improvement of Yankton. The buildings he has erected there are among the most creditable in the city. In this respect he has pursued a course different from that of his predecessors, with one or two exceptions, who have come, served their terms, drew their salaries, and left for fresh fields of office-holding. Gov. Pennington is now, therefore, permanently settled in Dakota, and the citizens of the territory do not need to be told that it is to their advantage to have in the executive chair a man thus identified with them in interest. There is this further to be said: that Dakota has never had so respectable politics as it has had during the administration of Gov. Pennington. There are those who are seeking to injure Gov. Pennington's reputation as an officer, with a view, as we have no doubt, of defeating his reappointment, and in this work some of the old tactics of political warfare in the territory are brought to bear with more or less zeal; but those of us who have had during the past ten years more or less familiarity with Dakota politics can hardly escape surprise that Gov. Pennington's record and name is not more vigorously assailed. The situation induces us to hope that the day of reform in Dakota politics has absolutely come. Aside from the fact that Gov. Pennington has made a good officer and will make a good officer if continued, we are disposed to say that he should be reappointed for another reason, viz: As a final discouragement to the tactics of the old-timers whose business has been to concoct falsehoods for us in the Washington market in the promotion of personal schemes. It will be bad for the territory if the men who have thus engaged hitherto, and still appear to have some hope in that direction, shall find the old tactics succeeding again now. We are disposed to say, with heartiness, that Gov. Pennington should be retained."

Referring to this article the Press and Dakotaian says: "We will not endeavor to add anything to the many good points made by the Journal though more might be said but commend it to the careful perusal of those who have been in any doubt as to what kind of a governor Dakota has had for four years past."