The Daily state register. [volume] (Carson City, Nev.) 1870-1872, 1871-08-09
TIE CONSOLIDATION OF NEVADA
AND UTAH.

to Nevada, judging from the manner
in which it alludes to an article on
the subject in a Chicago paper. 1t
argues that ''there are 100, 900 Nor
mons, while it is known that the
whole population of Nevada is less
than GO, 900, while the Gentle popu-
lation of Utah is probably less than
90 1000. This would give the new
State to the Mormons by 10000 ma
jority. However, that would doubt
less soon be overcome by the pre-
p~onderance of Gentle immigration !;
and annexation is the best solution
of the question. 1t would make
Nevada as large as California and
cause her capital to be removed to
Salt Lake City, to the benefit, no
doubt, of political morals"
Probably the project would result
in the removal of the State Capital,
but whether it would be to the ben
eft of State morals or not is Il ques-
ton which We do not think the
morals of the Union will allow it to
form a correct estimate.
As for size, although Nevada is
now numbered among the large
States, an addition to its dimensions
would not hurt it. Their natural
characteristics and resources are very
similar. Utah in fact is only an
eastern extension of Nevada. The
grand old Sierra on the west walls
out a very different country; but the
eastern boundary line is an affair of
the imagination, aided by the sur
veyor's instruments. The same in
terminable ranges of longitudinal
, mountains interlaced between bar
rem plains and valleys, rolling pas
toral hills, and nut-pine activities
are woven into the general texture of
the country all the way from the
Truckee to Green river. Similarity
of interests and occupations would
favor the consolidation, as well as
natural characteristics. In the mat
ter of dimensions, annexation would
bring the State up to proportions
more than respectable. and place it
on an equality with its western neigh
Dor. As for population, Utah now
contains about 100, 900. The consol-
idation would still entitle the recon-
structed State to only a single re-
preventative, but the increase would
SO divide the expenses of the State
government as would, or ought to,
make an important difference to the
tax payers.
This much can be said in favor of
the project-which, it will be re-
membered, received a favorable con-
sideration among many of the mem
bers of the late Legislature ; but in
a religious point of view the objec-
tons are formidable. Theocracy
and Democracy are instinctively an
tagonistic and destructive of each
other. Time WOul1 he the friend
the sure, reliable friend of the Gen
tile: but the intervening period
would necessarily be- rough" Like
the mixture of chemical elements
there would be a grand kissing and
bubbling. confusion and contention,
before the constituents settled into
permanent order and place. An
nexation would settle the Mormon
question in a few years. but Temporal
rily it might settle Gentilism and
give the new State, partially at least,
a Mor,aon administration. The CON
test is bound to go on if the Terri
tory remains intact, but it will be
prolonged Though more years. The
internal dissens,ons of the Mormon
Church, if skillfui,y handled by the
ti-Mormon element, and the i'm
migration following on the heel Of